Pérez Bustamante & Ponce > Quito, Ecuador > Firm Profile

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce > The Legal 500 Rankings

Ecuador > Banking and finance Tier 1

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce maintains its standing as a leader in the banking and finance space, characterised by considerable knowledge of complex loans, regulated sectors, innovative products, multilateral lending, sophisticated structures and a variety of market-defining transactions. The practice, which is led by Bruno Pineda, a renowned name in the market for complex operations with capital markets, insurance, fiduciary and regulatory components, has an impressive client portfolio featuring the likes of Inter-American Development Bank, LATAM Airlines and Banco Pichincha. The firm’s cutting-edge offering is most recently evidenced by the team’s representation of International Finance Corporation and Inter-American Development Bank in their purchase of gender bonds issued by Banco Pichincha. At the senior associate level, Juan Francisco Simone stands out for his ability to navigate the fintech and insurtech sectors, noted for regulatory matters, while Adriana Orellana's practice focuses on dispute resolution in particular. Pablo Ortiz is another well-known practitioner, having formerly acted as Ecuador’s ambassador in Belgium and the European Union; he is sought by clients in the finance, aviation and media sectors to tackle corporate, commercial and regulatory issues.

Ecuador > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce continues to demonstrate its wide-ranging capabilities in competition and antitrust matters, assisting regional and global clients in their navigation of cases before the Competition Authority regarding merger control, cartels, abuse of dominance, unfair competition, state aid and litigation proceedings. The highly specialised team, which is led by cross-border specialist Diego Pérez Ordoñez, recently acted on behalf of Telxius and Telefónica, notifying the authority of the sale of approximately 10% of its submarine cable business to Pontegadea. Supporting Pérez Ordoñez in this matter and active on the full spectrum of antitrust issues is director Mario Navarrete Serrano – promoted in October 2022 – with the duo also advising Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes and Avianca on their combining into Abra Group, now one of the largest airlines in Latin America. Senior associate Andrés Rubio Puente is another standout for merger filings and investigations. Karla Barona joined in December 2022 from AB Inbev to strengthen the practice.

Ecuador > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Diego Pérez Ordoñez and Juan Manuel Marchán head the team at Pérez Bustamante & Ponce, which ‘stands out for its prompt responses and its ability to provide useful and practical solutions’. Marchán is described by one client as ‘always available to resolve concerns and provide quality advice‘, and Ordóñez stands out for his track record in M&A, having been involved in many of Ecuador’s landmark transactions. The group adopts a cross-practice approach and collaborates with the firm’s antitrust, tax, labour and litigation teams. At associate level, Andrés Brown-Pérez is the name to note; his previous stint at an international firm’s M&A department is an asset to the firm when handling cross-border transactions. Since publication, Brown-Pérez has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

Ecuador > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Rodrigo Jijón-Letort, Juan Manuel Marchán and Edgar Ulloa Balladares lead Pérez Bustamante & Ponce's dispute resolution team, which is 'uniquely suited to represent US-based companies and other multinational corporations facing the most complex and significant disputes in Ecuador' and has 'decades of experience handling complex, cross-border litigation and international arbitration'. The group's expertise also include mediation and crisis management, while -bolstered by Marchán’s experience- it's capabilities in the energy and infrastructure sectors are particuarly noteworthy. Jijón-Letort too, is highlighted and can draw on over 40 years' experience in international and domestic litigation and arbitration. At associate level, public law specialist senior José David Ortiz is a key member of the group’s constitutional litigation practice; and fellow senior Maria Teresa Borja is also a noteworthy member of the team. Since publication, Ortiz and the litigation-focused Patricio Quevedo-Vergara have both been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

Ecuador > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

Partners Francisco Roldán-Cobo, Sebastián Pérez-Arteta, Jaime Zaldumbide and Sebastián Cortez, along with associate director María Isabel Aillón, co-lead Pérez Bustamante & Ponce's energy group, which ‘helps solve complex problems’ and shows a ‘solid knowledge of the management of government relations’. In addition to regularly handling mining and oil and gas work, the team has seen an uptick in the number of electricity and renewable energy matters, areas of growth for the country more widely. The group’s multidisciplinary approach means it is able to provide clients with tax, labour, environmental, finance, M&A and contractual advice. In June 2022, Patricio Albuja returned to the firm as a senior associate after a period in-house, further bolstering the group’s energy offering. Since publication, Aillón has been raised to the partnership

