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Seeking Bogota Lawyer

I'm seeking a Bogata-based lawyer with the following attributes:

-- Honesty (honesty is most important!)
-- Realistic pricing (the relationship ends promptly at the first sign of inflated prices)
-- Competency in general Immigration issues (I want to obtain an investor or rentista visa, open a bank account and obtain a cedula)
-- Competency in general corporate law (I want to create, own & operate a company)
-- Competency in general property law (property research, title searches, documents for buying & selling property, etc.)
-- Competency in general taxation issues (taxes related to gains from property sale, etc.)

I'd really like to find a lawyer smart enough to value a long-term relationship. It seems that so many local lawyers think there is one (and only one) opportunity to take advantage of this Gringo. Surely there is one lawyer in all of Bogota that is eager to establish a long-term, mutually advantageous relationship with a new client.

If anyone can recommend such a lawyer, I could certainly use the advice. I've been in Bogota over a month and during that time I thoroughly interviewed nine lawyers. All nine failed miserably insofar as having a suitable ethical foundation. At least five lacked core competency expected of a lawyer and at least a couple had downright malicious intentions.

Thanks,

Ethan

By twmcm on May 28, 2008, 11:35 in Visa & paperwork.

ds says on May 28, 2008, 11:55:

If nine lawyers fail miserably the problem might be on your side.....(Won't recommend my excellent lawyer to you!)

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vicshere says on May 28, 2008, 13:10:

honesty and lawyers dont mix in any country

listo

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aztec says on May 28, 2008, 13:17:

I do know one or more. They are expensive. Are you serious about finding a good lawyer or do you just want a cheap one who can file most of your work?

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 28, 2008, 15:42:

There are good, honest lawyers in Bogota, experts in the topics you describe. But you need to define what you mean with realistic pricing, because you might be the one who is not being realistic. You will get what you need if you are willing to pay the price. A lot of people are willing to pay the price, so there is plenty of work for the "good", well-known lawyers in Bogota.

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pilotguy says on May 28, 2008, 16:48:

The most expensive thing you can get is a cheap lawyer, find the most expensive or forget it.
been there, done it wrong, wont do it again. joe

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twmcm says on May 29, 2008, 10:03:

To clarify the pricing issue . . . Pricing should be commensurate with skill and the task at hand, no?

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twmcm says on May 29, 2008, 10:04:

I don't mind paying a competent lawyer the prevailing rate to do competent and timely work - the problem is paying a lawyer to learn the procedure I seek. Paying for a lawyer's ongoing education is expensive at any price!

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Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on May 29, 2008, 10:12:

It would be difficult to find a good, reasonably priced lawyer in the US with all of those areas of expertise and I don't know why Colombia would be any different. Lawyers are like doctors - most of them are specialists because of the complexity of their profession.

If it were me, I'd find someone to assist with the immigration and business incorporation and then find another long term partner (or two) to do the real estate transaction and tax work.

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twmcm says on May 29, 2008, 11:51:

Tinto . . . That was my original thought - and probably what I will end up with. But after meeting a few lawyers and speaking to other folks in Bogota, I am told the immigration process is very simple and any lawyer (regardless of primary practice area) should be more than capable of ding it alongside a property transaction. After all, it does all relate. I plan to buy property to qualify for the investor's visa.

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