Based on research conducted by Asia Business Law Journal, the following are the Philippines’ top 100 lawyers 2018 (including foreign legal counsel/advisors/consultants practising in the Philippines).
Click here to read the editorial report that accompanies the A-List.
 |
Maria Iolanda Abella AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: business law; business process outsourcing; commercial law; constitutional law; contracts |
 |
Franchette Acosta Villaraza & AngangcoSenior Partner Corporate & Commercial Law Department Tel: + 63 2 988 6088 Mobile: +63 917 8577575 E-mail: fm.acosta@thefirmva.com WeChat ID: FMAcosta |
| Key practice areas: corporate law; M&A; foreign investments; government contracts; securities regulation; |
| Franchette M. Acosta specializes in commercial law and has acted as lead counsel for sellers and buyers in cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions of private and public companies. As counsel, Franchette guides her clients through the legal due diligence process, negotiation and drafting of transaction documents such as acquisition and shareholders agreements. Franchette has also advised clients in the developing field of competition law in the Philippines, and has assisted in securing approvals from the Philippine Competition Commission. A significant component of her commercial law practice includes assisting foreign companies in market entry or expansion in the Philippines by providing practical and business-oriented guidance on business structure, regulation (such as data protection laws), HR regulation, registration and permitting and immigration.
Franchette has acted as lead transaction counsel for borrowers in syndicated loan agreements and project financing for companies engaged in power, property development, retail and manufacturing. Her experience covers acting as lead counsel for underwriters in initial public offerings in the Philippines and sponsors/companies for listings in Hong Kong and China. Franchette represents clients as lead counsel before government agencies for procurement and build-operate and transfer projects. Franchette acts for local and foreign companies providing services globally such as: Europe-based reinsurance and insurance companies, consumer lending provider, security software and hardware provider for communications and other industrial equipment and a cement company; Leading Hong Kong-based telecommunications and food manufacturing company; U.S.-based financial technology company providing payment solutions services, semi-conductor manufacturer, and a design, engineering and manufacturing services provider; Singapore-based technology company providing innovative logistics and other services, digital solutions provider and fintech solutions and credit-scoring provider; China-based accommodation services provider, logistics solutions provider and state-owned enterprises engaged in infrastructure, power and energy; and a Japan-based manufacturing company, integrated engineer, IT and risk management consultancy providers. Franchette has acted as counsel of the Ayala Group of companies, including Ayala Land, AC Energy, Globe Telecom and Innove, and other Philippine conglomerates and companies with interests in asset recovery, food retail, gaming and entertainment, infrastructure and renewable energy. Franchette holds a Masters of Law Degree (LL.M.) from New York University, a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B.) from the University of the Philippines College of Law (cum laude and Valedictorian) and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Economics from the University of the Philippines School of Economics (magna cum laude). She ranked 3rd in the 1998 Philippine Bar Examinations. |
 |
Jose Luis Agcaoili Agcaoili & Associates |
| Key practice areas: aircraft finance and leasing; aviation; banking & finance; corporate law; commercial law |
 |
Raoul R Angangco Villaraza & AngangcoEmail: rr.angangco@thefirmva.com |
| Key practice areas: corporate law; M&A; infrastructure and energy; real estate and construction |
| Mr. Angangco specializes in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure and energy, mining and natural resources, and real estate and construction. Mr. Angangco became one of the youngest National Presidents of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines from 1995 to 1997. He is also an active member of various international and local bar associations, and is a director of a large number of Philippine public and private corporations engaged in a wide variety of businesses.
Mr. Angangco holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B.) from the University of the Philippines College of Law, graduating cum laude and valedictorian, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Ateneo de Manila University graduating cum laude. He received the Most Outstanding University Graduate and Most Outstanding Law Graduate awards in 1980 from the University of the Philippines Alumni Association. |
 |
Nelson Antolin SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan |
| Key practice areas: litigation; dispute resolution |
 |
Carlos G Baniqued Baniqued Layug & Bello |
| Key practice areas: corporate law; commercial law; taxation |
 |
Edmund Jason Baranda Baranda & Associates |
| Key practice areas: IP; patent litigation; trademark and copyright litigation |
 |
Mario Luza Bautista Poblador Bautista & Reyes |
| Key practice areas: dispute resolution; corporations/securities; labour/employment; media/telecommunications; insurance |
 |
Sonya Margarita Benemerito-Castillo Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices |
| Key practice areas: civil law; family law; immigration; labour relations; IP |
 |
Jaime Blanco Esguerra & Blanco |
| Key practice areas: corporate law; tax and estate planning; foreign investments; labour law; real property |
 |
Ramil Bugayong Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices |
| Key practice areas: banking & finance; capital markets, infrastructure, M&A, regulatory |
 |
Patricia Bunye Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia Tel: +63 2810 5858 Email: po.bunye@cruzmarcelo.com |
| Key practice areas: IP; mining and natural resources/energy |
| Patricia Bunye is the head of the firm’s mining and natural resources department and the energy practice group. She is also a partner in the intellectual property department and focuses on trademarks and IP commercialization, including licensing and franchising, and the registration of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products with the Food and Drug Administration.
