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José Francisco Mafla

José Francisco Mafla

Partner
jmafla@bu.com.co
Contact information
(57-60-1) 346 2011 Ext: 8762
Bogotá
Admitted to practice law in
Colombia and New York
Languages
English
French

Mr. Mafla joined Brigard Urrutia in 2006 and is Partner of the firm since 2015, focusing on the Corporate/M&A, and Customs and International Trade practices. Mr. Mafla is admitted to practice law in Colombia (2001), in the state of New York (2006) and in the United States Court of International Trade (2015). He worked as foreign attorney in Harkins Cunningham LLP in New York, and in Uría Menéndez in Madrid, Spain.

He has broad expertise in commercial law, international business law, mergers and acquisitions, and customs and international trade. Mr. Mafla is also an arbitrator at the Center for Conciliation and Arbitration of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, and was the Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Colombian American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM Colombia). He is also a member of the Board of Directors and of the Academic Committee of Customs and Foreign Trade of the Colombian Institute of Tax Law.

Mr. Mafla is an attorney from the School of Law of Universidad de los Andes, and obtained a postgraduate degree in Business Law from Universidad Externado in Colombia. He also holds an LL.M from New York University School of Law. Aside from his legal practice, He is professor (undergraduate and postgraduate studies) of Commercial Law and International Economic and International Trade Law at Universidad Externado, Universidad de los Andes, ICESI and EAFIT in Colombia.

He is recognized as a band 2 lawyer by Chambers and Partners Latin America in International Trade / WTO and has been ranked for 13 years. He is also recognized by Legal 500 as a Leading Individual and by Who's Who Legal as Global Elite Thought Leader in the practice area of customs and international trade. For Corporate practice area, is recognized by LACCA as top private practitioner.

Experience

Brigard Urrutia’s partner, he joined the firm in 2006. He worked at Harkins Cunningham LLP as foreign lawyer and at Uría Menéndez as foreign associate.

Educational Background

  • Lawyer from Universidad de los Andes.
  • Postgraduate degree in Business Law from Universidad Externado de Colombia
  • LL.M from New York University School of Law
  • Diploma in French Language and Civilization from University of Nantes
  • Diploma in Customs Law from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Awards & accolades
  • He is recognized as a band 2 lawyer by Chambers and Partners Latin America in International Trade / WTO.
  • He is also recognized by Legal 500 as a Leading individual and by Who's Who Legal as Global Leader in the practice area of customs and international trade.
  • For Corporate practice area, is recognized by LACCA as top private practitioner.
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS

Proyecto Estatuto Aduanero: ¿materializa las obligaciones internacionales adquiridas por Colombia?. Business Mail Amcham . 2016

*Print version only

2015: Novedades del comercio exterior colombiano (year in review). La República. 2016

*Print version only

2014: Novedades del Comercio Exterior Colombiano, Business Mail. AMCHAM Colombia. 2015

*Print version only

Post-recession trade in Latin American. ABA International Trade Committee Newsletter. 2015

*Print version only

Trends in Trade Policy in Latin America: Liberalization v. Protectionism. ABA International Trade Committee Newsletter. 2015

*Print version only

Playing with fire: Customs compliance pitfalls for South American companies ABA International Trade Committee Newsletter. 2015

*Print version only

Zonas Francas Costa Afuera: Un impulso para el sector de hidrocarburos en Colombia. Legiscomex. 2015 Las distinciones reglamentarias legítimas bajo el artículo 2.1 del Acuerdo sobre Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio. Revista OALI. 2015

*Print version only

Proyecto Decreto - Fomento para industria de Astilleros. La República. 2015

*Print version only

Directors' Liability and Indemnification, 3rd edition (Colombia chapter) Globe Law and Business. 2015

