Sebastián Salazar | People

Biography

Sebastián is a trilingual senior attorney (Spanish, English, and French) with over 16 years of experience in labor law, litigation, industrial relations, and human resources management. He has held prominent roles including Head of the Labor Practice Group at Cuatrecasas (2021–2025), Senior Associate at Baker McKenzie (2010–2018), and Labor Relations Manager at Grupo Vanti (2018–2021). In these positions, he successfully led collective bargaining negotiations, developed employment policies, and conducted labor audits. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers (2021–2024), Legal 500, and Chambers & Partners, and was named a “Rising Star Dealmaker” by TTR in 2022. Sebastián has published articles on labor issues in La República and completed specialized training in Negotiation (Uniandes, 2016) and International Labor Standards (ILO, 2014). He is an active member of the Colombian Labor and Social Security Lawyers Association and has played a key role in promoting and strengthening best labor practices within multinational companies across Latin America.

Practice Focus

Sebastián focuses his legal practice on individual and collective labor law, as well as social security matters, with a strong emphasis on labor litigation, compensation and benefits, regulatory compliance, and industrial relations. His experience includes providing strategic counsel in collective bargaining negotiations, designing and implementing labor policies, conducting contractor audits, and managing organizational change. He also specializes in developing and executing policies for handling large-scale legal claims. He has advised multinational clients across sectors such as oil & gas, retail, technology, energy, and public utilities, offering legal guidance both in Colombia and in other Latin American jurisdictions (including Spain, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Central America) while coordinating regional teams from legal services firms.

Representative Legal Matters

Achieved a favorable final ruling in a special proceeding declaring the illegality of the collective suspension or strike initiated by the USO union in the Reficar case.
Successfully led collective bargaining processes with national-level trade union organizations operating within Grupo Vanti companies in Colombia.
Provided comprehensive labor counsel to aviation sector companies in Colombia, including JetSMART Airlines S.A.S. during the launch of its operations in the country.
Advised and supported an Asian e-commerce company on the legal aspects of winding down its operations in Colombia.
Advised Isagen S.A. ESP, a leading energy company in Colombia, on managing labor litigation related to the enforcement of its collective labor agreements.
Advised on multiple collective bargaining processes for Electricaribe S.A. ESP. with union sub-directives from former electricity companies on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
Handled over 200 labor lawsuits in the Cartagena de Indias circuit for a construction company involved in the Cartagena Refinery expansion project.
Successfully led collective bargaining negotiations with tourism and hospitality companies in Cartagena and the most prominent trade unions in Colombia.
Provided labor legal counsel to several embassies operating in Colombia regarding their labor relations and dispute resolution.
Designed and successfully implemented voluntary retirement plans for aviation sector companies in Colombia.

Professional Honors

Recognized as one of Colombia’s leading labor lawyers, Best Lawyers, 2021-2024

Professional Associations and Memberships

Colombian Labor and Social Security Lawyers Association

Admissions

Colombia (2009)

Education

Universidad Externado de Colombia (Specialization in Labor Law and Industrial Relations) (2011)
Universidad Externado de Colombia (JD) (2009)

Languages

English
French
Spanish