She is a past president of the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) after having served as president (2016-17), president-elect (2015-16), vice president (2011-13) and chair of the Asia Pacific Committee for two consecutive terms. She was also a past president of LES Philippines. She is also founding president of Diwata-Women in Resource Development, Inc, a non-government organization that advocates responsible development of the Philippines’ wealth in resources. |
 |
Cynthia Roxas-Del Castillo Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles |
| Key practice areas: securities and corporate law; capital markets; foreign investment |
 |
Maria Raquel Chavez Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices |
| Key practice areas: corporate; banking & finance; capital markets; energy |
 |
Kenneth L Chua Quisumbing TorresTel: +63 2 819 4940 Email: kenneth.chua@quisumbingtorres.com |
| Key practice areas: employment advice; compensation and benefits; pension funds; global equity services; executive compensation and movement |
| Kenneth Chua is a partner and the head of Quisumbing Torres’ employment practice group and services industry group. He has 18 years of experience advising clients on various labour and employment issues, including compensation and benefits, employment contract and employee handbook. He serves as the vice chairperson for Labour of the Legislative Committee, Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and legal counsel representing Quisumbing Torres for the Global In-House Center Council Philippines (GICC). He sits in the Tripartite Executive Committee of the Department of Labour and Employment as representative of the employer sector. He participates in the Technical Working Group on Labour and Social Policy Issues of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines.
Chua’s practice focuses on general employment advice, compensation and benefits, pension funds, global equity services, and executive compensation and movement. He has represented multinational corporations in labour and employment matters. |
 |
Avelino Cruz AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: administrative law; ADR; appellate practice; aviation and transportation; bankruptcy |
 |
Celso Cruz Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako |
| Key practice areas: IP; labour law; civil litigation; corporate law; contract law; product liability |
 |
Emerico De Guzman AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: appeals; employment/labour standards; labour relations; M&A; outsourcing |
 |
Hector De Leon Jr SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan |
| Key practice areas: corporate/M&A; projects, infrastructure and energy; finance; tax |
 |
Gabriel Dee Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos |
| Key practice areas: capital markets; M&A; banking; corporate law; taxation |
 |
Arturo Del Rosario Del Rosario & Del Rosario |
| Key practice areas: maritime litigation; IP |
 |
Ruben Del Rosario Del Rosario & Del Rosario |
| Key practice areas: maritime litigation, personal injury; multimodal transport |
 |
Monalisa Dimalanta Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices |
| Key practice areas: energy; M&A; regulatory |
 |
Roberto Dio Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose |
| Key practice areas: litigation; IP; admiralty; corporate law; real property |
 |
JJ Disini Disini |
| Key practice areas: TMT; IP; corporate law; M&A; banking & finance |
 |
Nilo Divina DivinaLaw Tel: +63 2878 4732 Email: nilo.divina@divinalaw.com |
| Key practice areas: corporate, criminal, and civil litigation; ADR; estates and trusts; immigration; labour and employment |
| Nilo Divina is a seasoned corporate and banking lawyer, with more than 30 years of experience. He established DivinaLaw in 2006 and has led the aggressive growth of the firm in a short span of time as its managing partner. Before he entered private law practice, Nilo was the former executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of one of the former leading banks in the Philippines. He also served as the general manager, executive adviser to the board, and corporate secretary of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Divina is equally active with his roles in the academe, serving as the dean of the Faculty of Civil of the University of Santo Tomas for eight years now. He also teaches in the University of the Philippine College of Law. He is likewise recognized in the Philippines as one of the premier experts in commercial law, and one of the sought-after reviewers and legal consultants. Divina has authored two books in commercial law–and is considered a primary resource material for law students and lawyers alike. In 2017, he was named as one of the top 500 leading lawyers in the world by the InterContinental Finance & Law Magazine–the only Filipino lawyer to make it to the list. He was also named managing partner of the year for two consecutive years by the ACQ Global Awards. Divina has a post-graduate diploma in international tax law at the Robert Kennedy College in Switzerland. He earned his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees from the University of Santo Tomas. |
 |
Benedicta Du-Baladad Du-Baladad and Associates |
| Key practice areas: tax consulting and advisory; tax planning; tax disputes/assessments; tax litigation; transfer pricing |
 |
Yolanda Eleazar Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose |
| Key practice areas: corporate finance; securities; foreign investments; corporate law; business counselling |
 |
Ramon Esguerra Esguerra & Blanco |
| Key practice areas: IP; litigation; estate law; corporate law; criminal law |
 |
Mila Federis Federis & Associates |
| Key practice areas: trademarks patents; utility models, industrial designs copyright; IP enforcement; IP litigation |
 |
Alex Ferdinand Fider AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: e-commerce; technology & science; IP |
 |
