Álvaro Yáñez Peñaranda, Álvaro Josué Yáñez Alsina, and Daniela Vergel Riascos, partners who led the Energy and Natural Resources practice at CMS Rodríguez-Azuero, founded Horst Law. They are joined by Alex Flórez, Valentina Restrepo, Sebastián Avendaño, Edna Guillén, and María Clara Cortés in legal practice, and Ana María Cuervo in administrative management.
The firm was founded as a high-level boutique practice specializing in transactional operations and in industries where regulation is not a limitation, but a strategic opportunity.
“We wanted the name to reflect what we do: work from the deepest layers of the industry—energy, oil & gas, mining, environmental—and raise the quality of legal advice above the standard. A horst isn’t formed on the surface. It’s formed under pressure, with structure,” said Daniela Vergel Riascos, founding partner.
For his part, Alvaro Josué Yáñez, founding partner, pointed out that “in highly regulated sectors, the difference lies in understanding the business before understanding the rules. That is what we have built at Horst Law.”
Horst Law advises companies and investors operating in sectors where regulation defines the business. Its practice focuses on five highly specialized areas: Energy, Oil & Gas, Mining, Environmental Law & Sustainability, and Corporate & Transactional Law.
The firm’s strength lies at the intersection of regulatory and transactional expertise. It combines in-depth knowledge of each sector with the practical ability to structure operations, close deals, and manage risk. The firm supports its clients at every stage: from project structuring and contract negotiation to resolving complex disputes, always with a focus on business outcomes.
A regional differential: Venezuela
Horst Law holds a unique position in the regional market: an active and well-established practice in Venezuela, at a time when the country is undergoing a process of economic liberalization and investment in the energy sector. In a complex environment full of opportunities, the firm supports the entry and operation of companies and investors seeking to structure their presence with legal rigor and a strategic vision.
