Bustamante Fabara stands out for its ability to handle a wide variety of commercial disputes, covering sports law cases and public contract disputes against the Ecuadorian state and the State Controller General’s Office, as well as acting in a range of civil disputes. The group’s diverse workload also extends to international arbitration and enforcement claims. María Rosa Fabara Vera and Mariana Villagómez Álvarez head the team. Vera is a strong arbitrator and is key for public contract disputes, with a strong track record in representing clients in high-profile judicial proceedings in first-instance and appellate courts, a strength of the wider group. Senior associate Francisco Dávila Caicedo, who excels in complex contractual disputes, including precedent-setting cases before the National Court of Justice, is another name to note.

Coronel & Pérez represents leading public and private companies, including large pharmaceutical companies, in high-value commercial disputes, including as plaintiffs against public entities. The group also appears in contractual disputes before the Contentious Administrative Court and in the National Court of Justice, leveraging the experience of associate Lorena Barrazueta, who was previously employed at the National Court of Justice itself. Cesar Coronel Jones, Hernán Pérez Loose, Jorge Sicouret Lynch and César Coronel Ortega jointly lead the team. Ortega leads many of the group’s international arbitration mandates, and Jones also has experience as president of the Arbitration Centre of the Guayaquil Chamber of Commerce and is increasingly involved in the group’s international arbitration.

CorralRosales often handles tort litigation, as well as constitutional matters in courts of all levels, including the provincial, constitutional and Supreme Court. Hugo García Larriva, who joined from Bustamante Fabara in September 2024, leads the practice and is a go-to practitioner for international arbitration as well as complex disputes against the state, and leads the firm’s arbitration offering. Also at the helm of the overall dispute resolution practice is Santiago Palacios, who clients call upon for high-stakes disputes. The wider group ‘has excellent knowledge of the judicial authorities and excellent relationships with them’. Associates Martín Flores Martínez and Bernarda Muriel, also joining from Bustamante Fabara in September 2024, bring experience in arbitration and litigation focused on highly regulated sectors. Senior associate Mateo Zavala is another name to note.

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce is relied upon by clients for a full range of disputes, including litigation, arbitration and administrative actions. The team is active in commercial disputes in significant sectors of the Ecuadorian economy, such as energy, natural resources and infrastructure. Rodrigo Jijón, Juan Manuel Marchán and Edgar Ulloa are the joint practice heads. Patricio Quevedo, who was promoted to partner in 2024, is regularly sought by clients for Supreme Court litigation. Among the strong arbitrators in the team are Marchán and Jijón, the latter of whom handles alternative dispute resolution including mediation. Promoted to the partnership in January 2025, Javier Jaramillo is also an experienced international arbitration practitioner, building upon previous experience at the international arbitration unit of a Parisian law firm. Juan Carlos Darquea was promoted to associate practice director in February 2025. Ricardo Velasco is the first port of call for anti-corruption litigation.

As well as an established contractual dispute resolution offering, Consulegis Abogados also fields lawyers who are ‘specialists in administrative law and the art of litigation’. The firm often handles litigation at the intersection of contract and administrative law, a particular area of strength for associate José Francisco Acosta, who also handles constitutional proceedings for prestigious clients. The group’s financial services industry expertise also extends to white-collar crime litigation such as bribery and money laundering cases, which are a focus of criminal litigation expert Carlos Cortaza Vinueza. Other key team members include Xavier Castro Munoz, who displays strength in telecoms and freedom of expression disputes, key arbitrator Roberto González Torre, and Carlos Martinez Viteri, who represents clients across the spectrum of litigation.

Dentons Paz Horowitz has experience across a broad range of cases, including constitutional disputes against the state. The group is well placed to handle commercial and investment disputes, among other areas. Practice head and director Leyre Suarez is an experienced litigator whose remit extends to acting as local counsel in commercial and investment arbitration under ICC, UNCITRAL and ICSID rules. Juan Jose Mantilla is a name to note for public procurement and administrative litigation. Gabriel Santelices stands out for his multidisciplinary experience in environmental and corporate matters, allowing him to handle disputes involving mining concessions and operating authorisations. Indeed, mining is a sector of focus for the wider group.

