Pérez Bustamante & Ponce (PBP)

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce (PBP) is the largest full-service law firm in Ecuador, consistently considered a leader in the legal market and a trusted adviser for national and international clients. It has offices in Quito and Guayaquil and outreach throughout Ecuador.

PBP endeavours to understand clients’ challenges and needs. Its multi-practice teams – integrating expertise in 13 practice areas and nine industries – have an in-depth understanding of the specific challenges of each sector. This has been evidenced by PBP’s track record as reliable legal advisers for most of the important projects that have taken place in Ecuador, as well as the most significant transactions.

PBP’s team has both local and international experience. Several members have attended renowned local and international universities and have worked at first-rate law firms around the world. Furthermore, a number of its attorneys have been admitted to practise in the State of New York, District of Columbia, Spain, Chile, Colombia and other jurisdictions.

PBP has steadily been honoured as Ecuadorian Firm of the Year by Who's Who Legal, and Chambers and Partners in the past decade. Also in 2019 was recognised by International Tax Review (ITR) as Ecuador Tax Firm of the Year.

PBP believes that pro bono work is inseparable from the practice of law. In 1987, it founded Fundación Fabián Ponce Ordóñez to coordinate and optimise the firm’s pro bono resources and maximise its scope.

PBP strives to be an increasingly inclusive firm and endeavours to promote the leadership and professional development of women.

Main practice areas

International arbitration: including ICSID and ICC cases ranging from investment arbitration to commercial disputes. GAR distinguishes PBP as one of the “100 most important firms in the world in arbitration”.

Tax: PBP’s tax unit teams up lawyers and financial advisers to provide comprehensive advice in tax planning and litigation.

Banking and finance: Advice to foreign banks with business in Ecuador as well as local banks operating in different areas in the Ecuadorian market.

Energy: PBP has decades of experience in the energy sector. It has led the negotiation, signing and implementation of major projects in Ecuador’s oil, gas, mining, hydroelectric and alternative energy industries.

Mergers and acquisitions: PBP is at the forefront of structuring and executing mergers and acquisitions. It participates in multinational teams and works closely with international law firms.

Infrastructure and project finance: Project financing and PPP has been one of the most active areas at PBP in recent years. The firm advises Quiport on the development and operation of Quito's international airport green field project and has become the go-to expert in PPP, implementing in 2016 the first and second PPP ever to be made in Ecuador.

Labour and immigration: PBP advises on employment, social security and immigration issues.

Intellectual property: PBP’s IP practice combines a long track record with a dynamic and up-to-date team of experts. It is best known for: handling local and foreign trademark portfolios; and dispute resolution, including antipiracy, border measures, administrative and judicial disputes and IP due diligence process. 

Compliance and anti-corruption: The firm's practice area advises in all compliance matters, including design and implementation of compliance programmes, pre-acquisition corruption risk assessments, compliance due diligence, internal investigations, remediation and litigation.

www.pbplaw.com