MACLEOD DIXON IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF ITS BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
OFFICE

CALGARY, Sept. 9 /CNW/ - Macleod Dixon is proud to announce that it is once again expanding with its opening in Bogota, Colombia - the firm's 7th office worldwide and 3rd in Latin America. Macleod Dixon has built its reputation by being at the forefront of the natural resource industry for almost 100 years. The firm holds extensive international experience in many sectors, and is a market leader in oil and gas, mining and natural resource law.

In a continual effort to better serve the growing needs of our clients and assist them in capitalizing on activity in emerging markets, we are opening an office in Bogota, Colombia. The last few months have seen major new Canadian investments in Colombia, and we have been active in those developments. In August, in the largest petroleum investment in Colombia in recent years, Ecopetrol (the Colombian state oil company) and Talisman (of Calgary, Alberta) signed an agreement to acquire BP's Colombian subsidiary for approximately US$1.9 billion. Also in August, Colombia's largest gold producer, the Frontino mine, was acquired by Gran Colombia and Medoro Resources (both Canadian) in a US$200 million transaction. Macleod Dixon represented the purchasers in both transactions.

"Colombia is opening its markets to the world - Macleod Dixon is an early entrant and will be playing to our strengths as a leading energy and resource firm to serve the business community in this exciting, emerging, resource-rich market," said Bill Tuer, the firm's managing partner.

The pending Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) will represent a significant benefit for Canadian investors - one that is available to few other international investors since Colombia has Foreign Investment Protection Agreements with only a few other states, mostly in Latin America.

Macleod Dixon partners Jorge Neher and Glenn Faass will be leading the office, and, in accordance with the firm's philosophy to leverage local knowledge, we have also recruited several local Colombian lawyers. "From the people perspective we connect with leading lawyers in the local markets. We provide them with responsibility and opportunity, resulting in loyalty and long-term relationships," says Bill Tuer.

Macleod Dixon was recently named the 2010 Global Mining Law Firm of the Year by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers. With over 250 legal professionals in seven key centres around the globe, Macleod Dixon is one of Canada's premier international law firms.

    
    Macleod Dixon S.A.S
    Edificio K2, Piso 7
    Calle 97A, 9A-50
    Bogota DC, Colombia
    (address effective October 19, 2010)
    [phone]
    [phone]
    

For further information: Bill Tuer, Managing Partner, Macleod Dixon LLP, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Amish Morjaria, Marketing Manager, Macleod Dixon LLP, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]