BéndiksenLaw: A New Era of Opportunities with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

BéndiksenLaw is proud to announce its recent membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a world-leading organization in advocating for business interests. With its motto of advocating, connecting, informing, and fighting for business growth and success, this affiliation marks a significant milestone for our firm.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, known as the largest business organization in the world, encompasses everything from small businesses and local chambers of commerce to leading industrial associations and global corporations. For BéndiksenLaw, joining this prestigious network means accessing an unparalleled platform of business connections, learning opportunities, and a stronger voice in advocating for trade and investment-friendly policies.

At BéndiksenLaw, we have always been committed to growth and innovation, and this new partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce allows us to further expand our reach and capabilities. This step is an affirmation of our dedication to providing quality international legal services and our desire to drive economic growth and prosperity in both Colombia and the global stage.

We invite our clients and partners to discover how this new strategic alliance can benefit their businesses. Together, with the support and resources of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, we are ready to face tomorrow’s challenges and blaze new trails in the world of international trade and investment.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you make the most of this exciting new chapter for BéndiksenLaw.

Promoting Future Lawyers: BéndiksenLaw in the Business Trial Competition

In the business sphere, the law establishes the bases that guide the operation and management of companies. Without a firm understanding of the legal framework, they could face challenges that hinder their trajectory to success. For this reason, events such as the Student Business Trial Contest, organized by the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, are crucial as they provide a platform where the next generation of legal and business professionals can interact, learn and grow.

This year, we are honored to announce that BéndiksenLaw’s Managing Partner, Sebastián Béndiksen, will participate as a judge in the competition that will take place on Friday, October 27. With a distinguished track record in the corporate legal field, Sebastián Béndiksen represents BéndiksenLaw’s dedication, experience and commitment to excellence and continuing education. The participation of our managing partner as a judge underlines the importance that BéndiksenLaw places on the connection between academia and professional practice. This competition is an opportunity for students to experience the practical application of legal concepts in a business setting, while receiving valuable feedback from experts in the industry.

At BéndiksenLaw, we are proud to be part of initiatives that nurture knowledge and collaboration between the legal and business sectors. Our firm is committed to providing exceptional legal solutions that meet the unique needs of each client in today’s dynamic business environment. We invite you to learn more about how BéndiksenLaw can assist you with your legal needs and how our experience and collaborative approach can provide the legal support your firm needs to thrive.

Contact us today.

Transparency and Ethics: The New Obligations for Foreign Non-Profit Entities in Colombia.

In an era where transparency and ethics in business take center stage on the global scene, Colombia is not far behind. On October 4, 2023, the Superintendence of Companies issued External Document 100-000004, establishing new obligations for Foreign Non-Profit Entities (ESAL in Spanish) that have permanent businesses in the country.

1. What is SAGRILAFT? The SAGRILAFT, or Self-Control and Comprehensive Risk Management System for Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, is a set of policies, procedures, tools and actions that seek to identify, measure, control and monitor the risk of the entity being used as a vehicle for money laundering or terrorist financing. This system seeks to strengthen internal controls and establish mechanisms that allow for comprehensive risk management.

2. Transparency and Business Ethics Program (PTEE) The PTEE is a program that aims to promote an organizational culture based on transparency, integrity, and business ethics. This program seeks to ensure that foreign ESALs are governed by clean business practices, reducing the possibility of corrupt acts or acts that compromise the integrity of the entity.

3. Deadline for implementation Foreign ESALs with permanent businesses in Colombia that are already under the supervision of the Superintendence of Companies have a deadline of August 31st, 2024 to implement both SAGRILAFT and PTEE.

Why is it important for ESALs to meet these obligations? These regulations not only seek to protect the Colombian economy and the integrity of the financial system, but also to strengthen the trust and reputation of entities in the market. Proper implementation of these measures can generate added value in terms of trust and reputation.

If you are part of a Foreign Non-Profit Entity and are looking for guidance on how to adapt to these new regulations, do not hesitate to contact BéndiksenLaw. Our dedicated team is ready to advise you every step of the way and ensure that your entity complies with all applicable regulations. Contact us today!

Legal Triumph: Multinational Client Obtains Authorization before INVIMA with BéndiksenLaw

BéndiksenLaw has obtained an authorization for label depletion in the food sector, past the legal term, for a multinational client. This success was achieved through an innovative argument before the Food and Drug Authority of Colombia (INVIMA) based on the application of the law by analogy, and was led by our managing partner and attorney, Sebastián Béndiksen.

This achievement highlights BéndiksenLaw’s commitment to legal excellence and client satisfaction. BéndiksenLaw goes beyond the mere grammatical interpretation of the text of a legal norm; we are an active actor in the creation and evolution of law. Our commitment to legal excellence drives us to exhaustively analyze and understand the entire legal system, seeking to identify gaps and ambiguities in the legal system, thus contributing to its development and improvement.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our client for their trust in our professional services and for allowing us to be a fundamental part of this important milestone in their business. This achievement exemplifies our continued dedication to provide effective and strategic legal solutions to our clients in an ever-changing business world. We are proud of this achievement and excited for what the future holds in our collaboration.

Sebastián Béndiksen, Our Managing Partner, Reveals the Opportunities and Challenges of Trade between Colombia and Peru in Revista Semana

Our managing partner and specialist in corporate law, Sebastián Béndiksen, shares his insight with Revista Semana on the entry of Peruvian companies into Colombia and its impact on the growing economic and commercial integration between these two nations.

Find out more about this business expansion and its potential contributions.

Read the news (in spanish) here.

Requirement of Pre-Tax Registry to Create a Business before the Bogota Chamber of Commerce is Eliminated

One of the essential requirements to create a company, open branches of a foreign company or register non-profit entities, is the completion of a draft of the Tax Registry (RUT, by its Spanish acronym), known as “pre-RUT” and its filing before the Chamber of Commerce. This form contains all the information that allows the identification of the company and the individuals that constitute it. However, in order to simplify and expedite this process, the Bogota Chamber of Commerce and the Colombian National Tax Authority (DIAN, by its Spanish acronym) reached an agreement to eliminate this requirement.

The completion and submission of this “pre-RUT” form represented an additional process since it had to be reviewed and approved by DIAN officers, which implied a longer waiting time in the generation of the commercial registration. However, thanks to this decision to eliminate the “pre-RUT”, it is now only necessary to fill out the Business Registry Form (“RUES”, by its Spanish acronym) and submit it before the Bogota Chamber of Commerce virtually or in person, along with the other forms and documents required according to the type of company to be created. Once this application is submitted, the Tax Identification Number (NIT, by its Spanish acronym) will be obtained automatically and immediately, without any additional process being required.

It must be noted that the elimination of this requirement applies only to the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, that is, in the city of Bogotá and in the municipalities of Cundinamarca in which it has jurisdiction. However, it is expected that in the near future more Chambers of Commerce will join this decision in order to simplify this procedure throughout the country.

In case you require more information, do not hesitate to contact us.