Holland & Knight has appointed José Vicente Zapata as managing partner of its Bogotá office. Zapata will oversee the office’s day-to-day operations while continuing to lead its prominent energy practice, which focuses on corporate, contractual, and commercial matters, with a strong presence in spin-offs, mergers, and acquisitions. He succeeds Enrique Gómez Pinzón, who served as managing partner of the office since its founding in 2012 and will now assume the role of managing partner emeritus, continuing his practice in corporate law, M&A, finance, and international arbitration.
“José has developed an exceptional practice at Holland & Knight and is widely recognized as a leader in the energy, natural resources and environment sectors in Colombia,” said Bob Grammig, president and CEO of Holland & Knight.
“As José assumes this new role, we are confident that he will lead our Bogotá office with a strong focus on strategic growth and collaboration, while providing practical solutions to our clients in Colombia, Latin America, and beyond. We are deeply grateful to Enrique for the pivotal role he played in consolidating our presence in Latin America and for his support of the office since its inception, positioning it as one of the strongest and fastest-growing international legal practices in Colombia,” he concluded.
For his part, José Vicente Zapata stated, “It is an honor to assume the role of managing partner of Holland & Knight’s Bogotá office.” “Enrique’s dedication, strategic vision, and commitment to building a world-class international legal presence in Colombia have resulted in an exceptional, full-service team, and I am proud to work alongside the nearly 70 talented lawyers who make up this office today. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our team’s offering to advise Colombian companies and guide international clients as they enter the Colombian market.”
“I am proud that José Vicente is succeeding me, and he has my full support in his new role as head of the Bogotá office,” said Enrique Gómez Pinzón. “I look forward to seeing him continue to strengthen the team’s expertise and consolidate our relationships in the region and internationally.”
More from José Vicente Zapata
She has been with Holland & Knight for almost 12 years and co-leads the firm’s Venezuela focus group, a team of partners advising clients with interests in that country. She has led regulatory matters related to the environment, energy, and natural resources for many years. She has experience in corporate compliance matters, including defining ethics programs, the Comprehensive Self-Control and Risk Management System for Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (SAGRILAFT), and knowledge management for effective regulatory compliance, as well as cases involving contractual and extra-contractual liability.
José Vicente is regularly listed in The Best Lawyers in Colombia, received the “Hall of Fame” recognition in Environment from The Legal 500 Latin America in 2025 and 2026, and has been ranked in Energy and Natural Resources: Environment by Chambers Global and Chambers Latin America since 2014. He obtained an LL.M. in Sustainable Development and International Business Law from McGill University and his law degree from the Pontifical Javeriana University.
