Noted for ‘providing customised and strategic solutions‘, Bustamante Fabara is home to a ‘highly specialised team‘ with ‘vast experience in crucial areas such as patents, trade marks and copyrights‘. Trade marks work is a mainstay for the group, which is proficient in registration processes and infringement actions. In addition to its strong capabilities in IP rights protection, the firm is also active in sports and entertainment law mandates, as well as life sciences and regulatory issues. The practice is jointly led by a capable trio comprised of José Rafael Bustamante E., who excels in IP litigation, María Rosa Fabara Vera, who handles patent, trade mark, copyright, plant variety and unfair competition matters, and María Clara Bustamante. At the associate level, Pablo Fabara stands out for his involvement in IP disputes. Óscar Reyes, former president of the Ecuadorian Intellectual Property Committee, adds experience in administrative IP matters, and Sebastián Páez is particularly skilled in unfair competition issues.

Standing out for its strong track record in precedent-setting trade mark disputes, CorralRosales provides a comprehensive IP service offering, which in addition to trade mark prosecution and opposition matters also covers patents, copyrights, and plant varieties, as well as anti-counterfeiting, franchising, and portfolio management work. On the patents front, the group is adept at advising on cases encompassing pharma patents, utility models and industrial designs. María Cecilia Romoleroux, Francisco Gallegos and Gabriel Kuri head up a team which counts household names from the tech, pharma, consumer goods, entertainment, food and beverage, and fashion sectors as clients. Romoleroux is particularly skilled in trade mark registration and litigation matters; Gallegos is prolific in the life sciences and tech industries; and Kuri, a chemical engineer, is instrumental in patent work. Eduardo Rios focuses on IP litigation and anti-counterfeiting issues. The latter is a key area of expertise for associate Miguel Maigualema.

Lexvalor Abogados‘ IP practice managers large trade mark portfolios for a growing international and domestic client base, which features major names from the food and beverage, pharma, automotive, luxury goods and retail sectors, among others. The group also excels in IP prosecution and enforcement matters relating to patents, copyrights, plant varieties and industrial designs. Experienced IP lawyer and practice head Luis Marin Tobar shines in trade mark enforcement mandates. Key support is offered at the associate level by Emily Moreno, who has a strong track record in trade mark prosecution and plant variety protection matters.

Meythaler & Zambrano Abogados stands out for its strong track record in IP litigation, demonstrating notable skills in trade mark disputes, patent infringement actions, and copyright protection matters. Major clients from the pharma, chemicals, sports and agribusiness sectors regularly turn to the team for assistance with IP licensing, registration and regulatory issues. Jose Meythaler Baquero takes the lead on IP litigation, while Margarita Zambrano spearheads the non-contentious IP practice, with a focus on licensing and trade mark matters. Fellow co-head Sebastián Meythaler is a name to note for IP disputes in the life sciences space. Other key individuals include Maria Belen Rivera, who brings together expertise in copyrights, trade marks and IT law, Andrea Araujo Mero, the deputy head of the IP litigation department, and Maricruz Cepeda, who shines in patent matters.

Pérez Bustamante & Ponce is 'made up of excellent professionals with very good knowledge' of the full range of IP rights, namely patents, copyrights and trade marks. With experience in the public and private sectors, the team is particularly well placed to advise clients from the pharma, food and beverage, luxury goods, oil and gas, and hospitality sectors on the management of their trade mark portfolios. Contentious and non-contentious matters involving industrial designs, trade names, plant varieties and anti-counterfeiting issues are other areas of activity for the practice. Department head Francisco Pérez-Gangotena assists major brands with the management of their IP portfolios at the national and international levels. Key support is offered by senior associate and experienced IP practitioner Camila Mateus, who has ‘unparalleled experience in Ecuador’ when it comes to the protection of trade marks, plant varieties and patents. Alysa Arcos and Samantha Maldonado are also noted for their involvement in IP matters.

