The Legal 500

Jose Salvador Mirasol heads the first-class team at Romulo, which advises major international and domestic banks on the full range of regulatory and transactional matters. Recently it advised on the Philippines $1.5bn Global Bonds issue. Clients include Deutsche Bank, Citibank, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, BNP Paribas, the IFC and World Bank.

SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan has an excellent reputation for banking and finance work. It covers all areas of the market and is recommended for restructurings and major project financings. A highlight was advising GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant on the $1bn financing of two 300MW coal-fired power plants. Mia Gentugaya heads the team, which includes the highly rated Rafael Morales, Philbert Varona and Vicente Gerochi.

Name partner Antonio Picazo of Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos has a strong reputation, and the team is experienced in transactional, regulatory, project finance, as well as export credit and guarantees. The firm represents an impressive range of clients, including Banco de Oro, Citibank, HSBC, ING Bank, UBS, BNP Paribas Investments, Goldman Sachs and Sun Life Insurance. Estrelita Gacutan and Adelina Gatdula are praised for their ‘known expertise and competence in the field’.

Praised for its ‘good quality legal documentation’, Quisumbing Torres’ ‘service matches the level of a top law firm’. The ‘professional’ practice head Felix Sy is praised for his ‘high-level legal skill and social network’. The firm has traditionally had a strong international lender following, thanks in part to its links with Baker & McKenzie, but is increasingly doing more for borrowers, such as Korea Electric Power Company.

Teodoro Regala and Eusebio Tan of Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW) have a good reputation, particularly on contentious and regulatory issues. Past clients include the World Bank, the Bankers Association of the Philippines and Banco De Oro, the Philippines largest domestic bank.

Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose has a versatile practice that is noted for its expertise in project finance, particularly for lender clients such as the International Finance Corporation. Other areas of strength include insolvency, where it represents debtors and creditors. Mel Macaraig, Yolanda Mendoza-Eleaza and Polo Pantaleon are recommended.

Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices is active on the project finance front and is currently advising on the Asian Development Bank’s initiative for the development of the Philippine Infrastructure Financing Facility to address gaps in the financing requirements for PPP projects in the Philippines. Maria Raquel Chavez, Ramil Bugayong and Job Adrian Ambrosio jointly head the team.

Carmen Agcaoili-Oreña heads the team at Agcaoili & Associates, whose clients include Asia United Bank, Bank of America, Citibank, ING Bank and Banco de Oro Universal Bank.

Ocampo & Manalo has a good reputation for aviation finance and name partners Carlos Ocampo and Manolito Manalo are both recommended.

The ‘overall service is excellent’ at Poblador Bautista & Reyes, with one client adding ‘for a banking institution like us, it is crucial that we get insights both from the legal and business standpoints without compromising either’. Recent highlights include advising United Overseas Bank on the sale of non-performing loans and other assets to a special purpose vehicle. Alexander Poblador is ‘an excellent lawyer’.

Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas is experienced advising banks on transactional and regulatory issues. Banking clients include Allied Banking Corporation, Philippine National Bank and Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation. Jesus Manalastas is recommended.

Quiason Makalintal Barot Torres Ibarra & Sison has a good track record for debt capital markets, where Ruelito Soriano and Enrique Quiason are active. The firm recently advised Energy Development Corporation on a $75m loan from the IFC.

Victor Alimurung is one of the key contacts at Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako, whose clients include Asian Bank Corporation, Dao Heng Bank, Unionbank, and the Far East Bank and Trust Company.

Raoul Angangco and Sylvette Tankiang at Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco are both recommended for their banking and finance expertise. The firm represents a mix of international and domestic banks, including Citibank, JPMorgan Chase and Banco de Oro Universal Bank.