Alex Erlito S Fider Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos Tel: +63 2888 0999 Email: esfider@picazolaw.com |
| Key practice areas: M&A; banking & finance; privatisations; infrastructure and utilities; telecommunications and mass media |
| Alex Erlito S Fider graduated from the University of the Philippines with degrees in economics and law. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1985 and has been practising law since then. He undertook specialized courses in strategic business economics in the country and corporate governance in Australia. His legal experience spans almost 33 years of participation in corporate transactions and projects that involved legal counselling on Philippine law, including legal advice on the appropriate transaction structure, crafting of documents, legal diligence audit, and other corporate legal work in corporate acquisitions and investments, joint ventures, privatizations, corporate finance, divestments and restructuring. He has been working closely for several years with companies engaged in public infrastructure and utilities, telecommunications and mass media. Fider is a director and/or corporate secretary of several Philippine corporations, including Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation, Manila North Tollways Corporation, Tollways Management Corporation, Maynilad Water Services Inc, Roxas Holdings Inc, Smart Communications, Inc, Voyager Inc. He is a member of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) and the Institute of Corporate Directors of which he is a fellow. He is a member of the board of trustees of non-profit organizations like the Metropolitan-Manila Cathedral Basilica Foundation and TV-5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation. |
 |
Philip Sigfrid A Fortun Fortun Narvasa & Salazar – Philippines |
| Key practice areas: criminal and civil litigation; family law; commercial arbitration; IP litigation; agrarian law |
 |
Estrelita Gacutan Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos |
| Key practice areas: banking & finance; project finance; M&A; corporate law; capital markets; mass media telecommunications |
 |
Jaime Renato Gatmaytan Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio |
| Key practice areas: energy; real estate and construction; banking & finance; corporate; M&A |
 |
Mia Gentugaya SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan |
| Key practice areas: aviation; banking & finance |
 |
Vicente Gerochi IV SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan |
| Key practice areas: banking & finance; projects, infrastructure and energy |
 |
Alden Gonzales DivinaLaw |
| Key practice areas: civil and commercial litigation and arbitration; taxation; labour and employment; collective bargaining agreement negotiations |
 |
Lily Gruba Zambrano & Gruba |
| Key practice areas: taxation; commercial law; banking & finance; cross border transaction structuring; M&A |
| Lily Gruba is the managing partner of the Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula law firm. As such, she supervises the overall practice, management, and day-to-day operations of the Firm. She acts as an overseer of the strategies proposed and adopted by members of the Firm to best address the needs of its clients.
Equipped with a Master of Laws Degree from Georgetown University Law Centre in Washington D.C., Lily specializes in taxation, commercial law, banking & finance, cross border transaction structuring, mergers & acquisitions, and contracts. Her expertise is sought after by a variety of clients from different industries. She holds key relationships with clients comprising of directors and shareholders of top corporations and leading business individuals in the country. A leading name in the field of taxation law, Gruba advises several multinational companies on effective strategies for tax planning. Using her vast knowledge in the tax audit process, she also supervises a team of lawyers in handling cases for deficiency tax assessments both at the administrative and judicial level. Well-known for her expansive experience in the banking industry, Gruba’s clientele include borrowers and lenders alike. She directly supervises a team of lawyers in the preparation, review, and finalization of documentation for regular loan operations of a publicly-listed universal bank, including the final checking of loan and collateral documents prior to release of loan proceeds. Asialaw Profiles, another legal rating publication, says that: Lily K Gruba, its managing partner, “is technically knowledgeable, has effective interpersonal skills and is highly regarded in the business sector.” She is “one of the best tax lawyers in the country.” In effectively meeting the demands of clients, “[s]he is ably assisted by a team of very competent lawyers in the field of taxation, dispute resolution and M&A planning and execution” Gruba has previously held the following positions: associate dean, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law; faculty member, Taxation, Taxation Law Review, Local Government Taxation and Mergers and Acquisitions, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law; bar reviewer, Tax Remedies, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law; and general counsel and board member of a leading commercial bank. |
 |
Aris Gulapa Gulapa Law |
| Key practice areas: construction; real estate; corporate; M&A |
| Aris Gulapa is a cross-border corporate lawyer trained in Manila, Singapore, Vietnam, Tokyo, and New York. He is admitted to the Philippine and New York bar, and was previously licensed as a foreign lawyer in Vietnam. After working for some of the leading firms in Asia (i.e., SyCipLaw; Kelvin Chia Partnership; Anderson Mori & Tomotsune), he set up Gulapa Law Office in September 2015. From a team of six lawyers in 2015, Gulapa Law Office has grown into a 17-lawyer firm (with four more associates joining this year) and is now known as “Gulapa & Quicho (Gulapa Law)”.
