Ruben T DEL ROSARIO

Introduction

Ruben T Del Rosario is a leading authority in maritime litigation in the Philippines, with expertise spanning dry and wet work, personal injury, labour, insurance, multimodal transport and arbitration. As a managing partner of Del Rosario & Del Rosario, he has played a pivotal role in establishing the firm as the country’s premier maritime law practice, consistently recognised with top industry accolades.

Under his leadership, DelRosarioLaw and its affiliate Del Rosario Pandiphil represent nearly all protection and indemnity clubs, marine insurers, and a wide range of shipping companies. He has handled many of the most significant maritime casualties both locally and internationally, particularly those involving Filipino seafarers, and has provided expert testimony in numerous overseas cases.

Del Rosario has also made lasting contributions to maritime policy and legal scholarship. He was a member of the tripartite committee that drafted the original Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) overseas employment contract, helping shape the legal framework for Filipino seafarers. His primer on the POEA standard employment contract has been updated over a dozen times, and his Philippine Shipping Update newsletter, launched in 1999, remains a trusted industry reference with more than 3,800 readers. He also serves on the editorial board of Maritime Risk International.

He is consistently recognised among the top maritime and admiralty lawyers in the Philippines, including listings in AsiaLaw’s Top 100 Lawyers (2018 to 2025) and citations from Asia Business Law Journal. He is an accredited maritime arbitrator, founder of the Philippine Maritime Voluntary Arbitrators Association, and has held leadership roles in several maritime, legal and civic organisations.

Del Rosario holds a law degree from Ateneo de Manila University, an MBA from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor’s degree from De La Salle University. He has pursued advanced studies in shipping law at the University of Southampton and frequently lectures at international conferences, continuing to inspire the next generation of maritime lawyers.