Ecuador > Labour and employment Tier 1

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce demonstrates the ability to advise high-profile clients in the healthcare, manufacturing, technology, mining and oil sectors across the full spectrum of labour law mandates. Key areas of expertise for the group include social security, immigration, collective bargaining agreements and day-to-day strategic advice. With seasoned litigator Javier Salvador at the forefront of the offering, the team showcases strong capabilities in disputes, evidenced by its recent assistance to Solgold in an administrative lawsuit against the Social Security Institute for alleged non-compliance with payments to temporary community workers and relevant sanctions. Practice director Belén Jaramillo Álvarez is another standout for administrative and labour litigation, particularly in relation to the retail, food and beverage, and hospitality industries. A recent arrival from Robalino, senior associate Esteban Baquero supports on litigation proceedings, and the arrival of associates Daniela Cazar from Robalino and Gabriela Díaz from Bustamante Fabara are also key developments within the practice. Since publication, Jaramillo Álvarez has left the firm - effective as of January 2024.

Ecuador > Real estate Tier 1

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce offers a full-service approach to clients seeking advice on large-scale regional and international projects, benefiting from a deep bench with considerable knowledge of infrastructure, leases, energy-related projects, concessions and public permit matters. Within these fields of expertise, the group handles matters pertaining to land and plot acquisitions as well as connected planning and tax issues. Sandra Reed, who has a 20-year track record in navigating project finance and public-private partnerships mandates, leads the team alongside Diego Pérez Ordoñez and Juan Manuel Marchán, names to note for the implementation of lease and concession agreements and the management of PPPs, respectively. The team, which also features director of the Guayaquil office Nicolás Maldonado, offers continuous support to Corporación Quiport, acting as a trusted advisor in all matters related to the construction and operation of the new Quito International Airport.

Ecuador > Tax Tier 1

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce continues to solidify its standing as a leader in the Ecuadorian market, with a tax department sought by leading food and beverage, oil and gas, retail, mining and consumer market clients. The team sources expertise from offices in Guayaquil and Quito to advise clients on their navigation of tax reforms and tax structurings as well as proceedings in front of the Tax District Court and National Court of Justice. The retention of clients such as Belcorp and Adelca means the team is regularly engaged to advise on relevant issues. Juan Gabriel Reyes spearheads the firm’s offering in the field, recognised in particular for his role in tax planning, an area of specialisation supplemented by his expertise in administrative and judicial tax claims. Carmen Simone-Lasso supports these efforts, applying knowledge of customs and international trade law issues, working alongside Juan Francisco Carrasco, who is active in advising companies in the energy, telecoms and infrastructure sectors. Other standout practitioners include directors Nicolás Maldonado-Zambrano and Alejandro Páez-Vallejo (with the latter promoted to the position in October 2022), handling family estate protection and tax optimisation matters, respectively. Jeannette Jarrin-Sevilla is also recommended for her work on double taxation avoidance agreements and corporate restructurings.

Ecuador > Intellectual property Tier 2

The IP practice at Pérez Bustamante & Ponce continues to expand its offering in the patents, copyright and trade mark spaces, where it acts for companies operating in the cosmetics, food and beverage, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and luxury goods industries. Francisco Pérez draws from 27 years of experience managing trade mark portfolios and handling complex IP litigation to steer the team alongside the highly regarded Margarita Romero, who joined from Romero Corral Abogados in April 2023. The group demonstrates further capabilities in plant variety protection, industrial design, anti-counterfeiting and customs matters; a recent highlight for the group was its representation of Jaguar Land Rover in relation to its Jaguar trade mark. Pérez is supported by a team of senior associates, with infringement litigation expert Rafael González and portfolio management specialists Camila Mateus, who was promoted in April 2022, and Alysa Arcos standing out.