About us

Our History

Our History of Innovation in Law and Its Areas of Application

Apolo Abogados began its journey in 1948, led by Dr. Modesto Apolo Ramírez, in the city of Guayaquil.

In its early days, the firm focused primarily on Labor Law, but with the entry of Dr. José Modesto Apolo into the firm, it successfully diversified its services by incorporating new practice areas such as Port Law, Customs Law, Maritime Law, and Foreign Trade.

Over the years, many companies opened their doors to us, allowing us to transform their operations and achieve greater excellence in their results, thanks to our services.

Today, our more than 500 clients include major exporters, importers, producers, shrimp farming industries, ports, foreign trade logistics operators, merchants, and educational groups, among others.

Dr. Modesto Apolo Ramírez

Our founder took the first step toward a new era of Ecuadorian Labor Law.

Dr. Modesto Apolo Ramírez worked with renowned national and international companies, including Grupo Tía, Molinos del Ecuador, Braniff International Airlines, Grupo Agrícola Massuh, Grupo Parodi, and many others. He shared 40 years of legal expertise with these Ecuadorian companies in the field of legal services.

FOUNDER APOLO LAWYERS

Our Team's Philosophy

Our team has always believed in innovation and the pursuit of new talent that can excel in delivering top-quality legal services. This allows us to form a group of professionals capable of representing our law firm, enhancing the effectiveness of our results to meet the expectations of our clients.

It all comes down to over seven decades of professionalism, improving the legal world and the delivery of legal services.

Our law firm is the first in Ecuador to obtain the international ISO 37001 Certification for Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ensuring an ethical and honest approach for those who trust our work—doing not only what is legal, but also what is right.

We have also been certified as Criminal Compliance Implementers, officially qualified to provide Criminal Compliance Implementation services to both public and private sector companies.

Additionally, we have been certified by Great Place to Work as a firm that offers an outstanding experience to its team members, and we are proud signatories of the United Nations Global Compact.

Recognitions

Alliances

Great place to work

With over seven decades of professional experience, we have evolved and contributed to the advancement of the legal field and legal services.

We are proud to be part of the United Nations Global Compact initiative and to hold the Great Place to Work (GPTW) certification—an acknowledgment that recognizes our firm as an exceptional workplace for our team members.

This certification reflects our commitment to providing an outstanding work experience, supported by an organizational culture that promotes growth and well-being across all our offices: Guayaquil, Quito, Machala, Manta, Galápagos, and Madrid, Spain.

Rankings

Nuestro socio, Rafael Balda Santistevan, ha sido considerado dentro del ranking Global de Chambers and Partners en el área de Corporate/Commercial. Rafael lidera los asuntos corporativos en nuestra firma, destacándose por su amplio conocimiento en regulación societaria, fusiones y adquisiciones, mercados financieros y asesoría estratégica a empresas. Su compromiso y visión han sido clave para el crecimiento y confianza de nuestros clientes.

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Professional Ethics

At APOLO ABOGADOS, we are committed to fully complying with applicable laws and regulations by fostering a culture of integrity and ethics. This culture guides the behavior of all members of our organization, professional service providers acting on behalf of Apolo Abogados, and our business partners.

The ethical standards of our law firm are closely aligned with our vision, strategies, and corporate values. These aim to provide guidance to all stakeholders acting on behalf of our organization or those engaged with it.

Code of Conduct

Our Anti-Bribery Policy

To meet the highest ethical standards, and in accordance with the international standard ISO 37001: 2016, regarding Anti-Bribery Management Systems, we have developed, approved, and implemented our Anti-Bribery Policy. This policy represents the strongest expression of our commitment to establish a genuine and visible compliance culture. It is mandatory for all members of our firm, and through it, we pledge to act professionally, impartially, and with integrity in all our activities.

Anti-Bribery Policy

Our Ethics Channel

Every member of APOLO ABOGADOS and/or any authorized individual acting on behalf of our organization is obligated to report any action, behavior, information, or evidence that may potentially or suspiciously violate our ANTI-BRIBERY POLICY, or that could constitute a criminal act by action or omission.

To facilitate this, we have set up the necessary means for anyone to report any suspicious behavior or incidents, or to raise any questions or concerns related to the policy.

Internal reporting channel

Pro Bono Activities

At Apolo Abogados, we firmly believe that the practice of law must go hand in hand with a social commitment. Therefore, we have developed a pro bono program, aimed at providing free legal services to individuals and organizations that would otherwise not have access to quality legal advice. Our goal is to facilitate access to justice and contribute to equal legal opportunities for all.

As part of our pro bono project, we have implemented two specific initiatives that reflect our commitment to society:

1) Free Legal Advice for Public Officials in Proceedings before the Office of the Comptroller General of the State

Objective: To provide legal advice and support to public officials facing liability determination proceedings initiated by the Office of the Comptroller General of the State. We recognize the complexity of these proceedings and the impact they can have on the professional and personal lives of public servants. Our support is focused on ensuring they receive fair and proper legal defense.

Reach: This project is aimed at all public officials, with special attention to career civil servants involved in administrative liability proceedings. Our legal advice covers all stages of the process, ensuring that each official has the necessary legal support to face this situation in a fair and transparent manner.

For more information about this initiative and to access our services

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2) Legal Assistance to the Charles Darwin Foundation

Objective: To provide comprehensive legal support to the Charles Darwin Foundation within the framework of an Interinstitutional Cooperation Agreement. Through this agreement, Apolo Abogados contributes to the achievement of the Foundation's objectives by issuing legal opinions, as well as drafting and reviewing contracts, agreements, and other legal documents that facilitate its work.

Reach: Our legal support aims to enhance the Foundation's activities by providing the necessary legal tools to allow them to focus on their mission of conservation and sustainable development. Apolo Abogados is proud to be a partner in their efforts to protect natural and cultural heritage, ensuring that their actions are carried out within a safe and effective legal framework.

For more information about this initiative and to access our services.