What are the legal steps to register lobbying activity with Colombian authorities and what disclosures are required?

Regulation of Lobbying in Colombia

In Colombia, lobbying and public affairs activities are not yet governed by a comprehensive legal framework.

There are ongoing legislative initiatives —for example, Bill No. 038 of 2024 (“Law regulating lobbying and creating a Public Register of Lobbyists”)— that seek to define who may lobby, under what conditions, and with what disclosures.

Some limited rules exist for specific contexts (e.g., Resolution MD-2348 of 2011 of the House of Representatives, which regulates the participation of interest groups in legislative processes), but their scope is narrow.

The OECD Public Integrity Report notes that Colombia still lacks transparency, registration, and enforcement mechanisms for lobbying activities.

Practical Steps and Documentation for a Public Affairs Consultancy in Medellín

Given the current legal environment, these are the recommended compliance and governance practices for your consultancy:

1. Define Your Scope of Influence

Identify which authorities you intend to engage with — municipal (Medellín), departmental (Antioquia), or national.

Specify which policies or decisions you seek to influence (e.g., local regulations, economic development plans, sector policies).

2. Registration or Formal Notice

There is no general mandatory national registry for lobbyists yet.

However, the House of Representatives maintains a Public Register of Lobbyists applicable to certain legislative procedures (camara.gov.co).

Even if not mandatory, it is advisable to keep an internal transparency register documenting:

Clients represented

Issues discussed

Government entities contacted

Resources allocated and meetings held

3. Internal and External Documentation

Draft clear consultancy contracts specifying the scope, purpose, and fees of your engagement.

Include explicit ethical and anti-corruption clauses prohibiting bribery, illicit payments, or influence peddling.

Maintain records of meetings, materials delivered, and communications with public officials.

These records will protect your firm once a formal lobbying law enters into force.

4. Transparency and Ethics

Adopt a code of conduct covering conflicts of interest, client disclosures, and responsible communication.

Log all interactions with public officials (date, participants, topic, outcome).

Disclose any potential conflict of interest or double representation.

Uphold high ethical standards even though Colombia’s current laws do not yet require formal lobbying disclosures.

5. Legal Representation and Compliance

Legal counsel is highly recommended. Because the framework is still evolving, many “gray areas” exist.

A lawyer can:

Review contracts and compliance procedures

Anticipate new obligations if the pending bill is enacted

Protect you against reputational and regulatory risks

If your consultancy expands into multiple jurisdictions or interacts with state entities, legal oversight becomes essential.

Practical Takeaways for Your Medellín Consultancy

You can absolutely operate a public affairs consultancy focused on regional policy advocacy, provided that you implement strong governance practices:

Act as if full regulation already existed: document every activity, contract, and communication.

Stay informed on pending lobbying laws and transparency reforms.

Emphasize ethical standards and proactive disclosure — this builds credibility with both clients and authorities.

Remember that, for now, no formal registration is mandatory in most cases, but it soon could be.

Currently, there is no regulation governing lobbying activities in Colombia. However, engaging in such activities is entirely possible and lawful. As a company, we focus on providing solutions for business development and company formation in Colombia.

The colleagues are right. Colombia has no single lobbying law. For work before Congress, the Cámara de Representantes (House of Representatives) keeps a Lobbyist Register, which is advisable when you’re influencing bills. In Medellín, there’s no separate registry. Engagements follow transparency, participation, and anti-corruption rules.

What you need now is a compliance pack: a code of conduct, anti-corruption clauses, meeting-log and client-disclosure templates, plus target-mapping, access routes, and meeting protocols. When you interact with Congress, register with the Cámara de Representantes and document each contact.

You’re welcome to review Lynceus Law Firm. We are registered with the Medellín Chamber of Commerce, and I am happy to offer a brief call.

The colleagues are right. Colombia has no single lobbying law. For work before Congress, the Cámara de Representantes (House of Representatives) keeps a Lobbyist Register, which is advisable when you’re influencing bills. In Medellín, there’s no separate registry. Engagements follow transparency, participation, and anti-corruption rules.

What you need now is a compliance pack: a code of conduct, anti-corruption clauses, meeting-log and client-disclosure templates, plus target-mapping, access routes, and meeting protocols. When you interact with Congress, register with the Cámara de Representantes and document each contact.

You’re welcome to review Lynceus Law Firm. We are registered with the Medellín Chamber of Commerce, and I am happy to offer a brief call.