Gulapa initially envisioned Gulapa Law to be a boutique firm with a focus on infrastructure (particularly PPP projects). The firm became involved in almost every flagship PPP project in the Philippines. It currently represents the super consortium of seven conglomerates in their proposal to rehabilitate and expand the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and advises the government on the Clark International Airport and the National Administrative Government Center projects. In addition to infrastructure, Gulapa Law attracted high-value M&A work, for which it earned a citation for being one of Asia Business Law Journal’s 2017 Dealmakers of the Year. In less than a year, Gulapa Law was recognized by international legal publications (IFLR, Legal500, AsiaLaw, Asian Legal Business) as a leading firm in construction/real estate and corporate/M&A, and Gulapa as a leading lawyer in the same fields (Chambers Asia Pacific; Chambers Global; Asian Mena). The firm was named one of the “Firms to Watch” and “Best Boutiques” in 2017 by the Asian Legal Business. Gulapa had a vision. Having worked abroad for almost five years and obtained his LL M degree at NYU, Gulapa wanted his firm to be the first Philippine firm to internationalize its practice with its Philippine practice at the core. Thus, Gulapa Law became the first Philippine firm to set up an office in New York in 2017 and San Francisco in 2018. Gulapa and his team intend to remain strong in their existing practice areas and continue to explore uncharted territories in line with their goal of innovating, achieving, and excelling. |
 |
Anthony Mark A Gutierrez Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio |
| Key practice areas: tax; disputes resolution |
 |
Editha Hechanova Hechanova Bugay Vilchez & Andaya-Racadio Tel: +63 2888 4293 Email: mail@hechanova.com.ph |
| Key practice areas: IP; IP litigation; licensing; border control and corporate; employment law |
| Editha Hechanova is the president and CEO of the company who oversees and manages trademark and patent prosecution, copyright registration, trademark valuation, searches and other non-contentious IP matters. Recognized from 2010 to 2014, Hechanova & Co, Inc was listed among the top filers for both patents and trademarks by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
Hechanova is also the managing partner of Hechanova-Bugay-Vilchez & Andaya-Racadio, specializing in IP litigation, licensing, border control and corporate, and employment law. She is a lawyer, certified public accountant, and a certified patent agent after having passed the first patent agent qualifying examination done by the government for lawyers in 2008 administered by IPOPHL. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business Administration major in Accounting from the University of the East and is a Certified Public Accountant. She then obtained her law degree from Ateneo de Manila University and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1990. She is candidate for MBA in Ateneo de Manila. A known prolific writer, she regularly contributes articles on IP Asia Leading and Managing Intellectual Property on Philippine current legal IP decided cases and trends. She has been a member of various international organizations such as INTA, MARQUES, FICPI, ECTA, AIPLA and LES as well as local organizations like Japan Institute for promoting Invention/Innovation, Makati Business Club, Philippine Chamber of Business, American Chamber of Philippines, and Association of PAQUE Professionals. |
 |
Regina Jacinto-Barrientos Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices |
| Key practice areas: M&A; corporate; energy |
 |
Jacinto Jimenez Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles |
| Key practice areas: litigation; arbitration; corporate law |
 |
Victor Lazatin AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: agricultural law & agrarian reform; ADR; antitrust & trade regulation; appellate practice; construction |
 |
Francisco Ed Lim AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: ADR; antitrust & trade regulation; appellate practice; bankruptcy; insolvency |
 |
Pearl Liu Quisumbing TorresTel: +63 2 819 4905 Email: pearl.liu@quisumbingtorres.com |
| Key practice areas: M&A; foreign investment structuring; joint ventures; divestitures; corporate reorganizations |
| Pearl Liu is a partner and head of Quisumbing Torres’ corporate & commercial practice group and consumer goods & retail industry group. Her career spans 34 years representing a broad spectrum of leading multinational companies in the Philippines. She has been consistently ranked as a leading individual in corporate/M&A, real estate, and capital markets in Chambers Global and Chambers Asia Pacific, IFLR1000, and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. Pearl is also among Asia Business Law Journal’s inaugural “A-List” of the country’s legal profession.
