Demonstrating great ‘attention to detail‘ Lexvalor Abogados is particularly noted for its expertise as regards tenancy law and expropriation proceedings, representing clients in negotiations, arbitration and litigation. In the construction projects segment, the team acts for the likes of Uribe Schwarzkopf and Corporación Favorita on a range of large-scale residential and retail developments respectively. Property subdivision is also an area where the practice has a particular focus, working with developers and banks on a variety of transfers of ownership. The team is jointly led by Karla Villacís, who handles both contentious and non-contentious issues; Daniela Irigoyen, whose practice focuses on the financial aspects of real estate transactions, and Juan Francisco Almeida, an expert on project structuring. Also noted in the team, senior associate Marcelo Morabowen provides advisory services in relation to development work; while associate Santiago Aguirre handles permits and authorisations from local governments.
Real estate in Ecuador
Lexvalor Abogados
Practice head(s):
Karla Villacís; Daniela Irigoyen; Juan Francisco Almeida
Testimonials
‘The firm has been able to handle complex real estate issues that have included special municipal permits, diversion of roads, inheritance issues, replacement of public spaces, and other particulars of each project, the advice of the firm has been vital from the beginning. Finally, it is very important to emphasize that our lawyers operate with the same anti-corruption and compliance policy with the authorities and control officials. This is the added value that we have with Lexvalor and its differentiation from other firms.’
‘Lexvalor’s lawyers are concerned not only with answering the issues that are presented, but also generate alerts and work from the different departments when a problem appears that was not identified by the company. They are very clear that when they do a job, their work involves taking care of the client’s corporate image. Santiago Aguirre is a very active lawyer in the real estate area and with whom we have daily contact in real estate processes, a lawyer with great professional ethics and perceptive to the needs of the client.’
‘This practice provides comprehensive solutions under one roof, has extensive experience in different branches of law, provides personalized attention (partners present), understands our business in depth, which greatly facilitates management, and maintains relationships within the union and with authorities.’
‘The firm’s lawyers are strategic business allies due to their knowledge, experience, involvement and commitment. Daniela Irigoyen collaborates not only from a purely legal perspective, but also permanently watching over the business.’
‘100% available any time with full expertise, excellent professional knowledge’
‘The level of closeness with customers and attention to detail. The general service of the people in the firm is friendly, they are proactive.’
‘The attorneys at Lexvalor are always willing to find ways to help their clients, often even on weekends.’
‘Collaboration and predisposition to attend to any query, there is always openness to see how to reach the best solution meeting the requirements of what is needed.’
Key clients
Uribe Schwarzkopf
Grupo Nobis
Lomas de San Pedro Project
La Gloria Project
Romero y Pazmiño
Trust María Isabel
Corporación Favorita
Work highlights
- Advised Uribe Schwarzkopf in the Iqon, Epiq, and Qanvas projects, which were all approved by the relevant authorities.
- Advised Grupo Nobis on the constitution of the “Sotonovo II” trust and the “NM” mercantile trust.
- Advised Corporación Favorita on pre-existing litigation, the unification of lots, declaration of horizontal property, expropriation processes, permits, and licenses.
Pérez Bustamante & Ponce
Pérez Bustamante & Ponce maintains its standing as one of the leading firms for real estate work, advising several high-profile clients in the transport, tourism and pharmaceutical sectors on a range of regional projects. With public-private partnerships representing a key area of work for the firm, the team recently advised Duranports in relation to an investment contract with the Ecuadorian government, regarding the design, construction and operation of a private barge port terminal. Leadership of the team is divided between Sandra Reed, who is recommended for project financing and joint venture work; and Diego Perez, who focuses on the negotiation and implementation of leases and concession agreements. Other key figures include Juan Manuel Marchán, and senior associates Nicolás Maldonado and Estefanía López. The team also welcomed the arrival of associate Sebastián Cortez from Noboa, Peña & Torres, Abogados in January 2021, strengthening the practice’s offering with regard to energy-and-natural-resource infrastructure projects.
