0990203330 0999821782 magdalena@velezillingworth.com

About Us

Dr. Magdalena Vélez Egüez is a founding partner and legal director of Derecho y Justicia S.A., with a solid track record in institutional design, legal structuring, and strategic advice for companies, estates, and national and international investment.

His experience combines high-level private practice with direct participation in policy formulation, government strategic planning and development of structural projects in the energy, real estate, productive and financial sectors.

She has advised public entities, state modernization agencies, and national and international companies, with a preventive, technical, and execution-oriented approach. Her practice is distinguished by integrating law as a tool for order, asset continuity, and institutional governance.

Dr. Magdalena Velez

Managing Partner — Legal Affairs and Strategy

Academic Formation

  • J.D. — Universidad Central del Ecuador 1988

  • Bachelor in Public and Social Sciences — Universidad Central del Ecuador

  • Board Certified Lawyer of the Courts and Tribunals of the Republic of Ecuador

  • Post-doctorate International Law

  • Member of the Quito Bar Association (since 1988)

Main areas of practice

    • Corporate structuring and corporate governance

    • Estate and succession planning

    • Foreign investment and project structuring

    • Real estate law and housing developments

    • Energy, infrastructure, and strategic projects

    • Structural administrative law and institutional design

Experience

Managing Partner 

Derecho y Justicia S.A. – Interconsulting Asesores Empresariales (1998-Present)
Boutique legal consultancy for families, businesses, and assets. Asset audits, succession planning, corporate restructuring, foreign investment, real estate and contract law. Columnist and trainer in national media.

Viceminister

Ministry of Foreign Trade, Integration, and Fisheries (1999)
Technical coordination of the productive sector and formulation of public policies.

Technical coordinator and advisor

Secretary of State for Production (1999)
Development of the Strategic Plan for Ecuador's Productive Sector and interministerial coordination.

Legal Counsel

National Council for State Modernization – CONAM (1993–1994)
Direct participation in the drafting of the Law Creating CONAM and processes of state modernization.

Legal counsel

Vice Presidency of the Republic of Ecuador (1993–1994)
Member of the Commission for the Construction of New Airports in Ecuador.

Legal Advisor to the IRS of Ecuador

Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security - IESS (1995)
Institutional restructuring, investment analysis, divestments, and profitability. Legal management of enforcement proceedings with 98% effective recovery rate..

Partner

G.V.G. Associates, Law Firm (1990–1996)
Comprehensive advisor to foreign investors and citizens (Colombia, China, Japan, Lebanon, among others).

Associate Partner

Terán & Terán Law Firm (1989–1990)
Corporate advisor

Legal Counsel

National Institute for Children and Families (INFA) (1988–1992)
Legal advisor to the First Lady of the Republic.

J. David Alexander Illingworth III

 Legal Coordination and Operations

Academic Formation

    • Bachelor of Laws  — Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL)

    • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology — Texas A&M University–Victoria

    • MPH (courses completed, thesis pending) — University of San Francisco, Quito

    • Associate of Arts & Associate of Science — Victoria College

Practice Areas

  • Legal and operational coordination of corporate and property matters

  • Legal drafting, structuring and control

  • Real estate law and administrative procedures

  • Civil and administrative filing

  • Support in constitutional actions (protective action)

  • Operational relations with clients, notaries and public entities

    J. David Alejandro Illingworth is part of the team at Law and Justice — Law & Justice | Vélez & Illingworth Law Firm, where he coordinates the legal enforcement, document structuring and operational management corporate, property and real estate matters at the firm.

    His profile combines ongoing legal training with a solid foundation in psychology, project management, and operations, providing a practical vision focused on order, control, and compliance. It acts as an operational link between legal management and the effective implementation of each process, ensuring document traceability, administrative compliance, and clear communication with clients, authorities, and counterparties.

    He is native bilingual (Spanish–English) and has experience in legal, business, and international environments, enabling him to handle matters with cross-border components and high standards of confidentiality.

    Legal Coordination and Legal Assistance

    Law and Justice, Inc. (2024-Present)
    Direct support to the firm's legal department. Legal research, drafting and reviewing contracts, organizing files, following up on municipal, notarial, and registry procedures, and providing support in constitutional and administrative proceedings.

    Jaime del Salto — Independent Attorney (2023)
    Legal research in civil and mining law. Preparation of legal documents and support in procedural management.

    Chief Operating Officer

    Vélez & Illingworth LLC (2021–2024)
    Operational management of housing projects. Coordination with authorities, investors, and contractors. Control of deadlines, budget, and risk management.

    Director of Operations

    AVI Assets LLC (2019–2022)
    Asset and property management in Texas. Logistical coordination, operational control, and customer and stakeholder relations.

    Strategic Projects and Representative Clients

    National and International Companies Advised

    • Philips of Ecuador

    • Mitsui

    • Pacific Northwest Distributor (Canadá)

    • Steve Wynn – M.D.G. International Inc.

    • Alamar International Inc. (Toronto, Canadá)

    • Cytrus Trust S.A.

    • COMERVAL Co. Ltd.

    • PROFISA Securities House Inc.

    • Ecuafactor Brokerage Firm

    • Tropical Country Real Estate Agency

    • Global Dental, Inc.

    • Indumaq S.A.

    • Chemisan Inc. (Mexico)

    • Interibis Co. Ltd.

    • Agripetrol Co. Ltd.

    Public and Institutional Sector

    • Office of the President of the Republic of Ecuador

    • Vice-Presidency of the Republic

    • National Council for State Modernisation (CONAM)

    • Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS)

    • Ministry of Foreign Trade

    • Secretary of State for Production

    • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador

    • New Airports Commission

    Energy, Infrastructure, and Major Projects

    • COMERFORBE Ltd. — 50 MW energy project

    • Pacific North West Distributor (Canadá) — 200 MW energy project

    • North West Pacific Distributor

    • Mass housing projects with international financing (Canada, USA, Austria)

    Do you have a question?

    Si necesitas comunicarte con nosotros, atendemos los dias lunes a viernes desde las 8:00 AM hasta las 5:00 PM.

    Contact Us