Practices and Sectors

• Customs & International Trade

Profile

With over two decades of experience, Nicolás Potdevin is a leading attorney in Customs Law, Foreign Trade, International Trade, and Foreign Exchange Regulations. As a partner in the Firm’s Customs practice group, he advises national and multinational companies on customs and foreign exchange litigation, administrative investigations, specialized consulting, business structuring, customs planning, free trade zone regimes, and audits. His technical expertise and strategic approach have positioned him as a recognized authority in customs law in Colombia.

Studies:

• Diploma in Rules of Origin in Free Trade Agreements, Universidad Externado de Colombia.
• Diploma in International Foreign Exchange Regime, Universidad Externado de Colombia.
• Specialization in Customs Law, Universidad Externado de Colombia.
• Diploma in Colombian Tax Regime, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
• Law Degree, Universidad de La Sabana.

He speaks Spanish, English and German.

Experience

Nicolás began his professional career in the legal department of Oikos in 2003, and later worked as a senior consultant at an international professional services firm, where he specialized in customs and foreign trade matters. He has been a partner at Pérez-Llorca in the Customs and International Trade practice since 2022.

Throughout his career, he has advised companies such as Procter & Gamble, Ingredion, GlaxoSmithKline, Zona Franca de Santander, ST Jude Laboratories, Baxter Laboratories, and Bavaria, among others. His experience includes foreign exchange litigation, customs planning, and the structuring and expansion of free trade zones, including the Reficar zone. He has also led unconstitutionality and annulment actions against tax reforms related to free trade zones and the customs sanction regime, among other regulations.

Academic and Publishing Collaborations

• Co-academic director of the book Customs Valuation in Colombia and author of specialized articles.
• He lectures at several universities on customs legislation.

Professional Organisations

• Colombian Institute of Customs Law (ICDA).
• Member of the International Bar Association (IBA).

Recognitions

• Next Generation Partners, The Legal 500 2025, International Trade and Customs.
• Band 2, Chambers Latin America 2025, International Trade.