The Legal 500

Romulo is a top-choice firm for major corporate deals. Corporate and banking head Jose Salvador Mirasol leads a team of first class practitioners, which includes name partner Ricardo Romulo as well as Perry Pe and Agustin Montilla. The practice is also highly recommended for corporate restructuring work.

A clear highlight for SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan’s top-notch corporate team was representing PLDT on its controlling stake acquisition in Digitel in a landmark share swap deal worth $1.6bn. Andres Sta Maria heads the team, which includes the highly rated Rafael Morales.

Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW) saw a strong flow of corporate activity, particularly in the banking sector, where it advised Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation on the sale of stakes in its shareholding to the IFC and CVC Capital Partners. Francis Lim heads the 11-partner department, which includes the highly rated Tadeo Hilado and Eusebio Tan.

Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos has a very good reputation for corporate work, including advice on M&A, joint ventures and privatisations as well as general commercial matters. It serves a broad range of clients, including Petron, Kirin Brewery, Mitsubishi and Toyota. Managing partner Antonio Picazo is highly recommended.

Quiason Makalintal Barot Torres Ibarra & Sison’s well-regarded practice has seen a lot of activity in the power sector. A significant highlight was advising Cagayan Electric Power & Light Company on its acquisition of Olongapo Electric Distribution System. Name partners Enrique Quiason and Ruelito Soriano are both recommended.

Quisumbing Torres has been particularly active on mining sector deals. Highlights included representing Olympus Pacific Minerals on a major joint venture related to the Capcapo Gold Property. The firm also advised Australia’s Mining Group Limited on its acquisition of a majority share interest in Philco Mining Corporation. Pearl Liu now heads the five-partner team, following the departure of Jocelyn Gregorio-Reyes who became an in-house counsel. Maria Christina Macasaet-Acaban and Paul Dennis Quintero are both recommended.

Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose has a broad-based corporate practice, being well-versed in M&A, insolvency, foreign investments and day-to-day commercial advisory matters. Name partner Noel Laman has a very strong reputation.

Managing partner Carlos Platon heads Platon Martinez Flores San Pedro & Leaño’s corporate group, which has recently been involved in significant transactions within the pharmaceuticals and renewable energy sectors. Corporate partner Rachelle Aileen Santos is recommended.

A major recent highlight for Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices was advising EGCO Group on the acquisition of a 45% interest in Quezon Power Philippines for $375m. The firm has a strong team of partners including Regina Jacinto-Barrientos, Virginia Viray and Maria Raquel Chavez, as well as energy sector specialists Monalisa Dimalanta and Roy Enrico Santos, who both led on the EGCO transaction.

Sylvette Tankiang heads the corporate group at Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco, which provides strong regulatory and transactional advice. Clients include Pilipinas Shell Petroleum and Aboitiz Equity Ventures, while it also advised Unilever on the acquisition of Sara Lee’s Philippines operation.

Ocampo & Manalo’s burgeoning corporate practice continues to represent major hospital operator PSI Healthcare Development and Services on various site acquisitions in the Philippines and Guam. Other clients include CDO Foodsphere and the BMW distribution company Asian Carmakers Corporation. Carlos Ocampo is recommended.

Ortega Del Castillo Bacorro Odulio Calma & Carbonell’s broad client base includes maritime companies such as Fil-Star Maritime Corporation, as well as manning agencies and media companies. Renato Calma heads the team.

Poblador Bautista & Reyes’ Alexander Poblador, Mario Bautista and Raymund Rodriguez are all recommended for their corporate expertise. The firm, now in its 18th year, acts for a range of clients including Compaq, Ayala, Levi Strauss & Co, Intel and TNT Express Worldwide.

Puno & Puno Law Offices has a strong corporate practice and a solid following among clients in the energy, infrastructure and mining sectors, with representative names including Manila Electric Company, Davao Light and Power Company and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction. Regis Puno is recommended.

Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako’s well-regarded team is led by Edgardo Balois, who has a very strong track record in corporate matters. Clients include Coca-Cola Bottlers, Ericsson, Ayala and Fujitsu.

Roberto Rafael Lucila at Belo Gozon Elma Parel Asuncion & Lucila Law Office has a good reputation for corporate work. The firm is particularly well known for its advice to clients in energy, mining and TMT sectors, with representative names including Atlas Mining, San Miguel, Time Life and Rohm & Haas.

Best known for its work in IP and TMT, Carag, Jamora, Somera & Villareal Law Offices also offers its clients strong commercial advice. Maria Trinidad Villareal is particularly well regarded. Clients include Nike, Bosch and Nintendo.

Name partners Jose Cochingyan and Anthony Peralta at Cochingyan & Peralta Law Offices both have strong track records for corporate work. The firm is recommended for advice on major transactions as well as day-to-day matters.

Del Rosario & Del Rosario is best known for advising on maritime-sector matters but also represents its shipping and transport clients on corporate deals.

Managing partner Roderick Salazar of Fortun Narvasa & Salazar has a strong reputation for corporate work, including company formations and M&A transactions. A recent highlight was advising Philippine Clean Energy on the $3m sale of shares in Bronzeoak Clean Energy.

Jose Jimenez is the lead corporate partner at JGLaw, which acts for a mix of domestic and international clients. The firm is well versed in advising on M&A, joint venture and restructuring matters.

Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices acts for a number of leading corporates, including Colgate-Palmolive, Coca-Cola Bottlers, Air Asia, and Pilipinas Shell. Irene Joy Besido-Garcia has an active corporate practice.

For corporate matters, Palma Ybañez & Teleron’s Cebu-based team regularly matches its Manila rivals in terms of quality of service and matters handled.

Eleazar Reyes is one of the key corporate partners at Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas, whose clients include Del Monte, Nike, Pepsi-Cola Products and San Miguel Corporation.

Zambrano & Gruba Law Offices’ corporate practice is underpinned by the expertise of its superb tax group. Lily Gruba and Antero Jose Caganda are both very active. Clients include Asia United Bank Corporation and Puregold Price Club, which it recently advised on its $189m IPO.