Demonstrating particular strength in M&A deal structuring, often for majority stake acquisitions, Bustamante Fabara is a popular choice for international and domestic clients alike. Its varied workload also includes joint ventures, corporate governance and commercial contracts advice. These are areas of strength for practice heads Juan Felipe Bustamante and José Rafael Bustamante C., who act across sectors such as finance, tech, manufacturing, real estate and retail. Managing partner María Rosa Fabara Vera is present in high-stakes M&A with a commercial angle, and often handles complex cross-border transactions, with Andrés Becdach offering key support in these matters. Pedro Gómez de la Torre regularly advises on regulatory compliance related to commercial contracts, and director Kirina González stands out for handling high-profile, cross-border M&A transactions.

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce is equally adept at acting on the seller and buyer side of large-scale acquisitions and due diligence matters related to major deals. Additionally, multi-jurisdictional transactions such as buyouts, restructurings and joint ventures form notable parts of the team's offering. The team routinely advises on commercial agreements and other commercial matters. At the helm is Diego Pérez-Ordoñez, who is involved in transactions in Ecuador. Andrés Brown Pérez, who was promoted to partner in January 2024, is particularly experienced in SPA negotiations and contractual matters. Juan Manuel Marchán-Maldonado has a range of experience across the retail, food and beverage, telecoms, energy and manufacturing sectors, among others. Pedro Manuel Pérez plays a key role in the firm’s significant acquisition finance mandates, whereas Esteban Ortiz stands out for his expertise in corporate governance.

On top of offering routine corporate law advice, CorralRosales is well-equipped to handle merger and demerger processes, dissolutions and corporate reorganisations, as well as restructuring matters for governmental entities and financings related to this, often of a cross-border nature. In particular, Milton Carrera is a name to note for assisting international clients operating in Ecuador. Xavier Rosales leads the overall corporate department, which includes senior associate Ana Samudio, who clients turn to for corporate matters in the TMT industry, and associate Sofía Rosales, who often handles due diligence related to corporate operations.

Working closely with the firm’s tax department, ECIJA provides advice to clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, spanning spin-offs, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and corporate governance, among other areas. Corporate restructuring expert Michael Ventimilla, whose German language skills make him well-placed to work on international corporate law matters with German clients, leads the team. Director Karen Álava assists large companies in Ecuador with corporate restructurings and commercial law matters. Gustavo Arrobo is a standout practitioner for corporate structuring and is active in a range of corporate transactions.

Lexvalor Abogados regularly advises on foreign investment into Ecuador. Among the sectors of particular focus for the group, and for Ricardo Peñaherrera in particular, are the food and beverage, consumer goods and tech industries. Juan Francisco Almeida, Héctor Barahona and Alfredo Peñaherrera jointly lead the team, with Peñaherrera acting in the full life cycle of M&A deals, from document preparation to deal closings. Almeida is particularly entrusted by clients in the food sector for cross-border transactions throughout the Latin America region.

Robalino often acts in large-scale M&A transactions and offers advice on significant matters such as restructuring processes and the closure of businesses. Martín Pallares and Daniel Robalino co-lead the team with each bringing expertise in M&A, reorganisations, corporate governance, private equity transactions and financing. Senior partner Javier Robalino is the key contact for those seeking advice on multi-jurisdictional M&A and foreign investment. Former senior associate Christian Narvaez left the firm in July 2025.

Tobar ZVS has gained traction in the market for corporate matters in the energy and natural resources sectors, including renewable energy deals. In 2024, this was demonstrated by it providing contract law advice relating to the financing of large mining projects in Ecuador. The group’s expertise extends to advising on investment protection and private equity deals, as well as core areas of practice such as cross-border M&A transactions. Managing partner Bernardo Tobar heads the group and is supported by Alvaro Sevilla, who excels in the structuring of legal vehicles for businesses. Hipatia Donoso focuses on matters at the intersection of M&A, corporate law and data protection.

Apolo Abogados is well versed in industrial and commercial operations, often adopting a multidisciplinary approach due to the experience of team members in finance, labour, insurance and tax law, among other areas. Rafael Balda Santistevan, Andrés Suárez and Javier Cardoso Andrade head the team. Clients include prominent trade associations, municipalities and state ministries, emblematic of the group's activity in both the public and the private sectors. María José Arias is skilled in general corporate matters, including corporate structuring and corporate finance.

Dentons Paz Horowitz tackles complex M&A transactions, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, divestments, incorporations and spin-offs. M&A deals and commercial contracts in the energy, mining and real estate sectors are regularly handled by Maria Del Mar Heredia. Another significant team member is Rocio Cordova, whose banking expertise allows her to advise on regulatory challenges related to foreign investment. Due diligence related to share purchase agreements is another area of strength for the group, and such matters are often led by Jorge Paz Durini. Valeria Rosero is also a key contact in the group.

Operating nationwide, Durini & Guerrero Abogados competently handles corporate conflicts and shareholder issues, achieving successful negotiations within corporations, as well as a range of mergers and restructurings. Felipe Durini Andrade, Juan Francisco Guerrero Del Pozo, and Daniela Salgado Poveda are the trio leading the team. Poveda is particularly active in the structuring of fiduciary businesses and also handles real estate and corporate matters. Among the group’s standout associates is corporate lawyer María Angeles Paula Guapulema, who joined the team from Dentons Paz Horowitz in August 2024.

