Rafael Valdivieso

Practice Areas

Rafael advises oil and gas companies on various strategic matters to channel their investments through viable legal structures. He is an expert in drafting and negotiating contracts in the oil and mining industry, corporate structuring, project financing, operational agreements, and local and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

He works with major clients in the oil and mining industry in Ecuador, advising International Oil Companies (IOCs), independent companies, and service companies on project structuring and implementation in Ecuador, Cuba, Venezuela, and Guatemala. Rafael has advised several mining companies on their entry into Ecuador and the development of exploratory projects.

He has been recognized by leading law magazines in the Energy and Natural Resources area for several consecutive years. In 2016, he won the Latin Lawyer’s Deal of the Year (Regulatory) award. Rafael was also appointed Director of the Ecuador chapter of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), where he led and organized various events with different government authorities in recent years. He is an expert in Administrative Law and has extensive experience in telecommunications regulation matters. Currently, he leads the Energy and Natural Resources department at BUSTAMANTE FABARA.

Career

2022 – Present: Partner at Bustamante Fabara

2020 – 2022: Partner at Robalino

2015 – 2020: Senior Associate at FERRERE Abogados

2012 – 2015: Associate at PAZ HOROWITZ ROBALINO GARCES, Abogados

Professional Memberships

Member of the American and International Law Academy

Languages Spoken

Spanish

English

Industry Sector Expertise

Environmental

Energy

Natural Resources and Mining

Education