Practice head(s):
Sandra Reed; Diego Pérez Ordóñez
Testimonials
‘Excellent willingness to work and face the challenges of work.’
‘Commitment.’
Key clients
IBT Group
Gransolar
Total Eren
JC Decaux
Omer Decugis & Cie
Duranports
DP World Posorja
Unicomer
Doppelmayr Seilbahnen
Quiport
Life for Tyres
Work highlights
- Advised Quiport on all legal matters related to the construction and operation of the new Quito International Airport, a greenfield investment on 1,500 hectares on the outskirts of the city.
- Advised Sixstar Group on the process to change the brand of its major hotel in Guayaquil, including handling opposition from minority shareholders.
- Acted for Duragas in connection with its acquiring of new facilities for an operation in Guayaquil.
FABARA & COMPAÑÍA
Bustamante Fabara‘s real estate team is primarily focused on the hospitality and tourism industries, representing largely high-profile clients on the sale, purchase and leasing of urban and rural developments. Regarded for an ‘exceptional advisory service’, it also acts for the likes of Phoenix Tower International and Textiles El Rayo on due diligence and transactional work for the acquisition of real estate properties. José Rafael Bustamante Espinosa leads the practice alongside Juan Felipe Bustamante, who is well-regarded for his expertise in regulatory issues, as well as matters relating to the hospitality industry. Other key figures in the team include José Rafael Bustamante Crespo, who handles transactional aspects of acquisitions and financing; and associates José Antonio Bustamante and Andrés Becdach, who focus on construction permits and M&A transactions relating to real estate development.
Practice head(s):
José Rafael Bustamante Espinosa; Juan Felipe Bustamante
Testimonials
‘The confidence they transmit through knowledge. They are efficient and detail-oriented.’
‘The knowledge, the details and how they reach the end of the processes.’
‘They form an excellent team together, they work like clockwork. Each one takes care of what corresponds to them and the processes flow and advance.’
‘They have an excellent relationship with the people, the officials and that facilitates the procedures. Billing processes are timely and clear; we have dealt with many women in the administrative part, they have sophisticated communication systems. They are at the top of the legal studies of Ecuador.’
‘We like Bustamante Fabara because their lawyers are ahead of the facts, anticipate problems and are ready to provide solutions.’
José Rafael Bustamante Espinosa brings years of good experience and knows how the market and the laws of the country work. José Rafael Bustamante Crespo is extremely agile and offers exceptional advice.’
‘Kirina González is dynamic, experienced, knowledgeable and always available. The firm has provided advice in multiple areas and in all of them we have had the positive results we were looking for.’
Key clients
Textiles El Rayo
Phoenix Tower International
Distribuidora Latinoamericana Farmalatina
Accor Hotels
ISSFA
Guerrero y Asociados BR Impakto Inmobiliaria
Inmobiliaria Mercantil
Fideicomiso Piedras Blancas
Applus
Work highlights
- Advised Textiles El Rayo on the acquisition of a property, through its subsidiary Inmopremier, consisting of several warehouses purchased from Dexixorp.
- Advised Phoenix Tower International on a ground lease buyout project which includes the real estate due diligence of over 200 properties nation-wide and the closing of land acquisitions valued at over $10m.
- Represented Accor Hotels in an extraordinary shareholders meeting where local Ecuadorian Swisshotel requested a capital contribution in order to construct a hotel in the City of Guayaquil.
Dentons Paz Horowitz
Dentons Paz Horowitz's team specialises in regulatory issues in the real estate space, with an emphasis on titles, horizontal property declarations, permits, registrations and the structuring of subdivisions. Practice director Verónica Mieles -who was raised to the partnership in August 2022- can draw on over 20 years’ experience handling real estate matters, particularly for clients in the financial sector; the team also acts on sale and purchase agreements, leases, and transfers in an M&A context.