Durini & Guerrero Abogados has offices across in Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca, from which its practitioners appear in local and constitutional courts, such as the Criminal Chamber of the National Court of Justice. Juan Francisco Guerrero Del Pozo specialises in constitutional matters and cases before the constitutional court, an area in which the team as a whole is well established. Tomás Barrionuevo Vaca, who regularly advises on civil, labour and administrative litigation, Rafaella Uzcátegui Pacheco and Francisco Guerrero Celi are also key team members.

With a strong track record in international arbitration, ECIJA‘s team members bring a broad range of commercial and investment arbitration expertise. Juan Carlos Montenegro focuses on civil litigation, while Jaime Dousdebes is noted for public law disputes. The group’s deep bench in mediation grew further with the hire of Gabriela Balseca from Quito Chamber of Commerce, who often acts in mediation relating to assets of companies or high-net-worth individuals. Byron Sotomayor heads the dispute resolution department at the firm from the Guayaquil office, while Ingrid Rodríguez oversees the civil litigation department in Manta. Xavier Molina and Sebastián López are key team members in the Cuenca office. Blanca Gómez De La Torre is active in investment arbitration claims, and Christel Gaibor is a key name at the associate level in relation to arbitration claims.

Lexvalor Abogados appears in numerous commercial and constitutional disputes involving public entities, primarily related to contractual breaches, a key area of work for Iván Plascencia. Alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration and mediation, often in cases brought by and against trusts, form a cornerstone of the group's work. It acts for clients across a range of sectors, from healthcare to real estate. Juan Francisco Almeida and Daniela Irigoyen head the team and are supported by Mariela Moreno, whose public law knowledge and previous experience working for public institutions makes the group well placed to represent public entities in a range of disputes. Irigoyen is active in disputes in the financial services sector.

Noboa, Peña & Torres, Abogados regularly acts in constitutional disputes, debt collection and civil disputes, particularly those involving tort law and issues relating to moral damages. The group’s diverse practice encompasses a range of domestic and cross-border commercial disputes. Gonzalo Noboa Baquerizo and Patricio Peña Romero head the team, with support from Margarita Vélez Casanova, who is director of the firm’s dispute resolution practice and is a versatile practitioner whose experience covers domestic civil and commercial litigation, as well as arbitration.

Described as ‘excellent at defining litigation strategies, integrating innovative and efficient solutions, always taking into account the sector’s risk level’, Pino Elizalde Abogados specialises in government disputes and administrative litigation. The group has a strong presence in the food and beverage sector, including in matters connected to beer distribution. Marco (Valentín) Elizalde has a practice which revolves around administrative and constitutional litigation. Elizalde leads the team alongside Jorge Cedeño Cuellar, who was made partner in March 2025 and is key to the group’s procedural strategies within litigation. The team handles bankruptcy before administrative and civil courts, for which Jorge Cedeño is well known, while senior associate Rafael Ulloa is a key name at associate level.

Robalino 's dispute resolution team is adept at dealing with complex litigation and has a particularly prominent practice in energy sector-related disputes.. Practice head Luis Carlos Fernández has experience as an arbitrator of the Quito Chamber of Commerce and as tribunal president and sole arbitrator in a wide variety of significant arbitration procedures. Of counsel Cristina Viteri is also a key team member, as is managing partner Javier Robalino, who is noted for his ‘personalised, highly technical service’. Former associate practice directo Verónica Arroyo left the firm in August 2025.

Romero Arteta Ponce's experienced team acts in a range of civil litigation as well as local and international arbitration, including in cases stemming from the termination of distribution agreements. Patricia Del Pozo stands out at the associate level for mediation, often supporting practice head Diego Romero, who has recently been particularly active in mediation, utilising experience as president of the board of directors of the Arbitration and Mediation Center in Ecuador. Elsewhere, Gustavo Romero is relied upon by major banks and car manufacturers for complex litigation.