Liu’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment structuring, joint ventures, divestitures, corporate reorganizations and real estate. She has extensive experience in the structuring, establishment and operations of corporate entities engaged in, among others, retail, outsourcing & information technology industries, real estate, energy, infrastructure, hotels, resorts and tourism. |
 |
Llewellyn Llanillo Salvador Llanillo & Bernardo |
| Key practice areas: corporate services; IP; special projects |
 |
Emmanuel Lombos SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan |
| Key practice areas: dispute resolution; product liability |
 |
Carlos Roberto Lopez SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan |
| Key practice areas: dispute resolution; commercial arbitration; mining; patent infringement; competition |
 |
Mel Macaraig Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose |
| Key practice areas: litigation; intra-corporate disputes; international commercial arbitration; patent infringement; estate proceedings |
 |
Manuel Manaligod Jr Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia Tel: +63 2810 5858 Email: ml.manaligod@cruzmarcelo.com |
| Key practice areas: infrastructure; transportation and public utilities; banking & finance; corporate and commercial law; strategic & developmental projects; property development |
| Manuel Manaligod is the firm’s head of corporate & commercial law department. He is an authority on transactions involving infrastructure projects, including those that make use of build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) schemes and its variants. He has broad experience dealing with contracts between the private sector and the government, and is an expert in project finance, commercial law, and administrative law. His fields of practice also include information & communications technology, water, and power & energy. Manaligod previously held a senior position in the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel during the Ramos Administration.
Manaligod earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1991 and Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1997, where he graduated with merit. |
 |
Manolito Manalo Ocampo Manalo Bernabe Valdez & Lim |
| Key practice areas: aviation and transportation law; labour and dispute resolution; information communication and technology law; real estate; construction law |
 |
Simeon Marcelo Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia Tel: +63 2810 5858 Email: sv.marcelo@cruzmarcelo.com |
| Key practice areas: litigation; dispute resolution; arbitration; ADR; tax litigation |
| Simeon Marcelo previously served as the country’s solicitor general from February 2001 to October 2002 and ombudsman from October 2002 to November 2005. Known as one of the country’s top litigators, he caught the public’s attention during the impeachment proceedings of the then President Joseph Estrada when he was chosen to handle the presentation of the prosecution’s star witness. As head of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), he focused on the neglected ill-gotten wealth cases against the Marcoses and their cronies. Having won all OSG’s major cases during his tenure, he is considered as one of the most successful Solicitors General of the country.
Marcelo graduated among the top ten of his class from the University of the Philippines College of Law and placed fifth in the 1979 Bar Examinations. He is also a recipient of Crispin Llamado Scholarship Award. |
 |
Hector Martinez Platon Martinez Flores San Pedro Leaño |
| Key practice areas: banking & finance; taxation |
 |
TJ Mendoza Quisumbing TorresTel: +63 2 8194963 Email: tj.mendoza@quisumbingtorres.com |
| Key practice areas: banking & finance; capital markets; energy, mining and infrastructure; M&A; real estate |
| TJ Mendoza is a partner and head of the banking & finance practice group and financial institutions industry group and a member of the corporate & commercial practice group in Quisumbing Torres. He has extensive experience leading and supervising teams in various local and international special projects involving mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and project finance transactions for industry leaders in the natural resource, energy and infrastructure sectors.
He is a ranked as a leading lawyer for banking and finance in Chambers Asia Pacific and has been the Philippine partner-in-charge of certain projects recognized and awarded by various institutions, such as the IFLR Asia awards 2017 and Asian Legal Business Law awards 2016. Mendoza’s practice focuses on banking and finance, capital markets, energy, mining and infrastructure, M&A and real estate. He advises clients on foreign direct investment regulations, corporate, capital and deal structures, corporate governance, financing and security creation issues and national and local licensing and regulatory issues. |
 |
Rommel Mercado Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako |
| Key practice areas: commercial law; M&A; corporate finance |
 |
Jose Salvador Mirasol Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles |
| Key practice areas: banking & finance; corporate law; real estate |
 |
Alfredo Molo MOSVELDTT Tel: +63 2656 4096 to 98 Email: info@mosveldttlaw.com |
| Key practice areas: commercial litigation; arbitration; telecommunications; public utilities; competition and regulatory and legislative reform |
| Alfredo Molo III is a founding partner of Mosveldtt Law, which was recently hailed by two publications as one of the 10 leading law firms in the Philippines.