The ‘solid team' at Tobar ZVS focuses on trade mark registration and enforcement matters, often advising large multinational clients operating in a wide range of sectors - from automotive to food and beverage - on the management of their trade mark portfolios. The group is also singled out for its expertise in plant breeders' rights and anti-piracy issues. Practice head Alvaro Sevilla, who specialises in copyright, trade mark, patent and plant variety matters, is a key contact for the healthcare, advertising, communication, and telecoms sectors. Alfonso Rivera, an expert in trade mark, anti-counterfeiting, and copyright work, is ‘highly recommended for portfolio management in Ecuador'. Other noteworthy practitioners include Oscar Vela Descalzo, who excels in litigation involving plant variety rights, and Andrea Guevara Terán, who often advises local and foreign clients on administrative processes related to IP rights infringement.

A ‘firm committed to IP protection', Aguirre Noboa Law Firm acts for various players from the automotive, entertainment, tobacco, pharma and fashion industries in the management of their trade mark portfolios. The firm offers advice on prosecution and litigation matters in this space and is also well versed in copyrights, patents and unfair competition work. Founding partner Carlos Aguirre, a lawyer with ‘extensive experience in trade mark issues‘, leads the practice with Priscila Arteaga, who is instrumental in patent matters. Senior associate Maria Cristina Guerra stands out for her expertise in trade mark cancellation work.

The IP practice at Dentons Paz Horowitz is well placed to advise on a wide range of registration and enforcement matters, spanning trade marks, patents, designs, copyrights, trade secrets and plant varieties. Drawing on its global network, the firm is able to assist clients with IP asset negotiations throughout the Latin American region. Bruce Horowitz specialises in international trade mark law, while Gabriel Santelices regularly advises companies on the implementation of privacy and personal data protection systems. Both practitioners lead the group alongside Mónica Cortez Izurieta, who focuses on IP portfolio management work, and Verónica Chiriboga, whose areas of expertise include trade mark prosecution and anti-counterfeiting issues.

Boutique Guerrero Intellectual Property advises domestic and international clients, most notably names from the pharma and food and beverage sectors, on the full spectrum of IP matters. A strong performer in trade mark application and registration matters, the firm is also singled out for its considerable activity in anti-counterfeiting measures. Managing partner Johana Aguirre leads the group, lending clients her expertise in clearance, prosecution, administrative litigation and enforcement matters. Omar Alban Cornejo plays a key role in trade mark registration work, while senior associate Christian Bandre focuses on IP litigation and enforcement.

The IP practice at ECIJA is a popular destination for local and international clients, most notably pharma companies, seeking advice on the registration, renewal, transfer and cancellation of trade marks. The group is also proficient in unfair competition and copyright protection matters. Gonzalo Muñoz, who specialises in administrative processes involving IP rights, jointly oversees the department with Michael Veintimilla, a key point of contact for clients from the cement, agrochemical and oil industries, Juan Fernando Valdivieso, who assists with the defence and registration of trade marks, and Ingrid Rodríguez.

Pino Elizalde Abogados is especially active in trade mark registration matters, but is also adept at advising clients on patent and copyright infringements. Practice head Jaime Arosemena, a key point of contact for clients from the insurance, food and beverage, pharma, and oil sectors, assists with licensing agreements, IP rights protection and franchising issues. At the associate level, María Ritha Guillén splits her time between the firm’s Quito and Guayaquil offices, regularly offering clients support in trade mark, copyright, and trade secret matters.

The IP department at Robalino provides legal support to both local and foreign clients – including names from the biotech, food and beverage, technology, pharma and e-commerce sectors – in the management of their intangible assets. The group is skilled in the registration and protection of patents, trade marks and copyrights, and also possesses substantial expertise in anti-piracy mandates. Pedro Córdova, who leads the IP, life sciences and personal data protection practices, has a wealth of experience acting for domestic and international players in patent litigation and plant varieties matters. Also part of the core team, Maria José Peñaherrera specialises in copyright issues and new technologies.

Romero Arteta Ponce is especially active in advising domestic and international clients from the industrial, pharma, consumer goods, automotive, and construction sectors on trade mark registration and brand protection issues. Gustavo Romero and Carolina Guerrero jointly oversee the IP department.