The Legal 500

Within Aviation, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres’ extremely experienced practice, which comes highly recommended on the disputes side, is seeing an increasing amount of transactional and regulatory work. Rodrigo Quimbo heads the team, which recruited seven new associates in 2011, although it lost partner Alejandre Duenas, who left to form his own firm.

Within Banking and finance, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres is experienced in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and a recently passed REIT Law should increase its activity in this area. In traditional capital markets, it did a due diligence on the mining company Mindoro Resources for its dual listing in Australia and Canada. Elizabeth Opeña heads the team.

Within Corporate and M&A, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres has a very strong transactional practice and also represents clients on their regular day-to-day matters. The firm is particularly experienced in the energy, pharmaceutical, BPO and mining sectors. Jocelyn Gregorio-Reyes heads the six-partner team, which also includes energy and natural resources expert Pearl Liu. Other partners include Maria Christina Macasaet-Acaban, Dennis Quintero and Lourdes Echavez-De Leon.

Within Dispute resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

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.

Within Employment, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

At Quisumbing Torres, group head Kenneth Chua, Gil Roberto Zerrudo and recently promoted partner Eliseo Zuniga are noted for their ‘very prompt response times and excellent quality of legal service. They are flexible and easy to work with and make clients feel that they are being given prompt attention and priority’. The ‘excellent’ team is recommended for labour relations and litigation, and advice on transactional and outsourcing-related issues. Korea Electric Power Corporation and Triumph International Philippines are both major clients.

Within Foreign firms, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

For an on-the-ground offering in the Philippines, no firm can match Baker & McKenzie’s presence, thanks to the preeminence of its local correspondent firm Quisumbing Torres, which works seamlessly with the international network. The firm offers full service coverage, from major corporate matters to IP and immigration issues.

Within Immigration, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres has a vast clientbase in the mining, BPO and technology sectors, and represents numerous related companies from the US, Australia and Singapore on their immigration issues. Managing partner Ricardo Castro heads the excellent team.

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres’ first-class IP practice, benefits greatly from the firm’s links to Baker & McKenzie. About 60% of the firm’s work is focused on trade mark registration and enforcement, where it represents a broad base of technology and consumer goods clients. The firm also has a considerable patent practice.

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, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres’ projects and energy lawyers are praised for their ‘technical ability and knowledge’ and their ‘outstanding’ expertise in project finance. ‘They are also quick and prompt in responding to client queries and proactive in updating clients with development issues and polices that would affect them’. The firm is also praised for its ‘exceptional network internationally’, which comes from being part of the Baker & McKenzie network. The versatile group, which includes Pearl Liu, Lourdes Echavez-De Leon and Dennis Quintero covers all areas of mining and energy, including disputes, M&A, regulatory and project finance.

Within Real estate and construction, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres has a strong focus on REITs, which looks set to become an increasingly active area since a new law on REITs was passed in the Philippines recently. The firm also advises developers and investors. Elizabeth Opeña heads the team.

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Pericles Casuela heads the TMT group at Quisumbing Torres, which is backed up by the firm’s top-notch IP group. The firm has an impressive roster of international telecoms and IT clients and is also very active in e-commerce.

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres’ experienced team does an even mix of contentious and non-contentious work and has recently been involved in several customs-related disputes. The firm also works closely with its corporate team on major cross-border M&A’s and largely represents international clients. Dennis Dimagiba heads the two-partner team, which also includes Jose Jaime Cruz.