He was born in Manzanares (Caldas), Colombia, on April 29, 1947. Son of Gilberto Álvarez Gaona, natural industrialist from Ocaña (Santander del Norte), and Helena Ramírez Vélez, born in Manzanares.

Specialist lawyer in labor law and social security.

He was a lawyer and Chief of Staff of the Bank of Colombia, litigant, Judge 16 Labor of the Circuit of Bogota, Magistrate of the Superior Court of the Judicial District of Bogota (Labor Room of Decongestion), Assistant Lawyer and Auxiliary Magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice Of Labor Cassation). Corresponding Member of the Colombian Academy of Jurisprudence.