The ‘interdisciplinary‘ group at Bustamante Fabara, which ‘has extensive experience in the labour law area‘, undertakes a broad range of work – encompassing contentious and advisory matters – for a diverse client roster made up of domestic and international companies from the automotive, retail, insurance, pharma, hospitality and healthcare sectors, among others. The group is proficient in union negotiations, collective bargaining agreements and dismissals, and also assists with restructurings, due diligence for corporate transactions, and litigation involving individual and collective claims. Francisco Vacas, who excels in collective labour disputes, and Patricia Ponce, who has a great deal of experience in workforce restructurings and termination procedures, jointly lead the team. Vanessa Granizo Sanchez and Juan Pablo Ramírez Viteri stand out for their involvement in labour litigation.

Labour and employment boutique firm Jaramillo Dávila Abogados offers preventive and litigation advice to major companies operating in a variety of sectors, including oil, healthcare, automotive, hospitality, and food and beverage, among others. Contentious matters are a cornerstone of the department, which is particularly skilled in union negotiations and collective bargaining. Fabián Jaramillo Terán, a reference for high-profile employment litigation, and Diego Jaramillo Terán - highlighted for his ‘ease of understanding issues that present a certain complexity’ - are at the helm of the practice. Key support is offered by Fabián Jaramillo Intriago, who focuses on labour disputes.

With extensive experience in collective and individual matters, Lexvalor Abogados‘ IP group is regularly engaged by clients in day-to-day labour matters, HR issues and disputes. The group is turned to by prominent Ecuadorian companies operating in a multitude of sectors, from construction to retail, and offers specialist knowledge on workplace risk and occupational safety mandates. Practice head Karla Villacís is best known for her expertise in social security law, occupational hazards and labour litigation. Other noteworthy members include associate José Endara Madera, who is especially active in advising companies on day-to-day labour law issues, and Carlos Carrión, who oversees the immigration law subdivision. Vanessa Gómez is a key name to note at the associate level for her involvement in major litigation proceedings.

With in-depth knowledge of labour, social security and immigration law, the practice at Pérez Bustamante & Ponce handles a combination of contentious and non-contentious matters - collective bargaining agreements, reorganisations, dismissals and related litigation are key strengths - for a range of clients. Multinationals from the telecoms, manufacturing, hospitality, banking, retail and life sciences sectors, as well as local players in the cement, food and beverage, and agribusiness industries routinely turn to the firm for assistance with employment law issues. Practice head Javier Salvador works on advisory and litigation matters, drawing on his ability to ‘effectively interact with national authorities' such as the Ministry of Labour. Senior associate Francesco Molestina, who joined from Carmigniani Pérez Abogados in July 2023, advises on immigration issues and the employment aspects of M&A deals, while Esteban Baquero leads on transactional matters, and Daniela Cazar specialises in health and safety.

CorralRosales acts for businesses of all sizes, including large international companies, from across the automotive, insurance, food and beverage, and manufacturing sectors (among others) in the full range of employment matters. Day-to-day labour law issues, claims involving wrongful dismissals, restructurings, collective bargaining agreements, due diligence and administrative proceedings before the Ministry of Labour are all key areas of activity for the practice led by seasoned employment law expert Edmundo Ramos. Senior associate Victoria Beltran regularly assists with labour litigation, employment contracts and social security issues. Mateo Zavala is also noted for his involvement in labour disputes.

The labour and employment practice at Dentons Paz Horowitz excels in labour litigation, most notably cases involving unfair dismissals, but is also seen by clients as a go-to choice for advice on social security matters, labour law compliance and occupational safety issues. Leading the team is Patricia Andrade, 'a lawyer with a lot of experience in the sector‘, who is deeply knowledgeable of wrongful termination and profit-sharing matters. Other key individuals include Gabriel Santelices, who offers support in collective and individual labour lawsuits, and associate Erika Wolter, whose areas of expertise include gender equality and the prevention of workplace harassment and discrimination.