*Print version only

Desaduanamiento aduanero en el Proyecto de Nuevo Estatuto Aduanero. Legis. 2015

*Print version only

El futuro del TLC entre Corea del Sur y Colombia. Legis. 2015 Cambios al Estatuto Aduanero en relación con la descripción parcial e incompleta de la mercancía importada. La República. 2015

*Print version only

Logística en el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2014-2018 - Infraestructuras Logísticas Especializadas. La República. 2015

*Print version only

Compliance: un elemento clave para el comercio efectivo y el crecimiento de la inversión. Portafolio. Amcham. 2015

*Print version only

South American companies mistake in the administration of customs compliance.ABA. 2015 Zonas Francas Offshore en Colombia: Oportunidades y desafíos de un nuevo marco regulatorio. ICDT. 2015

*Print version only

La acumulación de origen como flexibilización de las reglas de origen tradicionales. Cumulation of origin as a means for extending the traditional rules of origin. ICDT. 2015

*Print version only

China’s Market Economy Status after 2016. WSG. 2015 Acumulación de origen en procesos de encadenamiento productivo: una oportunidad para las zonas francas. Revista AZFA. 2015

*Print version only

Aporte notas cortas. sobre (i) el nuevo proyecto de resolución sobre Operadores Económicos Autorizados; (ii) el nuevo decreto sobre importación y exportación de teléfonos móviles inteligentes, celulares y sus partes; y (iii) sobre la entrada en vigor del Acuerdo Marco de la Alianza del Pacífico. Legis. 2015

*Print version only

Artículo denominado La Verdadera Armonización Aduanera En La CAN: DECISION 671. Revista IUS 360 (Perú). 2015

*Print version only

Las distinciones reglamentarias legítimas bajo el Artículo 2.1 del Acuerdo sobre Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio. Oficina de asuntos legales internacionales Min comercio. OALI. 2015

*Print version only

ABA The Year in Review (Latin America). ABA Section of International Law. 2014

*Print version only

2013: Novedades del Comercio Exterior Colombiano, Bus. Aamcham.2014

*Print version only

Retos que supone para Colombia la adopción de un acuerdo comercial con UE. Nota Económica. 2013

*Print version only

Recent Treatment to Chinese Economy in Anti-dumping Investigations. ABA. 2013

*Print version only

Un año del TLC con Estados Unidos: Lo que falta, Business Mail. AMCHAM Colombia. 2013

*Print version only

2012: Novedades del Comercio Exterior Colombiano, Business Mail. AMCCHAM Colombia. 2013

*Print version only

Latin America Anti-dumping Guide. Uría Menéndez Latin American Network. 2012 Colombia: Recent Developments in International Trade, Tax Planning International. Bloomberg. 2013

*Print version only

ABA The Year in Review (International Trade). ABA Section of International Law. 2013

*Print version only

Consultorio Quincenal Brigard & Urrutia sobre TLC Colombia-EE.UU. La República. 2011-2012

*Print version only

Consultorio Quincenal Brigard & Urrutia sobre Acuerdo Colombia-UE. La República. 2012

*Print version only

International Agency and Distribution Law Digest. Center for International Legal Studies. 2012

*Print version only

International Agency and Distribution Law Digest. Center for International Legal Studies. 2012

*Print version only

Globe Business Publishing. Center for International Legal Studies. 2012

*Print version only

International Protection of Foreign Investment. Center for International Legal Studies.2011

*Print version only

El Operador Económico Autorizado trae oportunidades para PYMES. Nota Económica. 2011

*Print version only

Directors ' liability and indemnification: a global guide. Globe Business Publishing.2007

*Print version only

Current access conditions for foreign-funded banks in China. NYU.2005

*Print version only

Contrato de Agencia Comercial en Colombia. Cavelier Abogados.2004

*Print version only

Desintegración de la integración comercial de las Américas. Cavelier Abogados. 2003

*Print version only

¿Mecanismos de Participación Ciudadana, ficción o realidad? . Universidad de los Andes. 2001

*Print version only