Diego Ramírez Mesec

Banking & Finance

Commercial

Compliance

Competition

Foreign Investment

Migratory

Project Promotion and Financing

Telecommunications

Diego has a broad international perspective, forged in his academic training and extensive professional experience as a diplomat and lawyer. After obtaining his law degree an JD, he trained at the Diplomatic Academy and then pursued postgraduate studies in the United States. A member of the Foreign Service for almost 20 years, he served in the Embassies in Bogotá and Washington D.C., as well as in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Quito. He also held positions of trust in the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade, Competitiveness, Integration and Fisheries. He was involved in the negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and later for the Free Trade Agreement with the United States of America.

In private practice he has advised international clients (from the United States, Europe, Latin America, China and Japan) as well as local companies, in countless commercial and financial transactions for a combined amount in excess of USD 20 billion (including the largest debt-for-nature swap to date, the first issue of a Sovereign Social Bond, and other complex financing structures, meriting international recognition by prestigious international rankings. His practice extends to foreign investment, international arbitration, antitrust, banking & finance and telecommunications.

Diego also advised Credit Suisse on the structuring of the largest blue bond issue in history, in support of marine conservation and natural capital of the Galapagos Islands; the transaction also involved significant benefits in public debt reduction for the Republic of Ecuador. 2022 – Present: Professor of Private International Law, Universidad de las Américas (UDLA).

Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Santander, Bank of America

2021 – Present: Partner, BUSTAMANTE FABARA.

2005 – 2021: Partner, FABARA & COMPAÑÍA ABOGADOS C.L.

2004 – 2005: Undersecretary, Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Competitiveness (MICIP).

2003 – 2004: Senior Advisor, Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Competitiveness (MICIP).

2002: Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs., Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1997 – 2001: Economic and Commercial Attaché, Embassy of Ecuador, Washington D.C., USA.

1986 – 1996: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Johns Hopkins University, Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

Master in International Public Policy

Antonio J. Quevedo Diplomatic Academy, Quito.

Foreign Service and International Relations Program

Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador

Doctor of Jurisprudence

Most Impressive Liability Management of the Year (Amazon Bio-corridor)

Global Capital Latin America Bond Awards 2025

2025

Best Multilateral-backed Deal of the Year

Global Capital Latin America Bond Awards 2025

2025

Deal of the Year: M&A, ESG and Private Equity: Ecuador completes largest debt-for-nature swap

Latin Lawyer Awards 2024

2024

Financing Innovation of the Year 2023 (US$656 million debt-for-nature swap) (Galápagos Bonds)

Latin Finance

2023

Global Impact Initiative of the Year - Debt Conversion for Marine Conservation in the Galapagos Island

Impact Awards 2023

2023

Project/Investment of the Year - Oceans and Coastal Zones (Galápagos Bonds)

Impact Awards 2023

2023

Natural Resources Finance Deal of the Year (Galápagos Bonds)

Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Latin America & Caribbean Awards 2023

2023