Practice head(s):
Verónica Mieles
Testimonials
‘Teamwork is observed when I request various procedures. They immediately communicated me with the appropriate area.’
‘Quick communication and clear answers. They give confidence when consulting or managing an order.’
‘I used this company because Verónica Mieles works there. She had helped me with some previous legal issues regarding conveyancing and property rights and I had the utmost confidence in her. The service I received from her was outstanding. Honesty, clarity, transparency and patience are the characteristics of working with this firm.’
‘Billing was clear and fair I loved that I could trust this firm to handle things in my best interest.’
‘Professionalism Absolutely knew what they were doing. Sound legal advice Responsive to e mails and messages Personable and pleasant Trustworthy.’
‘What sets Dentons apart is the care and professionalism they have when they handle projects. Having specialist lawyers in different areas helps solve complex problems.’
‘They are always available. That is very important when you have urgent problems. Many times other firms only think about “billing hours”, however working with Veronica Mieles has given me confidence that they care about getting the job done. That gives me a lot of confidence.’
Key clients
Amelia Moncayo
Rita Prado
Hospital Vozandes
Frucorp
Terra
Importfamily
Sheila Leech
Titan Minerals
Cristobal Seaview
Mutisa
Tanny Guimaraes
Zenda
Work highlights
- Acted for Hospital Vozandes regarding a $1.8m land purchase for the expansion of a hospital development.
- Advised Terra on a construction project regarding houses in an exclusive development site in Quito, for a value of approximately $2.8m.
- Acting for Titan Minerals in the process of selling several properties in different provinces of Ecuador for a value of $1.3m.
Robalino
With it’s ever growing network of offices across the country serving to further facilitate the practice, Robalino‘s real estate team handles a range of high-profile work for clients across the agricultural, urban and industrial real estate segments. The team, which is led by Daniel Robalino in Quito, divides its time between contentious and non-contentious work, characterised by a range of construction disputes on the contentious front, and investment structuring, regulatory advisory, creditor negotiations and contractor management on the non-contentious side. The agricultural sector, in particular, is a key pillar of the team’s work, Weisson recently acted for the owners of Agrinag on its sale of the company to FlowerInvestment CF Holding. Martín Pallares Sevilla is also noted for his transactional expertise in the sector; however, former practice co-head Ernesto Weisson departed for Deloitte in October 2022, taking much of the Guayaquil team with him.
Practice head(s):
Ernesto Weisson; Daniel Robalino
Testimonials
‘Highly trained multidisciplinary team, knowledgeable about the subject.’
‘Daniel Robalino is knowledgeable about real estate, legislation, contacts in the middle, and has a support team for all related areas.’
‘The Robalino Law team, led by Daniel Robalino, has historically advised us in the practice of real estate law in various complex processes that have allowed the expansion of our franchises. They are a top-tier team who have always been available at the most critical moments and the most complex negotiations. Daniel Robalino sees beyond real estate and transforms it into an integral relationship by being a Capo di Tutti Capi.’
‘It is a team with commercial vision and deep understanding of the law, additionally it has specialists in all matters of law, thus making Robalino Law a one-stop shop. Its main virtue is its commitment to us and its quality.’
‘Market dominance, good knowledge of the main players in the market, they are very good and open to all the meetings that took place to be able to land and acclimatize generic formats to the market and to the internal training that took place on internal processes, internal policies and now they have a good knowledge of way of working.’
‘A very special and particular mention to Martin Pallares Sevilla, who has been truly strategic for the opening in a new market. The team’s splendid attention, proactivity and availability makes them stand out. They were essential last year for the signing of our first contracts with which we were able to guarantee the company’s KPI of announcing the opening of the market in the third quarter of last year.’
‘They have experts in all the branches that my company needs versus other firms that do not.’
