The Legal 500

Within Aviation, Romulo is a second tier firm,

Romulo has represented numerous clients, including Etihad and Gulf Air, on the processing of foreign air carrier permits and renewals before the Civil Aviation Board. Perry Pe and Peter Pacheco are recommended.

Within Banking and finance, Romulo is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Capital markets, Romulo is a first tier firm,

A clear highlight for Romulo’s excellent capital markets team was advising the joint lead arrangers on the $550m IPO of the airliner Cebu Pacific, which became the country’s largest IPO. The firm also represented the underwriter on Ayala Corporation’s $238m bond issue. Cynthia Roxas-Del Castillo heads the market leading team.

Within Corporate and M&A, Romulo is a first tier firm,

Ricardo Romulo heads the excellent corporate team at Romulo, which remains one of the most active in the market. Highlights for the team included advising Digitel Telecommunications Philippines Inc (DTPI) on the sale of a controlling interest in DTPI to Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT). The firm also advised China Huaneng Group on the Philippine aspects of its $1.2bn acquisition of a 50% stake in InterGen, which included the Philippines-based Quezon Power Plant. Perry Pe and Agustin Montilla are both active.

Within Dispute resolution, Romulo is a third tier firm,

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.

Within Employment, Romulo is a second tier firm,

Enriquito Mendoza heads a quality three-partner team at Romulo, which provides strong support for the firm’s excellent corporate group. The practice is adept in collective bargaining agreements and labour disputes.

Within Immigration, Romulo is a first tier firm,

Romulo has an excellent reputation in the market, and its international clientbase ensures a regular flow of immigration work, where the firm covers the full range of matters. Maria Terestita Sison-Go heads the well-regarded team.

Within Intellectual property, Romulo is a first tier firm,

Romulo has a versatile and well-regarded IP practice. Recent highlights include successfully representing Johnson & Johnson in a dispute with Colgate-Palmolive, which objected to the use of “Totalcare” in the client’s Listerine branding. Other major clients include Starwood Hotel & Resorts and Citigroup. Rogello Nicandro heads the team, which includes Joaquin Sayoc.

Within Legal market overview,

There have been few changes to the legal market since 2010, and the country’s three largest full-service firms, Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW), Romulo and SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan, continue to dominate most areas of the market. Baker & McKenzie affiliate Quisumbing Torres is also gaining an increased market share, while slightly smaller firms, such as Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose and Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos, are seen as very good alternatives to the big three, especially among foreign firms who need to refer work. Several major international firms have dedicated Philippines desks, typically working out of offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. A review of these can be found in the Foreign Firms table.

Within Projects and energy, Romulo is a first tier firm,

Perry Pe of Romulo has ‘an extensive and well-regarded team for project financing, especially on transactions relating to the privatisation of power assets in the Philippines’. Recent highlights include advising project company JG Summit Olefins Corporation on the multibillion-dollar project financing of a Naphtha Cracker Plant. The firm is also highly experienced in mining, and recently advised a subsidiary of Xstrata on its mining operations in the Tampakan copper-gold project.

Within Real estate and construction, Romulo is a first tier firm,

Joaquin Sayoc and Owen Carsi Cruz are both recommended at Romulo. The firm’s top-notch real estate team has a broad range of expertise and regularly advises clients on real estate acquisitions, financings, developments, and contentious matters.

Within Shipping, Romulo is a third tier firm,

Romulo’s shipping practice is praised for its ‘broad field of expertise’. The firm often represents underwriters and shipowners in contentious matters, and is also recommended on the advisory front.

Within TMT, Romulo is a second tier firm,

Romulo has an excellent reputation, not least for the transactional side of the practice, which recently represented DTPI on its takeover by PLDT. The firm represents several foreign and domestic clients in the telecoms, satellite communications, and new and old media sectors.

Within Tax, Romulo is a first tier firm,

Priscilla Valer heads the tax team at Romulo. The firm regularly represents clients before the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Courts of Tax Appeals, and provides excellent support to its market-leading banking, corporate and capital markets practices. Valer is highly recommended for non-contentious matters, and Jayson Fernandez is highly rated on the contentious front.