DLL Abogados fields a ‘very competent and agile team‘ with particular expertise in employment matters in the hydrocarbon, tourism and retail sectors. The group is well positioned to assist with labour agreements, collective bargaining, union negotiations and collective and individual lawsuits. Practice head Leopoldo González has a wealth of experience in labour litigation. González is backed up by Xavier Sisa, a former member of the National Labour Council who is particularly adept in collective actions. Jessahé Navarrete is recommended for labour law matters in the mining industry.

Durini & Guerrero Abogados, whose clients hail from the medical devices, financial services, tourism, tech, automotive and food industries, among others, undertakes a range of employment law work, including labour litigation, collective dismissals, and individual compensation issues. Danilo Román Fabara, who ‘stands out for his specialised knowledge of the workplace’, including labour policies, leads the team alongside seasoned litigator Juan Francisco Guerrero Del Pozo and constitutional law expert Tomás Barrionuevo Vaca. Emilio Suárez stands out for his expertise in social security issues.

The labour law team at Noboa, Peña & Torres, Abogados handles a wide range of non-contentious issues and litigation, demonstrating particular strength in compensation claims, employment contracts, termination procedures, and collective bargaining agreements. On the contentious side, the group is skilled in mediation proceedings with trade unions. Marcelo Torres Bejarano, who brings together expertise in labour law and M&A, and Patricio Peña R. jointly oversee the team. Carolina Izurieta, an expert in immigration matters, administrative processes and judicial litigation, Maria Auxiliadora Mantilla, who shines in the negotiation of collective agreements with unions, and Alejandra Cháves, who excels in labour disputes, are some of the other names to note in the department.

With significant experience in individual and collective labour relations, Robalino advises on a range of employment matters, from work-related illnesses and accidents to collective bargaining agreements and workforce restructurings. Practice head Luis Carlos Fernández is skilled in labour disputes, union negotiations and collective agreements. Key support is provided by senior associate Melissa Arroyo, who brings together expertise in labour law and administrative litigation. The practice was further strengthened in May 2024 by the arrival of Diego Palacios Brito – formerly a partner at Pérez Bustamante & Ponce – as of counsel; his broad practice covers corporate, contractual, labour, immigration and administrative law matters.

Drawing on its international network, ECIJA GPA is called upon by multinational and local clients from the hydrocarbon, hotels, pharma and automotive industries, among others, to advise on day-to-day labour matters and employment disputes. The group is under the joint leadership of Byron Sotomayor, who advises on labour claims, Francisco Dávalos, another name to note for collective and individual labour disputes, Juan Carlos Montenegro, and Juan José Palacios, whose areas of expertise include wrongful dismissals and collective agreements.

The labour and employment team at Pino Elizalde Abogados acts for a strong client base comprised of domestic companies from the agribusiness, food and beverage, construction, and energy sectors, among others. The group is well versed in labour proceedings before administrative and judicial courts and also provides advice on day-to-day employment issues. Jaime Arosemena, whose areas of experience include workforce restructurings and labour disputes, leads the team. A key point of contact for clients from the beer and pharma industries, María Ritha Guillén is noted for her expertise in both contentious and advisory matters in this space.

Companies from the tourism, media, and construction sectors routinely seek advice from Puente & Asociados' employment team, which is adept at handling contract negotiations, hiring procedures and unfair dismissal claims. The group is led by Miguel Angel Puente, who ‘is excellent in labour issues and litigation‘, and Guillermo Córdova, whose expertise covers hiring and dismissal matters. Carolina Alvarado stands out at the associate level for her recent involvement in several dismissal actions.

With a strong following of clients from the hydrocarbons sector, Romero Arteta Ponce has significant experience in the negotiation of labour agreements and settlements in the context of labour litigation. Gustavo Romero shines in labour claims, while Diego Romero brings together expertise in corporate law and dispute resolution matters. Both practitioners lead the labour group alongside Carlos Cisneros.

A diverse client base made up of key names from the consumer goods, mining, insurance and construction sectors regularly instructs the team at Tobar ZVS in a wide range of labour law mandates. Recent engagements have seen the group advise on restructurings, the employment aspects of corporate transactions, labour compliance, day-to-day employment issues and litigation. Practice head Marta Villagómez acts for domestic and international clients - including companies and NGOs - in contentious and non-contentious labour matters.