OUR TEAM
Our mission is to lead the way in the legal field, standing out as the elite in Industrial and Intellectual Property Law, Corporate and Commercial Law.
Our team, recognized for its excellence and commitment, represents the vanguard of legal counselling
ERNESTO RICARDO VITERI ECHEVERRÍA
PARTNER
Attorney and Notary Public graduated in 1953 from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. For his graduation thesis work “Trademark Protection and the Guatemalan Legislation” he received the second “Galvez Award”, a distinction granted annually to the most relevant graduation works.
Mr. Viteri Echeverría is nationally and internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious and knowledgeable experts in Industrial Property matters in Guatemala.
In addition, he is an Attorney with extensive experience in Commercial and Corporate Law, Civil and Commercial Contracts, Civil and Commercial Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution methods, and Banking and Insurance, both nationally and internationally.
Attorney Viteri Echeverría has been a university professor at the graduate and magister levels at the School of Law of Universidad Rafael Landívar. He has been Dean of the School of Law of Universidad Rafael Landívar (1984-88), and member of the Board of Directors of Universidad Rafael Landívar (1982-2000).
He was a delegate of the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (CACIF) for the negotiation and revision of the CENTRAL AMERICAN AGREEMENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY (San José, Costa Rica, 1968).
He has been General Secretary of the INTER-AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY ASSOCIATION -ASIPI- (1965-67), former President and active member of the GUATEMALAN INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY ASSOCIATION, Treasurer of the Guatemalan Bar Association, and Vice President of the Honor Tribunal of the Guatemalan Bar Association.
Member of the Peace Commission of the Government of the Republic of Guatemala in the negotiations with the URNG (1991-1995).
Alternate member of the Council of State, representing the Private Universities (1982-84), and Delegate of the Ministry of Economy, in the Intellectual Property Table, in the negotiation of the Free Trade Agreement with Mexico (1997-98).
He was also a Member of the Commission that drafted the Industrial Property Law of Guatemala, which was approved by Decree No. 57-2000 of the Congress (1999), and a member of the Commission that drafted the Commercial Code of Guatemala, which was approved by Decree 2-70 of the Congress (1970).
He is the author of several publications, among them “La Protección Marcaria y la Legislación Guatemalteca”, already mentioned, and “Los Contratos en el Derecho Civil Guatemalteco – Parte Especial” (1982).
ERNESTO VITERI ARRIOLA
Partner
Senior attorney with more than 40 years of experience, he belongs to the third of four generations that represent the Viteri & Viteri legacy. A graduate of Rafael Landívar University in Guatemala, he holds a Master in Comparative Jurisprudence degree from New York University School of Law, and was admitted to practice in the State of New York, U.S.A., although he has since retired from such practice.
Ernesto has extensive experience in Industrial Property, Corporate and Commercial Law, Banking and Finance, Real Estate and Estate Planning, and in litigation and alternative dispute resolution methods in these areas.
He has been a university professor, examiner of Private Examinations and advisor of Graduation Thesis at the Rafael Landívar, Francisco Marroquín and Del Istmo Universities, in Guatemala.
He has participated as President/member of the Electoral Board of the department of Guatemala of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of the Republic of Guatemala, in the organization of the General and Municipal Elections, and National Referendums in the said circumscriptions during the years 1985-2003.
Has been President/member of the Advisory Council of the Registro Nacional de las Personas (RENAP) de la República de Guatemala, designated by the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (CACIF).
Ernesto has been and currently is a member in the Board of Directors of various companies engaged in Agroindustrial, Banking, Insurance, Real Estate Development, and other businesses.
Ernesto is the Managing Partner of Viteri & Viteri.
Santiago Morales Midence
associate laywer´s
Attorney and Notary Public, graduated from the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences at Francisco Marroquín University. He has 6 years of professional experience in the fields of Intellectual Property, Corporate Law at both national and international levels, Notarial Law, and Family Estate Planning.
He holds a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property and Digital Innovation from the University of Alicante, Spain, and a postgraduate degree in Intellectual Property Law, Innovation, and New Technologies from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala.
His professional activity mainly involves overseeing trademark portfolios, drafting and reviewing contracts related to intellectual property, preparing and analyzing defense documents for official actions, objections, oppositions, and/or appeals of distinctive signs, for both national and international clients; as well as developing strategies and plans for succession for family-owned business groups.
He is highly regarded for his dedication, problem-solving abilities, and his capacity to offer innovative solutions to complex legal issues. His commitment to excellence and his ability to understand and address the unique needs of each client make him a trusted and reliable legal advisor.
professional growth and having contributed greatly to the firm’s tradition of excellence, which is reflected in our daily work.
José Alberto Ovando Javier
ASSOCIATE LAWYER´S
Attorney and Notary Public in Guatemala with more than ten years of professional experience, during which he has been involved in corporate, tax, civil, notarial, and commercial law. He has provided advisory services to both national and international clients in various transactions and corporate restructurings and has extensive experience in judicial and constitutional litigation, as well as administrative defenses.
He has specialized in legal compliance and has participated in various due diligence projects in areas such as legal, labor, tax, and intellectual property. Additionally, he has provided labor and tax advice to companies in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, automotive, real estate, among others, and has supported both impatriates and expatriates in immigration, labor, and social security matters.
José is a graduate of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala and holds a Master’s degree in Commercial Law and Competitiveness from the same institution, as well as a postgraduate degree in Corporate and Tax Law from the University of Istmo. He has been a university professor, teaching courses in Commercial Law and Notarial Law, and has participated in conferences both locally and abroad.
José’s clients trust him for his unwavering commitment to integrity and professionalism. José is known for his ability to listen attentively to his clients’ needs and provide clear, straightforward legal guidance, making him a trusted advisor in complex legal matters.
MARÍA INÉS VITERI YAQUIÁN
ASSOCIATE LAWYER´S
Attorney María Inés Viteri is a graduate of the School of Law of Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala, and has a Postgraduate degree in Intellectual Property Law, Innovation and New Technologies from the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.
She has more than 10 years of professional experience in the fields of Corporate Law, Notarial Practice y and Intellectual Property.
She is a member of the Guatemalan-American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), the Guatemalan Chamber of Intellectual Property (CAMPI), the International Trademark Association (INTA), and the Interamerican Industrial Property Association (ASIPI).
Her professional practice is characterized by her personalized and dedicated attention to each client and case.
ENNIO PAOLO ARCHILA VALLE
ASSOCIATE LAWYER´S
Paolo is an Attorney and Notary Public with vast experience in litigation and in alternative methods for the resolution of disputes related to industrial property, commercial litigation, and to the other practice areas of the firm.
His professional activity is mainly focused on the study, analysis of cases, planning of strategies and preparation of actions and/or defenses in complex litigation and the filing of extraordinary and constitutional appeals.
Paolo is a graduate of the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala and, in addition, has a Postgraduate Degree in Commercial Law Update from the Guatemalan Institute of Commercial Law, a Master’s Degree in Corporate Law from the Universidad Rafael Landívar, and an Executive Degree in Law and Digital Communication from the Universidad Austral de Argentina.