‘Know how to listen, pause if necessary to validate the corresponding information and then give an informed response. The best qualities are their techniques definitely.’
Key clients
Agrinac
La Fabril
Miguel-Camp
Lucksa
Alkavat Holdings
Inmobiliaria Rijona
Colour Republic
Sunshine Bouquet
Semaica
Avesca
Work highlights
- Advised Agrinag in the sale of the company to FlowerInvestment CF Holding, for an amount of $9.3m.
- Advised Miguel-Camp during the purchase of a property in Galapagos for an amount of $3.8m.
- Advised Lucksa in various processes for acquisition of new land, merger of land, horizontal property procedures, promises and purchase-and-sale of apartments, for approximately $10m.
Heka Law Firm
With a ‘personalised service’, Heka Law Firm's real estate practice handles a variety of issues -particularly for large financial institutions and design and construction companies, such as Banco Pichincha and Rama Estudio- ranging from transactional matters to infrastructure projects. Santiago Albán acts primarily on financial issues relating to the sector, while fellow practice co-head Mauricio Subía is primarily focused on transactional issues. Also an integral member of the practice group, Juan Andrés Gortaire is well-regarded for his advice on the contractual and regulatory structuring of real estate projects.
Practice head(s):
Santiago Albán; Mauricio Subía
Testimonials
‘The personalised attention and knowledge of the issues has made Heka handle a large part of legal issues in the real estate line. They have captured our processes in other areas of constitutions, obtaining permits, trademark registrations, municipal procedures, including procedures in other jurisdictions.’
‘The prices are competitive with those of other groups of lawyers, but the added attention and personalization of the topics is much higher. It has a deep understanding of the law and ordinances.’
Key clients
Camara de la Construccion de Cuenca
Constructores Positivos
Fortaltriun
Monteolivo
Zion Trust and Funds Management
Proyectos Unidos Empresariales PRM
Ramaestudio
Banco Pichincha
Distribuidora el Mirador Dismirador
Work highlights
- Advised Fortaltriun on various real estate projects wih an aggregate value of $4.1m.
- Advised Banco del Pichincha in connection with the management of over 400 real estate sale contracts and mortgage securities; value, approx $30m.
- Advised Distribuidora el Mirador Dismirador on the structuring of one of the most advanced apartment buildings in the city of Cuenca; value: $3m.
Pino Elizalde Abogados
The team at Pino Elizalde Abogados handles an array of real estate work that takes in regulatory, contractual, financial and tax-related matters. With further emphasis on structuring and construction projects, the firm also acts in disputes involving municipalities, with a focus on expropriation proceedings. The team is co-led by Daniel Pino, who focuses on contractual structuring; Jaime Arosemena, who has expertise in the leasing of commercial and industrial properties, and Jorge Cedeño, who is noted for his advice on complex real estate projects.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Pino; Jaime Arosemena; Jorge Cedeño
Key clients
Inmobiliaria Open House (IOH)
Promotora Inmobiliaria LFG
Laboratorios Dr A Bjarner
Boticas Unidas del Ecuador
Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila
Aguimack
Biosuper–Pigalle
Megaproductos
Minutocorp
Work highlights
- Advising Open House and representing a group of shareholders that are in charge of developing the project called “New Samborondon” – a large-scale real estate development project in a new urban area of Samborondon.
- Advised, drafted and executed the intercompany sale between Laboratorios Bjarner and Boticas Unidas of two real estate properties located in Durán, as part of the ALMAX real estate acquisition.
- Regular advise to Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila on its different commercial contracts with shrimp suppliers and buyers, as well as on construction agreements related to real estate properties for the business.
Sempértegui Abogados
The real estate practice at Sempértegui Abogados places an emphasis on matters relating to municipal authorities, advising both developers and municipalities on a range of structuring and dispute work. Marcelo Dávila leads the practice and has over 10 years' experience advising clients on municipal law and investment structures. Other notable team members include Gabriela Salazar, a key contact for energy sector-related issues, and Santiago Salazar, who focuses on procedural matters.
