Profile

Monica leads Kennedys’ Colombia office. She specializes in insurance and reinsurance, with a particular emphasis on corporate, regulatory advice, contracts, commercial and dispute resolution.

Monica is experienced in all the aspects of the insurance sector, having advised insurers, reinsurers and reinsurance brokers in Colombia and the UK in a variety of legal issues related to insurance, coverage disputes, liability, claim negotiations and mergers and acquisitions.

She has managed claims related to directors’ and officers’, bankers blanket bond, professional indemnity, maritime, machinery breakdown, cyber, liability, construction and contractors’ all risks (CAR) and business interruption. Monica also advises on coverage and policy drafting for all areas of insurance.

Monica has contributed to the product design and drafting of insurance policies and structuring of reinsurance programs in Colombia with international markets.

She regularly advises non-insurance clients on corporate, regulatory and commercial matters.

Monica worked in London at a large international insurance law firm, before returning to Royal and Sun Alliance (RSA) Colombia; with the last four years’ spent as General Counsel.  Working for RSA Colombia, she led the due diligence, sale, and approval processes before regulators for purposes of the acquisition of RSA Latin America’s operations by Suramericana - the largest insurance transaction in the region in 2015.

Monica contributed to the writing of Kennedys' 'Global forecast 2024: Evolving insurance risks' report, published in January 2024.

Monica also contributed to the fourth edition of Kennedys’ Global Legal Handbook, one of our most popular guides, which outlines the main legal and procedural issues that case handlers may encounter when dealing with claims across 53 jurisdictions globally.

Qualifications

  • Qualified in Colombia in 2005
Mónica Tocarruncho Mantilla provides solid client service and she is highly recommended as legal counsel, adviser and mediator. She also has superlative skills in negotiation.

Market recognition

  • Notable practitioner and ranked lawyer for 'Insurance (Colombia)'
    "Mónica Tocarruncho Mantilla is lauded by clients for her activity in the Colombian insurance market. She benefits from experience advising on a wide range of mandates, including liability and claims negotiations as well as coverage disputes."
    Chambers Latin America 2024
  • Next Generation Partner and recommended lawyer for 'Insurance (Colombia)'
    "The 'supremely effective' Mónica Tocarruncho heads the department and is equipped to advise on all aspects of the insurance business, including contentious, regulatory and corporate issues."
    "Mónica Tocarruncho is an exceptional and supremely effective attorney who is committed to her clients. Mónica exceeds all of our expectations every time she represents us."
    The Legal 500 Latin America 2023
  • Notable practitioner and 'Up-and-Coming' lawyer for 'Insurance (Colombia)'
    "Mónica Tocarruncho Mantilla is lauded by clients for her activity in the Colombian insurance market, with one interviewee noting: 'Mónica Tocarruncho Mantilla has an impressive insight to solve complex situations.'"
    Chambers Latin America 2023
  • Next Generation Partner and recommended lawyer for 'Insurance (Colombia)'
    "Practice head Mónica Tocarruncho leads the now 17-strong team in advising insurers, reinsurers and reinsurance brokers - both in Colombia and globally - on high-value claims."
    The Legal 500 Latin America 2022
  • Notable practitioner and 'Up-and-Coming' lawyer for 'Insurance (Colombia)'
    "Mónica Tocarruncho Mantilla rises in the rankings this year after receiving ample praise from interviewees. A client describes her as 'a highly technical lawyer who is capable of communicating complex strategies to her clients,' while another interviewee says: 'Mónica Tocarruncho Mantilla is an expert insurance lawyer with extensive experience in the sector.'"
    Chambers Latin America 2022
  • Next Generation Partner and recommended lawyer for 'Insurance (Colombia)'
    "Under the leadership of Mónica Tocarruncho, [Kennedys' office in Colombia], has developed into a nine-strong team that is growing in profile and market presence."
    The Legal 500 Latin America 2021
  • Notable practitioner and 'Up-and-Coming' lawyer for 'Insurance (Colombia)'
    Up-and-coming lawyer Monica Tocarruncho Mantilla is well regarded by clients, with one highlighting her "knowledge, experience and collaborative skills." She heads the department and regularly advises clients on insurance litigation.
    Chambers Latin America 2021
  • Up and Coming individual for 'Insurance' (Colombia) 
    Chambers Latin America 2020
  • Recommended lawyer for for 'Insurance (Colombia)'
    "She is always available and her work generates a sense of being well looked after."
    Chambers Latin America 2020
  • Recommended lawyer for for 'Insurance (Colombia)'
    "Always available’ and has ‘unique knowledge and expertise’; she is praised for ‘understanding the local market and having good relationships with cedants’, as well as ‘having a good interaction with the London market’.
    The Legal 500 Latin America 2019

Work highlights

  • Handled claims of more than $10 million value in its pre-litigation, litigation and recovery stage
  • Provided regulatory and corporate advice on a major deal between one of the biggest insurance companies in Colombia and an international insurance group
  • Provided legal advice on one of the biggest directors’ and officers’ claims in Colombia
  • Provided advice to international companies in expanding their business in Colombia
  • Has developed policy wordings of directors’ and officers’, health, cyber and other products for the Colombian market.