Dentons Paz Horowitz

Dentons Paz Horowitz is proud to announce its role in supporting the expansion of the renowned international restaurant chain Taco Bell into Ecuador and Peru, providing comprehensive legal counsel throughout every stage of the project. In a strategic transaction, the Cuenca-based Sociedad Gourmet Hospitality Group acquired Taco Bell’s operations in Peru and spearheaded the brand’s return to Ecuador after a 16-year absence — marking a significant milestone in the growth of the international franchise sector in the country. Our founding partner Jorge Paz Durini, together with partner María del Mar Heredia, were part of the legal team that advised Sociedad Gourmet Hospitality Group throughout the process, including the acquisition of Taco Bell’s Peruvian operations as a preliminary step toward its re-entry into the Ecuadorian market. The Dentons Paz Horowitz team also provided guidance on structuring and securing the investments that enabled the continued operation in Peru and the opening of the brand’s first locations in Ecuador. This project represents another key milestone in Taco Bell’s international growth journey and reaffirms Dentons Paz Horowitz’s commitment to promoting foreign investment and supporting business expansion across the region. On behalf of the entire Dentons Paz Horowitz team, we extend our best wishes for continued success in this new chapter.

Dentons Paz Horowitz congratulates its client CREPIER on the opening of their first store in Ecuador, marking the company’s first location outside of Peru — a key milestone in its regional expansion. We are proud to have supported this achievement by providing continuous and comprehensive legal advice to enable its establishment and operations in the country. The Dentons Paz Horowitz team supported CREPIER through every stage of the process, from the structuring and incorporation of its company to the compliance with corporate, regulatory, and labor requirements necessary to start operations in Ecuador. This milestone reflects Dentons Paz Horowitz’s commitment to providing strategic, personalized, and results-oriented legal solutions, enabling our clients to expand their businesses with confidence and legal certainty. The project was led by Agustín Acosta Cárdenas, our Managing Partner, together with Valeria Rosero, Legal Director of the Corporate area, with support from Patricia Andrade and Francisco Moya from the Labor team. The entire team at Dentons Paz Horowitz celebrates this important achievement and thanks CREPIER for placing their trust in our firm to support their growth in Ecuador.       Dentons Paz Horowitz congratulates its client CREPIER on the opening of their first store in Ecuador, marking the company’s first location outside of Peru — a key milestone in its regional expansion. We are proud to have supported this achievement by providing continuous and comprehensive legal advice to enable its establishment and operations in the country.

Dentons Paz Horowitz is pleased to announce that Carmen Crespo has joined the firm as a Partner in its Tax practice. With over a decade of experience in tax law, Carmen brings a deep understanding of cross-border taxation, international transactions, and corporate tax planning. Carmen advises multinational corporations, private equity funds, and high-net-worth individuals on a broad range of tax matters, including mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, investment strategies, and U.S. tax compliance. Her experience extends to navigating complex treaty applications and advising clients in multiple jurisdictions. Prior to joining Dentons, Carmen spent 5 years as a Manager in the Transaction Tax Advisory practice at Ernst & Young LLP in the United States, Followed by over a year and a half as part of the EY US Desk in Munich, Germany. During her time at EY, she led major due diligence and structuring projects, supported IPO-related tax planning, and advised on significant divestitures involving over 28 jurisdictions. In Ecuador, Carmen began her career at a boutique law firm, where she represented clients in commercial, tax, and administrative litigation, including proceedings involving the Ecuadorian government. Carmen holds an LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center, where she graduated with distinction, and a Master of Laws with a specialization in Tax Law from Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar. She is admitted to practice in Ecuador, New York, and Washington, D.C. Reflecting on her new role, Carmen said: “After several years advising clients on international tax strategies across multiple jurisdictions, joining Dentons represents an exciting opportunity to offer world-class service to clients in Ecuador and beyond. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued growth and excellence.” Carmen joins a dynamic team at Dentons Paz Horowitz, which provides integrated legal services across more than 20 practice areas and industries throughout Latin America and globally. As part of Dentons, the world’s largest law firm with more than 21,000 professionals in over 200 locations across 80+ countries, Dentons Paz Horowitz continues to strengthen its position as a leading legal advisor in the region.

In a significant step forward for the Loja-Catamayo Road Corridor in Ecuador, Dentons will support the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) in structuring this project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This initiative aims to enhance connectivity in southern Ecuador and drive economic growth in the region. Dentons' infrastructure team in Canada, led by Ilan Dunsky, along with the Ecuador infrastructure team, led by Gabriel Solís, will be involved in the legal and transactional structuring, as well as local coordination and alignment with the country’s legal and regulatory frameworks. Our partner, Gabriel Solís, supported by Dentons Paz Horowitz Managing Partner, Agustín Acosta Cárdenas, and Founding Partner Jorge Paz, has played a crucial role in navigating the complexities of the local legal environment, ensuring the project’s seamless execution and integration with Ecuador’s broader infrastructure objectives. “We are thrilled to be part of this transformative project and to contribute to the creation of a safer and more efficient transportation corridor for the people of Loja province and the productive sectors of southern Ecuador,” said Gabriel Solís. The significance of this project goes beyond improving road infrastructure. Enhanced connectivity will facilitate better access to Catamayo Airport, a critical hub for travel in southern Ecuador. This is expected to spur economic growth, strengthen integration with the rest of the country, and create new opportunities for local communities. The signing of the Government-to-Government (G2G) contract marks a critical step in the realization of this infrastructure project. The agreement between CCC and Ecuador’s Secretariat for Public-Private Investments brings Canadian expertise in legal and transactional structuring to support Ecuador’s vision of modernizing its road infrastructure. The joint efforts of Dentons Canada and Dentons Paz Horowitz in Ecuador highlight the firm’s commitment to fostering international collaboration. For more information, please contact [email protected].