Quevedo & Ponce - Legal News

An essential guide to understanding the legal framework governing non-profit organizations in Ecuador. This article outlines the obligations, procedures, and requirements established under the Organic Law on Social Transparency and its Regulations, as well as the supervision and control role of the Superintendence of Popular and Solidarity Economy (SEPS).

The purchase and sale of real estate in Ecuador is a legal act that requires document verification, compliance of notarial requirements, and registration before the Property Registry. This process demands a review of the property’s legal status and the involvement of a specialized attorney to ensure a valid, secure, and properly executed transfer of ownership.

The National Court of Justice has issued a new binding jurisprudential precedent that redefines the calculation of employer retirement compensation in Ecuador. Resolution No. 16-2025 specifies which amounts may be deducted from the employee’s individual retirement fund, reinforcing the principle of favorability and legal security in labor matters.

Constitutional Court Ruling 3364-21-EP/25 protects shareholders from IESS enforcement measures, prohibiting administrative travel bans and personal liability without judicial intervention. The decision strengthens corporate legal certainty and upholds the binding precedent 22-13-IN/20

Geographical indications (GIs) are a form of intellectual property protection that recognizes the link between a product and its place of origin. They ensure that the product’s characteristics, quality, or goodwill derive from its geographic environment, helping preserve authenticity, strengthen the local economy, and protect the cultural heritage of communities.

The Constitutional Court of Ecuador declared the total unconstitutionality of the Organic Law of National Solidarity, determining that it was enacted in violation of the principle of unity of subject matter and the ordinary legislative procedure. This decision nullifies the obligations imposed upon Simplified Stock Companies (S.A.S.) and Sports Joint Stock Companies (S.A.D.), restoring the previous regulatory framework and reaffirming both the supremacy of constitutional review and the need of maintaining normative coherence within the Ecuadorian legal system.

Mediation is a conflict resolution process whereby the parties, assisted by a neutral third party called a mediator, seek to reach a voluntary agreement on a negotiable matter, in an extrajudicial and definitive manner. This mechanism promotes fast, confidential, and fair solutions that have the same legal validity as a final judgment, fostering dialogue and a culture of peace in Ecuador.

The Superintendence of Popular and Solidarity Economy (SEPS) has established new rules for the incorporation, governance, and liquidation of communal and savings funds, effective as of November 20, 2025. This regulatory framework strengthens the transparency, monitoring, and financial security, ensuring that these community-based entities can manage resources, grant loans, and contribute to the development of the popular and solidarity economy.

Customs and the National Service for Intellectual Rights work together to protect legitimate trade and prevent counterfeiting, smuggling, and piracy. Through the Customs Intellectual Property Registry, trademark, patent, and copyright holders can register their creations to strengthen protection at the border.

The new Organic Law on the Regulation Against Unfair Competition aims to ensure a fairer and more transparent Ecuadorian market by sanctioning unfair practices such as deceptive acts, unlawful imitation, unfair comparisons, and the misappropriation of trade secrets.

The appointment of a legal representative is far more than a formal requirement: it constitutes a strategic basis that ensures legal certainty, transparency, and the continuity of the company. This article examines the essential elements for a valid appointment, the risks associated with non-compliance, and the significance of electronic signatures in the modernization of corporate management.

Trade dress protects the visual identity of products and establishments, such as packaging, shapes, colors or store decorations that make them unique in the market. In Ecuador, its regulation seeks to safeguard business identity, promote innovation, and prevent unfair competition.