Practice head(s):
Marcelo Davila
Testimonials
‘Closeness to the client, availability.’
Key clients
Vicente Ocampo
Steelinc
Cámara de la Pequeña Industria de Pichincha
César Enrique Wong Espinoza
Edificio Lafayette
Weatherford South America
Ecuador’s Ministry of Government
Camberley Development
Kcs
AWT
EMAPA
Roche
Apolo Abogados
Apolo Abogados is best known for its focus on the aquaculture industry, with an offering that provides prominent entities in the segment with advice on land usage, leasing agreements, and administrative relations with public authorities. Led by José Gabriel Apolo and Pablo Cevallos, the team also acts on disputes with local authorities regarding the termination of leasing agreements and revocation of concessions and permits. Andrés Suárez is also a key member of the team and is well regarded for his expertise in transactional structuring.
Practice head(s):
Jose Gabriel Apolo; Pablo Cevallos
Testimonials
‘Differential treatment for all customers.’
‘Good personal relationships, cordiality and execution of cases in the least possible time.’
‘They are a complete team, they have professionals in the various branches to solve any problem successfully.’
‘Agility and professionalism, José Gabriel Apolo and the rest of the team are very good at their work.’
‘What gives this practice a competitive advantage is its specialized knowledge in public law, with an emphasis on municipal regulations and management, which is essential to adequately advise clients in the real estate sector, particularly those with businesses in Quito and Guayaquil.’
‘Municipal regulations are increasingly complex and specialized, which is why the experience of this practice in terms of land use and occupation is highly appreciated.’
‘Certain lawyers of Apolo, such as Pablo Cevallos, have in-depth knowledge of the administrative environment and the regulatory environment of the municipalities of Guayaquil and Quito, due to their extensive work experience in these entities. This allows you to get to know these municipalities, how they work and how to technically and legally solve problems related to the granting of construction permits and authorizations or other procedures related to real estate development.’
Key clients
Satukin
Camaronera Isca
Grupo Burgos
Camronera Escalante
Group Rosales
Acuyul
Grup Jadran
Aqua-Hoa
Grupo Omarsa
Pesalmar
Work highlights
- Advised Satukin on the purchase of a 584-acre plot of land in the canton of Yaguachi, Guayas Province.
- Advised Camaronera Isca, on the purchase of a 200-hectare shrimp farm.
- Advised Burgos Group on the purchase of an 18,493 square metre plot of riverside land in the Durán canton, allowing the company to unify its shrimp loading and unloading activities.
CorralRosales
CorralRosales houses a real estate team that is primarily focused on sale and lease agreements. Quito-based partner Santiago Palacios has oversight of the practice and handles real estate transaction-related dispute resolution matters; Guayaquil-based senior associate Ramón Paz y Miño also noted as a contact for real estate matters.
Romero Arteta Ponce
Gustavo Romero leads the real estate practice at Romero Arteta Ponce, which handles a range of projects for international organisations, including major real estate client, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Recent mandates saw him lead the team acting for Siemens Energy, advising it on various issues in relation to the “Metro de Quito” project. Diego Romero also assisted on the matter; he is best known for his contentious experience, while Amparo Romero is well regarded for her transactional expertise.
Practice head(s):
Gustavo Romero
Testimonials
‘Relationship with people personalisation in processes.’
‘Gustavo Romero is an excellent professional, with a lot of legal knowledge.’
‘What makes this practice unique is the agile and personalized treatment with its customers.’
Key clients
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Siemens Mobility
Patricia Guerra
David Olgieser
Mario Fegan
Pablo Olacirregui
Ana María Guarderas
Andrés Guarderas
Geopromotores
Esteban Matheus
Embajada Suiza
Diego Aristizabal
Casabaca
Juan Ribadeneira