The aviation department at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan provides a broad service to its clients, which include leading banks and owners and lessors of aircraft. In addition to assisting clients with applications to - and hearings before - the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), it handles a broad range of leasing and financing projects and regulatory matters. On the contentious side, its work includes remedial actions in the event of defaults and litigation. In a recent highlight, the team advised PK AirFinance on the financing, delivery and lease of four A321-271N aircraft to Philippine Airlines, which represented the first batch of A321neo aircraft ordered by the airline under its fleet renewal programme. Carina Laforteza and Marievic Ramos-Añonuevo head the team, which expanded at partner level with the promotion of special projects, banking and aviation expert Bhong Paulo Macasaet in 2019. Melyjane Bertillo-Ancheta has recently taken a lead role on several of the team's key projects, and of counsel Mia Gentugaya is another key practitioner.
Aviation in Philippines
SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Melyjane Bertillo-Ancheta; Mia Gentugaya; Bhong Paulo Macasaet
Key clients
BDO Unibank, Inc.
BBAM Singapore Pe. Ltd.
China Bank Capital Corporation
Bank of the Philippine Islands
Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Intrepid Aviation Management LLC
Nordic Aviation Capital A/S
SMBC Aviation Capital Limited
Work highlights
- Acted as Philippine counsel to SMBC Aviation Capital in the delivery and lease of two A350-900 aircraft to Philippine Airlines.
- Acted as Philippine counsel to PK Airfinance in the financing, delivery and lease of four A321-271N aircraft to Philippine Airlines.
- Represented BBAM in the acquisition of two aircraft with MSN 2816 and 2898 with respect to the novation of the Philippine leases over the aircraft.
Agcaoili & Associates
Agcaoili & Associates' managing partner Jose Luis Agcaoili leads the firms extensive aviation and aircraft finance practice, in which Thomas JTF De Castro specialises in aircraft finance and leasing.
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Belo Gozon Elma Parel Asuncion & Lucila
Belo Gozon Elma Parel Asuncion & Lucila acts for clients negotiating international air service and commercial aviation agreements, alongside regulatory work involving the Civil Aeronautics Board. Felipe Gozon is the senior partner on the team.
Practice head(s):
Ocampo Manalo Valdez & Lim
Ocampo Manalo Valdez & Lim has an impressive list of international aviation clients including Hong Kong Airlines, Hainan Ailines, Air Seoul Inc and Turkish Airlines. The practice focuses on regulatory proceedings and and compliance.
Other key lawyers:
Juan Victor S Valdez; Bernadeth A Lim; Christopher Sam S Salvador
Platon Martinez Flores San Pedro & Leaño
Platon Martinez Flores San Pedro & Leaño counts leading foreign and local airlines among its clients. Peter Bantilan and Arturo Selim head the aviation litigation practice, and Jenny Santiago - whose broad practice encompasses aviation, M&A and IP - handles matters before the CAB on behalf of clients. The team also provides advice on regulatory matters including air carrier permit registration and renewal requirements.
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Puno & Puno Law Offices
Puno & Puno Law Offices represents international air carriers in regulatory matters involving the Civil Aeronautics Board. The team's experience includes lease agreements, maintenance contacts and ground-handling agreements. Senior partner Helena Rosales-Calo leads the practice.
Quisumbing Torres
Quisumbing Torres takes an industry-focused approach, allowing it to provide a comprehensive service to its clients. Aviation, aerospace and defence is a subsection of its broader industrials, manufacturing and transportation industry group, which is headed by dispute resolution expert Donemark Calimon. The full-service firm is able to advise its aviation-sector clients on financing and leasing arrangements, commercial agreements, corporate transactions, competition issues, employment law and regulatory matters. In litigation, the team has notable experience handling airline contract and tort claims. Senior associate Marvin Masangkay maintains a strong focus on aviation and often represents clients before the CAAP, CAB and the Manila International Airport Authority for regulatory issues.
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Other key lawyers:
Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako
Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako offers a specialist litigation practice with a number of international airline clients including Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, Swiss Air, and Korean Air, as well as representing London-based Lloyd's insurers including the AON Group. Carlos Natividad and Jose Crisostomo Jr are the senior partners with extensive aviation experience.