María Carolina Pardo Cuéllar

Biography

Carolina Pardo joined Baker McKenzie in 1994 and is a Partner of the Firm since 2008. She is currently a member of the Global Steering Committee for the Firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy group and of the Global Steering Committee for the Firm’s Investigation, Compliance and Ethics Group. She was a member of the Global Steering Committee for the Firm’s Global Antitrust and Competition from 2016 and until 2020 and is currently a member of the Latam's Antitrust Steering Committee.

She graduated as a lawyer and a specialist in International Contracts Law from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá. She obtained a LL.M. with emphasis in International Private Law and Competition Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

In 2016 and 2025 Global Competition Review selected her as one of the 100 most influential women in antitrust. The last two Superintendents of Industry and Commerce have selected Carolina as a Non-Governmental Advisor to the Colombian Antitrust Regulator. Legal 500 also awarded her a recognition in 2025 as lawyer of the year in compliance and investigations in Colombia.

Practice Focus

For over 30 years, Carolina has advised major national and international clients on matters related to compliance with data protection, competition, and consumer law rules with an emphasis on TMT and Pharma industries. She has represented clients in investigations and submissions related to competition, data protection and compliance matters in Colombia and has successfully coordinated and prepared white paper proposals to national authorities on behalf of major industrial groups in Colombia.

Representative Legal Matters

Has led investigations and merger control cases undertaken by the Colombian competition regulator and has successfully coordinated cases in the Latin American region for multinational companies.
Has led internal investigations related to fraud, anticorruption and anti-money laundering in Colombia, Panama, Chile among other Latin-American jurisdictions.
Has successfully advised multinational companies in engaging the Data Protection Authority in Colombia to report data incidents and presents proposals of remedies.
Advises Colombian companies regarding the implementation of compliance programs in antitrust, anti-money laundering Routinely advises Colombian and multinational clients on antitrust, data protection matters, e-commerce, consumer protection and data protection matters as well as in connection with compliance structures – including anti-money laundering and anti-bribery.

Professional Honors

Global Competition Review has recognized her within the 100 women in antitrust in 2016 and 2025
Chambers Latin America has ranked her in TMT and Antitrust (leading practitioner) in Colombia
Legal 500 has recognized her as a leading practitioner in Compliance, Antitrust and TMT in Colombia
LACCA has recognized her as leading individual for Compliance and Antitrust matters

Professional Associations and Memberships

ACDC - Asociación Colombiana de Derecho de la Competencia - Member
ADAPRI - Asociación de Datos y Privacidad - Member

Admissions

Colombia (1995)

Education

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LL.M. International Law) (2001)
Los Andes University (Master's Degree International Contracts) (1997)
University de Los Andes (J.D.) (1995)

Languages

Spanish
English
French

Carolina has written articles on Internet Law and its developments in Colombia, and also on antitrust matters in Colombia.
Moderator of the panel 'Implications of the Ruling on Similar Technological Platforms', at the Forum 'Truths, Myths and Consequences of the Uber Case', organized by the Colombian Association of Competition Law. – February 2020.
Panelist of the virtual round table 'Abuse of the dominant position within the framework of the economic and health crisis', organized by the Colombian Association of Competition Law. – April 2020.
Moderator of the panel 'Main challenges of Andean Competition Law', during the V Annual Congress of the Colombian Association of Competition Law – Colombian Association of Competition Law and Legis – July 2020.
Panelist at the Latin American Antitrust Forum, part of the XXVI Seminar on the Defense of International Competition, held by the Brazilian Institute for Studies on Competition, Consumption and International Trade – November 2020.