Molo has had significant Philippine Supreme Court victories in the fields of commercial, regulatory and intellectual property law. These include, opening up the Party-list System; nullifying the legislative Pork Barrel (PDAF); establishing landmark doctrine in intellectual property; nullifying restrictive regulation on foreign contractors; successfully enforcing a US$25 million arbitral award against a local conglomerate; and representing the concessionaire in the largest sovereign guarantee arbitration in the country’s history pending before an international tribunal (dispute valued at US$1.6 billion). Government agencies and regulatory bodies including the recently-formed Competition Commission have sought his advice on several matters. In 2013, Molo was recognized by the Supreme Court for his “expertise, competence and invaluable service” and, was chosen as a member of the high court’s expert panel on the revised rules of civil procedure. He regularly speaks in conferences and conducted training seminars for frontline agencies and new regulators. In 2015, the Philippine Judicial Academy invited him to join its curriculum review focus group. Molo has been involved in some of the most challenging legislative reform projects in the Philippines. He has also served as a technical consultant for senators, congressmen, regulators, economic zones, and other government interests. Molo is a founder and former Director of the Angara Centre. He Chairs the constitutional law committee of the Philippine Bar Association and is the president of the Harvard Law School Association of the Philippines. He is the editor-in-chief of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Law Journal and was a member of the editorial board of the Harvard Asia Pacific Review. He teaches constitutional law, administrative law, and statutory construction at the College of Law of the University of the Philippines, where he serves as chair of the faculty’s Political Law Cluster. He has served as part of the US Fulbright Competition’s Selection Committee. and is currently the corporate secretary and trustee of the Harvard Law School Alumni Association of the Philippines. |
 |
Agustin Montilla Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles |
| Key practice areas: securities; corporate law |
 |
Rafael A Morales Morales & JustinianoTel: +63 2834 2551 Email: ramorales@primuslex.com |
| Key practice areas: banking & finance; capital markets; project finance; M&A; joint ventures; corporate and commercial law |
| Rafael A Morales is the managing partner of Morales & Justiniano. Previously, he was the managing partner of SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan and before that the head of the latter’s banking, finance and securities practice group.
He has had much recognition for his legal work, including citations in Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Banking Lawyers and Asian Legal Business’ List of 100 pre-eminent Asia-Pacific Lawyers. He has been cited as a leading lawyer by IFLR1000, Legal 500, Chambers Asia Pacific, Asialaw Profiles as well as Who’s Who Legal. He is considered by Chambers Asia Pacific as an eminent practitioner in banking and finance. Morales finished his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (cum laude) at the University of the Philippines, where he also took his Bachelor of Laws (cum laude and class valedictorian). After his LLM at the University of Michigan (where he was a DeWitt Fellow), he trained as a foreign attorney at Rosenman Colin Freund Lewis & Cohen in New York. He later became a foreign attorney at Anderson Mori & Rabinowitz in Tokyo. He was president of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, an organization of lawyers from more than 65 jurisdictions and with interest in the Asia-Pacific region. He is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Philippine Bar Association, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, New York State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. He is a professorial lecturer at the College of Law of the University of the Philippines. Morales has authored two books: The Philippine General Banking Law (Annotated) and The Philippine Securities Regulation Code (Annotated), as well as numerous legal articles. |
 |
Carlos Ocampo Ocampo Manalo Bernabe Valdez & Lim |
| Key practice areas: M&A; aviation; corporate; securities; business law; commercial litigation |
 |
Louie Ogsimer Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles |
| Key practice areas: litigation; arbitration |
 |
Polo Pantaleon Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose |
| Key practice areas: corporate law; banking & finance; foreign investments; business counselling; real property |
 |
Norma Margarita B Patacsil Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio |
| Key practice areas: M&A; Competition law; general corporate and commercial/investments |
 |
Lorna Patajo-Kapunan Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices |
| Key practice areas: licensing law; franchising; corporate and commercial law; joint ventures; M&A |
 |
Perry Pe Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles |
| Key practice areas: project development; finance |
 |
Elizabeth E Peralta-Loriega Puno & Puno |
| Key practice areas: taxation; M&A; real estate |
 |
Antonio Picazo Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos |
| Key practice areas: M&A |
 |
Antonio Pido Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako |
| Key practice areas: labour law; civil and criminal litigation |
 |
Carlos Platon Platon Martinez Flores San Pedro Leaño |
| Key practice areas: corporate law; foreign investments |
 |
Alexander Poblador Poblador Bautista & Reyes |
| Key practice areas: litigation; arbitration; real estate finance and project development; bankruptcy and corporate reorganization |
 |
Patricia-Ann Prodigalidad AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: commercial litigation; commercial and construction arbitration; product liability; environmental disputes; antitrust |
 |
Roderico Puno Puno & Puno |
| Key practice areas: energy, power generation and distribution; infrastructure; utilities regulation; M&A; corporate law |
 |
Enrique Quiason Quiason Makalintal Barot Torres Ibarra Sison & Damaso |
| Key practice areas: M&A, banking, finance and securities law |
 |
Dennis A. Quintero Quisumbing TorresTel: +63 2 819 4962 Email: dennis.quintero@quisumbingtorres.com |
| Key practice areas: cross-border acquisitions; investments and divestments; joint ventures; project financing transactions; regulatory |
| Dennis Quintero is a partner in the Corporate & Commercial Practice Group of Quisumbing Torres. He heads the Firm’s Energy, Mining & Infrastructure Industry Group. He is cited as a Market Leader by the IFLR 1000: Financial and Corporate Guide 2018. He is consistently ranked as a leading individual in Corporate and M&A by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and as a leading individual in Projects, Infrastructure, and Energy/Natural Resources and Mining by the leading international legal directories (i.e., Chambers Global and Asia Pacific, IFLR1000/The Petroleum Economist, and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific). Dennis is also a Certified Public Accountant. He was appointed co-chair of the 2013 Conference of the International Bar Association and Australian Resources and Energy Law Association Southeast Asia in Singapore. He is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.
