The Legal 500

Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW) has a superb reputation for all forms of dispute resolution, and few will question its position at the top of the Philippines legal market. The firm regularly appears on the docket in the country’s largest disputes and its partners provide top drawer contentious advice across the full range of sectors. Senior partners Victor Lazatin, Luis Vera Cruz, Francis Lim, Ana Teresa Oracion and Ramon Samson come highly recommended.

The ‘excellent’ disputes team at Poblador Bautista & Reyes offers ‘consistently sound advice’, while its ‘written work has been brilliantly persuasive’. The ‘maturity and experience’ of Alexander Poblador ‘definitely adds value’. Clients comment that Poblador and Luis Clemente ‘know the law inside out and are very resourceful’. Clients include Metro Rail Transit Development Corporation, First Philippine Industrial Corporation and Manila Water Company.

Estelito Mendoza & Associates name partner, and former Philippine Solicitor General, Estelito Mendoza is one of the best-known litigators in the market, and famous for taking on difficult cases.

Ortega Del Castillo Bacorro Odulio Calma & Carbonell has an active disputes practice, which is well versed in arbitrations and major insolvency proceedings. Gregorio Ortega, Benjamin Bacorro and Pedro Carbonell jointly head the team. Clients include Air France, Reuters, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nippon Cargo Airlines and Northwest Airlines.

Platon Martinez Flores San Pedro & Leaño has a strong track record in energy and aviation-related disputes. Recently, it represented Chevron Philippines in several cases relating to the President’s power to control oil prices. Key partners include Carlos Platon, Peter Bantilan and Jenny Santiago.

Quisumbing Torres has an impressive international client base, which it regularly represents on complex multijurisdictional litigations and arbitrations. The firm has excellent specialist disputes practices for aviation, employment and IP matters. On the broader commercial side, it has recently been representing two global chemical companies in a major damages claim, and has also been involved in several major tax and customs disputes. Ramon Quisumbing heads the team, which also includes Rodrigo Quimbo and Emmanuel Buenaventura.

Romulo’s highly rated disputes team is headed by Eduardo de los Angeles, and includes Jacinto Jimenez. The firm is experienced in all areas of litigation, including administrative, civil and criminal disputes, as well as international arbitration.

SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan has a good track record in commercial litigation and international arbitration, where the firm regularly represents major international clients on their multijurisdictional disputes. The firm has a particularly good reputation for product liability issues. Roberto San Juan heads the well-respected team.

Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco is ‘highly recommended’ for major disputes, particularly banking litigation, fraud and tax-related disputes. Highly rated senior partner Simeon Marcelo heads the team, which also includes Alejandro Navarro and Rodel Cruz.

Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose has good expertise in alternative dispute resolution and insolvency disputes, and regularly represents its international clients on multijurisdictional matters. Roberto Dio is well regarded.

Ongkiko Manhit Custodio & Acorda is recommended for arbitrations and is regularly involved in Supreme Court litigations. Name partner Mario Ongkiko is an extremely well-regarded trial attorney.

Antonio R Bautista & Partners name partner Antonio Bautista is recommended for his disputes expertise.

Belo Gozon Elma Parel Asuncion & Lucila Law Office stands out for its large TMT clientbase. Gener Asuncion and Eric Vincent Estoesta are active in this area.

As well as general commercial disputes, where it is ‘highly recommended’, Carag, Jamora, Somera & Villareal Law Offices is noted for its strength in IP litigation, where Maria Trinidad Villareal impresses.

Alan Peter Schramm Cayetano at Cayetano Sebastian Ata Dado & Cruz has a good track record in litigation.

Jose Cochingyan is the main litigation partner at Cochingyan & Peralta Law Offices, which regularly represents international clients in major arbitrations and litigations.

Best known for its excellent shipping litigation practice, Del Rosario & Del Rosario comes highly recommended. Ruben Del Rosario and Arturo Del Rosario are both known for their disputes work.

Robert Abadilla at Escaño Sarmiento & Partners Law Offices has a good reputation for disputes work.

Philip Sigrid Fortun and Gregorio Narvasa are the main disputes contacts at Fortun Narvasa & Salazar, which is recommended for litigation and arbitration.

Ponciano Gonzalez is the main disputes partner at JGLaw, which handles both litigation and arbitration.

Migallos & Luna Law Offices name partner Troy Ang Luna is the main contact for litigation issues.

Ocampo & Manalo name partner Carlos Ocampo has a good reputation for aviation-related disputes.

Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos has a good track record in commercial disputes, and name partners Silverio Benny Tan and Purisimo Buyco are both active on this front.

Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas partners Eleazar Reyes and Denis Habawel are both active on the litigation front.

Roy Enrico Santos heads the team at Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices, which has recently represented clients on a number of banking and shareholder disputes.

Nilo Peña of Quasha Ancheta Peña & Nolasco is recommended for his litigation expertise.

Orencio Ibarra heads the litigation team at Quiason Makalintal Barot Torres Ibarra & Sison, which is well-versed in arbitration, and civil and criminal cases.

Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako has a good reputation for disputes and is noted for its expertise in international arbitration. Mario Andres is recommended.

Highly rated for its tax practice, Zambrano & Gruba Law Offices is also recommended for commercial disputes. Clients include Philippine Airlines, Philippine National Bank and Fontana Development Corporation. Lily Gruba and Angelo Patrick Advincula are experienced litigators.