Apolo Abogados is well positioned to represent leading clients in the agricultural sector, particularly in land litigation. Joaquin Zevallos F. is active in such cases, as well as other areas of interest for the group, including contractual and financial disputes, including debt recovery and collections, and public law litigation. Notably, Javier Sper is strong in public law disputes, while also offering expertise in both national and international arbitration, as well as administrative litigation. Víctor Carrión and Andrés Cervantes are also key team members. Cervantes is well versed in constitutional disputes, while Carrión is regularly involved in administrative claims before regulatory bodies. Santiago Salazar, who joined the firm in March 2024, has bolstered the group’s offering in the oil and gas space. Javier Cardoso Andrade is another key team member.

Known for its interdisciplinary approach, AVL Abogados' arbitration and litigation team handles complex local and cross-border disputes. The team is led by Xavier Andrade Cadena, with support from senior associates Estefanía Fierro Valle and Daniela Guarderas, who advise clients in highly regulated industries. Associate Gabriela Rivadeneira is another key contact.

Cevallos Casals Balseca & Bilbao Abogados engages in all stages of disputes, from preliminary hearings to appeals before the National Court of Justice. The group's client base is equally diverse, ranging from individuals to international companies. Daniela Cevallos Casals and Roberto Bilbao head the team, the former bringing particular experience in disputes in the telecoms industry. Elsewhere, Luis Anibal Garcés Paredes is regularly sought out for contractual disputes, an area of activity for the wider group.

Boutique dispute resolution firm Estudio Jurídico Morales & Asociados handles a diverse litigation workload which extends to appeals at the National Court of Ecuador. It often acts for public and private entities in mediation and arbitration, as well as litigation. Marco Morales Tobar heads up the team and is a strong choice for administrative law disputes due to a background in administrative law. Edisson Morales is sought after by family-owned businesses and Pablo Morales is who clients often choose for public law disputes.

Assisting clients, often in the energy sector, throughout the life cycle of a disputes process, from pre-trial negotiations onwards, Flor Bustamante Pizarro Hurtado Abogados has strong capabilities in both domestic and international disputes, including arbitration. The group represents investors who are disputing local labour laws, or other local regulation. Roque Bustamante, Mario Flor and Alfonso Becerra lead the team, the former of whom often appears in criminal litigation and tax cases. Flor is key for cross-border investment arbitration, and at associate level Juan Carlos Herrera stands out for acting as lead counsel before local courts.

With offices in Quito and Guayaquil, Lauden Law has positioned itself as a trusted firm for navigating high-stakes legal challenges. It typically handles complex constitutional, labour, administrative and civil law litigation cases, along with arbitration. The disputes team, led by Francisco Paredes is recognised for managing contentious matters involving government entities, state-owned enterprises and corporate clients before both national courts and international tribunals. Recent work includes infrastructure and employment matters, as well as representation in class actions, reinstatement claims and constitutional protections.

Meythaler & Zambrano Abogados stands out for handling disputes in the pharmaceutical industry, which is a particular area of focus for associate Mary Mar Samaniego. Other industries in which the group regularly operates include the construction, food, chemicals, telecoms, tech, manufacturing and transport sectors. The team is particularly active in disputes involving contractual breaches and international portfolio recovery leading to arbitration proceedings and litigation before the state courts. Vanesa Aguirre Guzmán and José Meythaler Baquero jointly lead the team, which includes experienced public sector lawyer Juan José Peña Medina, who focuses on commercial litigation and arbitration at the national level.

Praised for its ‘dedication and analytical skills’, Tobar ZVS is well established within the mining industry as well as the insurance and real estate sectors. The most significant niche for the group is its focus on protecting and defending plant breeders’ rights, including criminal litigation in this area. Óscar Vela Descalzo heads up the team, and handles many of the group’s complex contractual and financial disputes, such as those resulting from unpaid invoices. He is supported by María Paz Vela, who has a broad practice covering disputes in the health and construction industries.