Mr Martín Pallares Sevilla > Robalino > Quito, Ecuador > Lawyer Profile

Robalino acts on behalf of a portfolio of domestic banks in cross-border transactions, focusing on pioneering work on socially motivated finance deals as well as in relation to securitisation and structured finance matters. Key areas of work in this regard include green and sustainable bond offerings, credit facilities, debt restructurings and derivatives transactions. The firm stands out for combining its vision of sustainability with traditional finance work, recently evidenced by its advice to FMO regarding the $6m financing to Ecua America Teak used to finance working capital, capital expenditure and the acquisition of new land to plant teak trees. Director Carol Riofrio stands at the forefront of these efforts, having joined from Grupo FINCA in December 2022, and bringing notable experience from her previous role as legal manager for a bank specialised in microcredits. This role sees Riofrío working closely with Martín Pallares and Javier Robalino, who are specialists in private equity projects and complex M&A deals. In October 2022, the firm saw the departure of seasoned practitioner Jesús Beltrán.

With a strong position in the Ecuadorian and Latin American real estate markets, Robalino exhibits strength in a variety of matters, including project investment structuring and construction-related litigation. Arbitration proceedings are also regularly handled by the group. Led by Martín Pallares and Daniel Robalino, who are well versed in corporate issues relating to the acquisition of land and premises, the team is particularly active in the agriculture industry. Key developments in the practice include the departure of former practice co-head Ernesto Weisson in October 2022.

Robalino, co-led by Martín Pallares and Daniel Robalino, remains a popular choice for blue-chip national and multinational companies. The department regularly assists clients with large and complex M&A transactions within the Ecuadorian market, the volume of which continues to grow year-on-year. Elsewhere in the team, senior partner Javier Robalino handles a broad range of corporate matters, including cross-border M&A, foreign investment, complex disputes and international arbitration. The group deals with a variety of corporate and commercial matters, from high-end corporate and finance transactions to general corporate and commercial work. Former practice head Jesús Beltrán and senior associate Juan Bernando Guarderas left the firm in September 2022.