Reconocimientos

LEGAL 500. Firms to Watch

Corporate

Based in Quito and Guayaquil, Consulegis Abogados advises on a wide range of corporate transactions and commercial agreements, with particular experience in acting for insurance companies.

LEGAL 500. 2022

Dispute Resolution

Xavier Castro Munoz heads the dispute resolution practice at Guayaquil-based Consulegis Abogados, and handles a wide range of the firm’s highest-profile and most complex matters. The firm is particularly well known for its experience in corporate litigation, with notable recent work including Roberto González Torre‘s representation of Firesa’s shareholders, who were seeking to prevent the transfer of assets to a trust by the company’s liquidator. The firm takes a multidisciplinary approach to contentious work, with key figures including criminal law specialist Carlos Cortaza Vinueza, labour and asset recovery specialist Gonzalo Jaramillo Loaiza and Carlos Martinez Viteri, who focuses primarily on civil law.

IFLR1000 2020-2021

Financial and Corporate

LEGAL 500. 2021 

Dispute Resolution

Consulegis Abogados has a strong focus on litigation, with notable experience in multi-jurisdictional disputes. The Guayaquil-based team works closely with other practice groups of the firm, which adds value in proceedings involving criminal, antitrust, labour and commercial law, among other areas. It is also noted for its ability to handle the media and political aspects of cases. Practice head Xavier Castro Munoz also represents clients in freedom of press matters. Criminal law specialist Carlos Cortaza Vinueza and Carlos Martinez Viteri are other key practitioners.

Chambers & Partners: Latin America – 2018

Corporate and commercial
Well-regarded corporate and finance team. Represents a variety of clients on matters regarding company incorporation, corporate restructuring and M&A. Team is active in sectors such as insurance, food and beverages and banking and has further expertise in competition and compliance mandates. Nestlé is a new client win.

Dispute resolution
Noted department covering an array of contentious cases in the insurance, telecoms, food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Well equipped to handle civil, commercial and constitutional litigation cases. Further expertise advising clients on criminal, antitrust and labour disputes. Recently won clients include Morondava, BAF Capital and Omnilife.

LEGAL 500 – 2018

Corporate and M&A
Praised as being ‘professional and expeditious’, Consulegis Abogados’ ‘very good’ team is often instructed by both domestic and international clients on day-to-day corporate matters, as well as competition-related work. In recent work, Gilberto Gutieìrrez Perdomo has been assisting Corporación GPF with a commercial restructuring; and Roberto González Torre advised Generali Ecuador on a capital increase and amendment to the company’s by-laws, including corporate documentation. Jorge Vaca Sánchez, Heidi Laniado Hollihan, María Auxiliadora Mantilla López and Tatiana Vernaza Gonzenbach were all promoted to partner. The practice is co-led by the wellregarded Fernando Cisneros Velásquez in Guayaquil and David Sperber in Quito.

Dispute resolution
Noted department covering an array of contentious cases in the insurance, telecoms, food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Well equipped to handle civil, commercial and constitutional litigation cases. Further expertise advising clients on criminal, antitrust and labour disputes. Recently won clients include Morondava, BAF Capital and Omnilife.The practice at Consulegis Abogados acts for both private individuals and corporate clients, and boasts particular expertise in high-profile matters involving press management issues. Department co-head Xavier Castro Muñoz and junior partner Heidi Laniado Hollihan represented two individuals before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) concerning claims that the Ecuadorian government violated their human rights. In other work, Muñoz, Carlos Martínez Viteri and Roberto González Torre have been instructed by telecom operator Conecel on a number of claims, including a $30m civil claim brought against the client by SIM card manufacturer Cybercell regarding the plaintiff’s drop in income. The ‘very capable’ David Sperber also co-leads the group.

Real estate
Consulegis Abogados’ seven-strong team handles a wide range of real estate matters, including transactional work and construction projects involving foreign clients. The practice is jointly led by Fernando Cisneros in Guayaquil and David Sperber (who specializes in regulatory and corporaterelated matters), in Quito. Recent matters include advising on urban real estate and farmland acquisitions; real estate joint ventures, EPC agreements, residential and mixed-use developments, and post-earthquake redevelopment projects in Manabi province. Also in Guayaquil, Gonzalo Jaramillo Loaiza and Xavier Castro Muñoz have significant experience advising foreign clients on due diligence issues concerning cross-border real estate acquisitions; while in Quito, Gilberto Gutieìrrez Perdomo is also a key practice partner. Disputes-focused associate Jose Francisco Acosta in Guayaquil has expertise in contentious civil, administrative and constitutional matters and is also noted.

Leading firm 2018
Competition and antitrust
The eight-strong team at Consulegis Abogados is often instructed by multinational clients on all aspects of competition and antitrust law in Ecuador, and has particular expertise in negotiations with the competition authorities. Gilberto Gutiérrez Perdomo assisted Corporación GPF with three investigations regarding allegations of abuse of dominance. Practice head David Sperber represented the Ecuadorian Association of Private Banks in a constitutional claim brought against the competition authorities –the Superintendencia de Control del Poder de Mercado (SCPM)– concerning the implementation of an electronic money system. Tatiana Vernaza Gonzenbach was promoted to partner in the firm’s Guayaquil office.

Competition and antitrust
David Sperber
Competition and antitrust
David Sperber
Gilberto Gutiérrez Perdomo
Tatiana Vernaza Gonzenbach

Dispute resolution
Carlos Martínez Viteri
David Sperber
Heidi Laniado Hollihan
Roberto González Torre
Xavier Castro Muñoz

Corporate and M&A
David Sperber
Fernando Cisneros Velásquez
Gilberto Gutiérrez Perdomo
Heidi Laniado Hollihan
Jorge Vaca Sánchez
María Auxiliadora Mantilla López
Roberto González Torre
Tatiana Vernaza Gonzenbach

Real estate
David Sperber
Fernando Cisneros
Gilberto Gutiérrez Perdomo
Gonzalo Jaramillo Loaiza
José Francisco Acosta
Xavier Castro Muñoz