The Litigations Unit in Perez Bustamante & Ponce represents and defends its clients in actions filed with tribunals and courts of the Republic of Ecuador and in regulated and independent arbitration proceedings in Ecuador or abroad.

The firm represents and defends actions in all areas of law. It does not litigate issues relating to criminal or traffic offenses.  We refer those cases to Ecuadorian criminal lawyers and we follow up the proceedings upon our clients’ request.

The Litigations Unit coordinates with the Tax Unit and the Intellectual Property Department about disputes requiring their joint efforts by reason of the special nature or the difficulties involved.

Perez Bustamante & Ponce lays emphasis on arbitration and mediation as alternative means for dispute resolution. Mediation and arbitration have increased remarkably during the past years in Ecuador.  Many of our lawyers are arbitrators and secretaries of several arbitration centers operating in Ecuador and abroad.

Teams to handle and manage litigations are set up comprising lawyers deeply knowledgeable of the substantive laws relating to the conflict as well as lawyers with experience in procedural strategy.

The Litigations Unit is presided over by a partner and includes lawyers who devote their time almost exclusively to the suits.

During the proceedings, Perez Bustamante & Ponce privileges the interests of its clients.  Before filing or answering a claim, the firm analyzes with the client the advantages and disadvantages of litigating. The possibility of compromising, litigation costs, procedural alternatives and the likelihood of success are analyzed.

In keeping with our firm’s general policies, fees are agreed upon before defending the client.  According to the interests of the client and the nature of the litigation, fees are set on an hourly basis or are conditional on the case. Exceptionally, it is possible to agree with the client that a portion of the fees with depend on the success achieved.

Since the firm is related to international lawyers’ networks and multinational firms, Pérez Bustamante & Ponce is able to refer the litigants represented by it to other courts and tribunals throughout the world.