Flor Bustamante Pizarro Hurtado Abogados further expanded its geographic reach with the recent opening of an office in Manta, Ecuador’s leading fishing port. The ‘knowledgeable, responsive and pragmatic’ team is distinguished by the range of its sector strengths, with prominent activity in the energy, telecoms and retail sectors, among others. Experienced M&A lawyer Mario Flor, Roque Bustamante and Juan Andrés Gortaire are the trio leading the team. Gortaire often leads the group’s matters involving corporate governance and due diligence relating to M&A and day-to-day corporate operations. Alejandra Soriano is a key contact for matters in the aviation sector.

Noboa, Peña & Torres, Abogados‘ corporate and commercial department specialises in corporate transactions in the energy sector, both in Ecuador and internationally, an area in which Francisco Larrea stands out. Larrea is also active in the oil and gas and infrastructure sectors, and leads the team alongside Marcelo Torres Bejarano, who regularly offers strategic corporate advice, and founding partner Gonzalo Noboa Baquerizo. The group, which advises large international clients, influential local businesses, non-profit organisations and individual entrepreneurs, is also well established in the corporate governance space.

Pino Elizalde Abogados' full-service offering covers M&A, joint ventures, corporate governance and corporate restructurings, as well as the regulatory elements of M&A transactions, an area in which associate Camila Aray is a valuable team member. The group is commended by one client for its ability to 'know and master the current regulations' in corporate matters. Practice co-heads Daniel Pino and Fernanda Guzmán are adept in an array of corporate matters, including corporate restructurings, in an equally diverse range of industries. Jaime Arosemena is another standout team member.

Noted for its ‘experience and innovation’, Spingarn regularly advises on the regulatory aspects of high-stakes corporate transactions. The group particularly stands out for its work in structuring and purchase agreements. Sebastián Saá Tamayo, Diego Armas Medina and Andrés Narváez head up the group. Saa focuses on investment protection and international transactions and is active in the group’s financial restructuring mandates.

Almeida Guzmán & Asociados has an established corporate and commercial offering in a range of sectors including automotive, renewable energy, healthcare and consumer goods sectors, the latter of which is a particular strength for Cristobal Montufar, a consumer goods expert. An area of recent growth for the group is M&A related to foreign investment, and assisting with contracts for large construction projects by overseas investors. The team is overseen by José Urizar, who handles the full range of corporate and commercial matters. Diego Almeida Guzmán is a standout practitioner for corporate tax matters.

AVL Abogados' corporate and commercial team is known for its advice across the energy, telecoms, aviation and pharmaceutical sectors. The practice offers guidance on corporate matters, contracts and data protection. Jorge Cevallos Carrera leads the team, with expertise in M&A, financing, blockchain and smart contracts. Xavier Andrade Cadena focuses on complex corporate transactions in mining, pharmaceuticals and logistics, while Rodrigo Borjas Callisto advises on regulatory and operational matters in hydrocarbons and mining. Key support comes from José Luis Cuesta, Santiago Andrade Cadena, and senior associates Andrea Lara, Renata Medina, Salomé Dávalos and Francisco Ortiz Pérez.

Cevallos Casals Balseca & Bilbao Abogados excels in advising clients on investment strategies, as well as operational and restructuring issues stemming from either leaving the Ecuadorian market or entering it. Carlos Julio Balseca Avila leads the team and is able to adeptly advise on corporate planning, restructuring and M&A. Maria José Terán is another name to note, especially for providing corporate law and day-to-day commercial advice to clients such as manufacturers on running their operations in Ecuador.

Commended for its 'deep knowledge of corporate law and projects in Guayaquil', and also offering a presence in Quito, Coronel & Pérez regularly advises global leaders in material production, or subsidiaries of large manufacturing companies. Cesar Coronel Jones, Hernán Pérez Loose and Octavio Rosselli Becerra head up the team, which often works on corporate agreements and a range of commercial contracts. Felix Reyes Chevez is another key name to note.

Described as 'intimately familiar with the country's current regulatory developments', Heka Law Firm's corporate and M&A practice focuses in particular on corporate governance and regulatory advice. Corporate structuring is another key area for the group as a whole and for Daniel Fernández-Salvador in particular. Fernández-Salvador runs the group with Mauricio Subía and Andrés Terán. Subía is instrumental in providing corporate advice related to foreign investment for companies wishing to establish a presence in Ecuador, while Terán is key for matters in the technology and telecoms sectors. Juan Andrés Gortaire departed from the group in 2024.

With clients including some of Ecuador's largest companies and international brands, Romero Arteta Ponce is skilled in offering general corporate law advice and assistance in managing corporate contracts. Heading up the group is the duo of Diego Romero and Gustavo Romero. The former is experienced in representing shareholders in seller-side M&A and the latter is often involved in both seller and buyer-side share deals, providing due diligence advice related to commercial operations.