The passion of Arthur “Pancho” Villaraza, chairman and CEO of Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) who passed away on 14 September 2024 at the age of 74, was remembered by his peers as the key to his own success and those that he mentored.
“Pancho’s fiery spirit and vision remain woven into the very fabric of the institution that he has built. As such, it will never falter,” said Raoul Angangco, the new V&A Law chairman and CEO.
A legal icon in the Philippines and a founding partner, Villaraza played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s bold and aggressive approach to lawyering, with a special focus on telecoms, corporate and commercial law, and litigation.
His expertise in commercial transactions, banking and finance led the firm to achieve a 100% victory rate in corporate law, setting new standards in the legal industry.
Angangco remembered him as a man of action whose philosophy still resonates. “The firm never succeeds by timid action but in the relentless pursuit of its goals in the boldest manner, even at times to the extent of being outrageous,” he said.
This mantra illustrates every aspect of the firm’s practice and inspires its lawyers to push boundaries, think creatively, and take calculated risks to achieve the best outcomes for their clients, and continue to provide them with the highest standard of service.
Under Villaraza’s visionary leadership, the firm cultivated a legacy of tenacity, resilience and innovation ‒ qualities that are now its signature. His ethos, that “achieving extraordinary results requires extraordinary measures”, remains the driving force behind V&A Law’s sustained success.
A key moment under Villaraza’s leadership reshaped the business environment of the country. Sylvette Tankiang, managing partner at V&A Law, recalled how he championed the task of dissolving a telecom company’s monopoly. “Pancho Villaraza was behind breaking PLDT’s monopoly over the telecoms industry in the Philippines. This paved the way for new players to enter the industry, which would later become the centrepiece of former president Fidel Ramos’ economic reform programme,” said Tankiang.
Villaraza’s commitment extended beyond the cultivation of budding legal talent. He established a comprehensive programme for new junior associates at V&A Law through the firm’s three major departments: corporate and commercial law, litigation, and IP.
The initiative gives the new hires insight into the firm’s diverse areas of practice, equipping them to choose their specialisations. Villaraza also made sure that new lawyers were engaged with high-profile clients, giving them the opportunity to work on real-world, high-stake cases at the start of their careers.
“Pancho believed that the purpose of his mentorship was not only to create mere followers, but to shape leaders,” said Tankiang. “His mentorship cultivated a generation of well-rounded and courageous lawyers who had the breadth of knowledge and technical skill and the practical experience to excel.
“This investment in young talent not only strengthened the firm’s capabilities but also helped foster a culture of continuous learning and growth.”
A memorable aspect of Pancho’s character was his focus on personal development, which included taking the firm’s partners on educational trips to Europe to refine their tastes and widen their perspectives. Tankiang described these as lessons in culture, sophistication and worldliness that went much beyond traditional legal education.
“In a way he emphasised that, as leaders in the legal profession, we should aspire to not only be great lawyers but also well-rounded individuals,” said Tankiang. “His vision for us, and the future generation of lawyers at V&A Law, extended way beyond the courtroom or the boardroom. Those European trips remain a lasting testament to his belief in personal growth and excellence.”
Tankiang characterised Villaraza as both a fierce competitor in law and a nurturing mentor out of the spotlight. He had high expectations but, “at the end of the day, everyone knew that everything that Pancho said or did was part of his devotion to the partners, his lawyers, and the entire legal profession.”
While Pancho was known for his intensity and drive, he also possessed a nurturing side. Even when he pushed the people at the firm hard, there was still a sense of compassion to it. “He saw potential in us that we didn’t always see in ourselves. And he had pushed us, not to break us, but to mold us into something stronger, something better,” said Tankiang.
“I will miss the way that Pancho would still make me worry about not exceeding his expectations even after more than 30 years of working alongside him.” In Villaraza’s eyes, there was always room for improvement. “That was his gift, his vision: to always see what more could be achieved, to never rest on one’s laurels, to never become complacent.”
Angangco added: “He was deeply committed to ensuring that the firm would thrive long after his time, which is why he invested so much into mentoring the next generation of V&A Lawyers. Through his dedication to nurturing talent and pushing the boundaries of what a law firm could achieve, he has positioned V&A Law as a true game-changer ‒ one that will continue to influence the business and legal landscape of the Philippines for generations to come.”
