Vasig Abarquez Ner Urgello Lim Law (VAL)

ESTABLISHED IN 2017

Total number of professionals: More than 50 (7 partners)
Principal office: Makati
Other offices: Bonifacio Global City, Manila, Cebu and Davao

Key practice areas

Litigation & dispute resolution; arbitration & ADR; corporate & commercial; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds; banking & finance; fintech; taxation & trusts; labour & employment; gaming, hospitality & entertainment; regulatory & compliance; energy & natural resources; infrastructure & construction; real estate; data privacy; TMT; IP; transportation & logistics; family law; succession planning; and special projects

Our services

Founded in 2017, VAL was established with a vision of combining the standards and sophistication of traditional Big Law with the agility, accessibility, and innovation demanded by today’s clients. That philosophy has enabled VAL to grow from an emerging boutique into a multidisciplinary, full-service Philippine law firm.

The firm entered a major new phase of growth following its combination with Inicio Law, significantly strengthening its corporate, transactional, taxation and regulatory capabilities while building on VAL’s established strengths in litigation, dispute resolution and labour. Today, the firm comprises around 30 lawyers, and more than 20 non-legal professionals and staff across Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Manila, Cebu and Davao.

VAL provides partner-led, commercially grounded advice to domestic and multinational clients across the full lifecycle of their businesses and legal concerns. Its lawyers advise on complex M&A transactions, private equity investments, joint ventures, market entry, corporate restructuring, taxation, fintech, gaming and hospitality, energy, mining, construction, regulatory compliance, employment and succession planning.

The firm has acted on significant cross-border and highly regulated matters, including major pharmaceutical and medical-device transactions, the entry of various MNCs into the Philippine market, regional private-equity investments, and the Philippine establishment and expansion of international fintech and payments platforms.

VAL likewise maintains a formidable litigation and dispute resolution practice. Its lawyers represent corporations, financial institutions, regulated enterprises and private clients before trial and appellate courts, the Supreme Court, arbitral tribunals, prosecutors, administrative agencies, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan and legislative committees. The firm is currently involved in matters of national significance.

VAL continues to expand its specialist capabilities. It recently established a dedicated gaming, hospitality and entertainment practice, and has incorporated accountants into its taxation and trusts work. The firm also invests in dedicated finance, technology and regulatory personnel, reflecting its belief that increasingly complex client problems require multidisciplinary solutions.

Despite its growth, direct partner involvement remains central to VAL’s culture. Every significant matter is supervised by a partner, while associates receive meaningful responsibility, structured mentoring, weekly practice-group training and firsthand exposure to clients, negotiations, hearings, transactions and regulatory work.

VAL’s growth has been recognised by leading legal publications and industry organisations. Asian Legal Business named the firm as Philippine Rising Law Firm in 2021 and included it among Asia’s 30 Fastest Growing Law Firms in 2022. VAL has received Asia Business Law Journal’s Philippine Law Awards for Labour and Employment, Innovative Technologies, Private Equity and Venture Capital, and Matrimonial and Family Law, and has been consistently shortlisted for Philippine Law Firm of the Year since 2023.

As it enters its next stage, VAL remains committed to the objective that has guided it since 2017: delivering sophisticated, practical and responsive legal service while continuously investing in its people, capabilities and ability to serve clients across the Philippines.