Ecuador’s Heka enlists new tax and finance partner

Ecuadorian law fim Heka Law has hired a new partner to bolster its financial and tax department

José Manuel Albornoz (pictured) joins the Quito-based firm as a partner in its financial and tax department, and who the firm describes as “one of the most experienced professionals in tax, financial and accounting issues in Ecuador, adding an extra element to the firm’s expertise from that of traditional legal practices”.

The firm said the addition of Albornoz responds to its awareness of the need for financial support and advice as an integral component of legal services. 

“The arrival of José Manuel not only reinforces the number of services offered by the firm, but is also a clear demonstration of the professional quality and experience of our team, a key component in our strategy to penetrate and position ourselves in the Ecuadorian legal market,” Heka partner Santiago Albán said. 

José Manuel has more than 18 years’ experience in financial and tax matters, of which he spent 13 years as manager of the tax team for “one of the most important law firms in Ecuador and the region”, Heka said, without naming the firm.

“His experience has led him to work on local and international business group transactions, corporate restructurings, the purchase and sale of businesses, mergers, divestitures, tax audits, complex advice, and legal and financial restructuring, as well as resolving client enquiries and offering guidance on specific tax and labour issues where financial expertise is crucial for decision-making,” the firm added.

“His wealth of knowledge allows him to seamlessly guide clients in procedures relating to tax refunds, audits, information requests, related parties and other corporate matters.” 

José Manuel has developed his practice with clients from various industries, such as oil, commerce, hotels, services, retail and health, among others.

“His experience allows him to provide support in procedures before the Ecuadorian Internal Revenue Service (SRI) and other tax and control authorities, such as the country’s company registration authority. In addition, he is an accounting and tax expert accredited by the Judicial Council of Ecuador.”

For his part, José Manuel says this new professional challenge represents a significant growth in his personal and professional life.

“I have the will and determination to ensure that, with the rest of the team, we can achieve a synergy that allows us to stand out in the market, through our offering of quality and dependable services. I am sure that the skills and multidisciplined expertise of other professionals at the firm will allow us to offer integrated services that add value to the solutions that our clients demand,” he said. 

He holds a specialisation in international financial reporting standards from the Technological Institute of Monterrey (Mexico) and a master’s degree in financial management from ISEAD Business School, attached to the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

This is the second addition to Heka’s team in recent months, following the recruitment of Cristina Viteri as a partner in June, and who is the firm’s head of litigation and arbitration.

Viteri granted an interview for the July-August issue of The Latin American Lawyer in which she spoke about the use of arbitration in Ecuador and the challenges posed by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.