Dennis advises clients on cross-border acquisitions of shares/assets as well as on structuring investments and divestments in a range of industries. He advises clients in joint venture negotiations and agreements, project development, project financing transactions, corporate structuring, negotiations with the national and local governments for project consent requirements, and regulatory matters. Professional affiliations Dennis acts as Chairman & Trustee for the Philippines-Australia Business Council, the Philippine private sector representative in the bilateral trade and investment relations between Australia and the Philippines. He also serves as Corporate Secretary for Enactus Philippines, the Philippine chapter of the global non-profit organization that invests in students’ entrepreneurial initiatives. Enactus organizes an annual series of regional and national competitions that showcases Enactus teams’ impact, evaluated by global business leaders. Dennis is also an active member of the Joint Foreign Chambers (including American Chamber of Commerce of the Phils., Inc., Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (Phils.), Inc., Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Phils., Inc., European Chamber of Commerce of the Phils., Inc., Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Phils., Inc., and Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry). He is an offshore member of the Australian Resources and Energy Law Association (AMPLA) and a Founding Committee Member of the AMPLA (Singapore Branch). |
 |
Ramon Quisumbing Quisumbing TorresTel: +63 2819 4700 Email: ramon.quisumbing@quisumbingtorres.com |
| Key practice areas: litigation; ADR; international arbitration |
| Ramon Quisumbing is the managing partner of Quisumbing Torres. He is a member of the dispute resolution practice group and the services (including outsourcing) industry group of the firm. He has represented numerous multinational companies, including AT&T, The Dow Chemical Company, Cisco, Budget Rental, Occidental Chemical, Taisei, TeleTech, Agilent, Steelcase and Intel.
Quisumbing’s practice focuses on litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and international arbitration. He handles commercial, civil and appellate litigation. He is consistently recognized as an eminent practitioner for dispute resolution and dispute resolution: international arbitration by Chambers Asia Pacific, as well as a leading individual in the same field by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1991, and to the New York, Virginia State and District of Columbia Bar of the United States of America in 1986, 1980 and 1979, respectively. |
 |
Marievic Ramos-Añonuevo SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan |
| Key practice areas: aviation; banking & finance; capital markets; corporate/M&A; projects, infrastructure and energy; real estate and construction |
 |
Joseph Manolo Rebano Del Rosario & Del Rosario |
| Key practice areas: admiralty and related investigations and disputes |
 |
Teodoro Regala AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: banking law; capital markets & securities; finance; M&A; corporate rehabilitation and restructuring |
 |
Gilbert Raymund Reyes Poblador Bautista & Reyes |
| Key practice areas: litigation; arbitration; IP; labour & employment; real estate development & regulation |
 |
Rocky Reyes SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan |
| Key practice areas: corporate/M&A; finance; projects, infrastructure and energy |
 |
Cesar Manalaysay Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako |
| Key practice areas: corporate litigation; corporate law |
 |
Frances Joanne Miranda Riturban Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos |
| Key practice areas: corporate; M&A; banking & finance; infrastructure and public utilities; securities & capital markets |
 |
Ricardo Romulo Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles |
| Key practice areas: corporate law |
 |
Roderick Salazar Fortun Narvasa & Salazar |
| Key practice areas: corporate and commercial law; project, energy and mining law; M&A; real estate; arbitration |
 |
Angel Salita Jr SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan |
| Key practice areas: banking & finance; corporate/M&A; projects, infrastructure and energy; real estate and construction |
 |
Augusto San Pedro Jr Villaraza & Angangco Email: aa.sanpedro@thefirmva.com |
| Key practice areas: commercial and corporate disputes; insurance disputes; banking & finance disputes; insolvency; product liability |
| Mr. San Pedro Jr specializes in Commercial Litigation and disputes relating to Banking & Finance, Insurance, Product Liability, Commercial and Corporate Law. He has over 20 years of experience in trial and appellate practice before Philippine Courts, and in managing commercial disputes. He also has extensive experience in construction arbitration, and is a founding member and former Trustee of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. Mr. San Pedro Jr is a senior professorial lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Law and a resource person for the Philippine Judicial Academy.
Mr. San Pedro Jr holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B.) from the University of the Philippines College of Law. He placed 2nd in the 1990 Bar Examination and was a Dean’s Medalist for Academic Excellence at the University of the Philippines College of Law where he graduated among the top of his class. |
 |
Gemma Santos Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos |
| Key practice areas: corporate law; banking; M&A |
 |
Roy Enrico Santos Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices |
| Key practice areas: regulatory; labour & employment; dispute resolution |
 |
Maria Concepcion P Simundac Villaraza & Angangco Email: mp.simundac@thefirmva.com |
| Key practice areas: corporate law; commercial law; power & energy; construction & real estate transactions; infrastructure |
| Ms. Maria Concepcion Simundac specializes in the areas of Corporate & Commercial Law, Power & Energy, Construction & Real Estate Transactions, Infrastructure, Transportation & Public Utilities, and Corporate & Project Finance.
Ms. Simundac regularly advises foreign investors on the regulations for foreign direct investments in the Philippines, particularly in the areas of construction, power & energy, infrastructures and public and private partnerships (PPP). She helps clients navigate increasingly complex regulatory frameworks and compliance in the areas of financial technology, data privacy and anti-financial crimes. Ms. Simundac provides legal services in relation to development, construction and operation of complex multi-billion peso energy, infrastructure or real estate developments. In the area of Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP), Ms. Simundac assists clients from preparation and submission of bid documents to various government agencies up to award of contracts. She has experience with joint ventures with the national government, local governments and government-owned and controlled corporations. Ms. Simundac also performs due diligence investigations in relation to acquisitions, mergers, and initial public offerings where she highlights crucial points and potential exposures. Ms. Simundac drafts and negotiates transaction documents and contracts, such as memoranda of agreement, share or asset purchase agreements, shareholders’ agreements, joint venture agreements, lease contracts, management agreements, credit facility arrangements and other bespoke agreements. Ms. Simundac currently holds positions of director and corporate secretary in various multi-national, domestic and non-profit corporations across industries where she gains in-depth understanding of the needs of clients which enables her to provide practical and timely legal advice on various business issues and concerns. |
 |
Ruelito Soriano Quiason Makalintal Barot Torres Ibarra Sison & Damaso |
| Key practice areas: taxation; corporate law; telecommunications; oil & energy |
 |
Ancheta Tan Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose |
| Key practice areas: labour law; litigation; special projects |
 |
Eusebio Tan AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: banking law; business law; capital markets & securities; commercial law; construction law |
 |
Sylvette Tankiang Villaraza & Angangco Email: sy.tankiang@thefirmva.com |
| Key practice areas: taxation; M&A; banking & finance; securities; and power & energy |
| Ms. Tankiang has special expertise in the fields of taxation, mergers & acquisitions, banking & finance, securities, and power & energy. She is a lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Law. She is a member of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association where she has held several positions as officer.
Ms. Tankiang holds a Masters of Law Degree (LL.M.) from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B.) from the University of the Philippines College of Law where she graduated cum laude and valedictorian. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (Honors) major in Economics from the De La Salle University, graduating summa cum laude. |
 |
Joe Nathan Tenefrancia Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia Tel: +63 2810 5858 Email: jp.tenefrancia@cruzmarcelo.com |
| Key practice areas: litigation; dispute resolution; mining and natural resources/energy; taxation; telecommunications and ICT |
| Joe Tenefrancia is the firm’s managing partner and head of its telecommunications and information & communications technology practice group. He was appointed assistant secretary for legal affairs (presidential management staff) under the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines in February 2001, and subsequently appointed to the positions of chief presidential legal counsel (with the rank of cabinet secretary) from January 2004 to August 2004 and senior deputy executive secretary for legal affairs, Office of the Executive Secretary (with the rank of cabinet secretary) from September 2004 to December 2005. Tenefrancia’s broad experience in litigation practice and government privileged insight and strategy, which lead to the resolution of complex and multi-faceted legal issues.
Tenefrancia obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1990. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering where he graduated in 1985. |
 |
Rodolfo G. Tuazon, Jr. MOSVELDTT |
| Key practice areas: energy; mining & natural resources; labour; immigration |
 |
Luis Vera Cruz AccraLaw |
| Key practice areas: administrative law; admiralty & maritime law; agricultural law & agrarian reform; ADR; appellate practice |
 |
Rolando Mario Villonco Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako |
| Key practice areas: labour and employment; corporate law; corporate and civil litigation |
 |
Ben Dominic Yap Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio |
| Key practice areas: disputes resolution; arbitration; corporate & commercial; projects & energy; real estate and construction |
