Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALaw) has a strong national presence, with offices in Manila and Davao City. It has developed considerable expertise in structuring foreign equity investments in nationalised industries and remains a firm of choice for large-scale M&As and due diligence. Based in Manila, practice leader Judy Hao is recommended for her work on a broad array of business transactions and the establishment of branch offices, while Andre Navato has experience advising on the acquisition of power generation facilities in the Philippines. Everlene Lee is another key member of the group, who covers corporate, securities and capital markets transactions. Myra Montecalvo-Quilatan and Jessa Wong-Cantano oversee the practice in Davao City.

SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan’s thriving practice acts on high-end investments and M&A deals in the Philippines. Under the leadership of Rocky Alejandro Reyes, the practice excels in foreign investments, with demonstrable experience advising on related matters concerning competition law, including merger notifications, anti-money laundering regulations, data privacy and e-commerce issues. Key clients include major local corporations, as well as foreign and global companies. Managing partner Hector de Leon focuses on equity investments, while senior partner Marievic Ramos-Añonuevo has a wealth of experience advising on a host of corporate and commercial matters. Of counsel Simeon Ken Ferrer is another key contact in the team.

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) advises leading domestic companies across the telecoms, real estate, logistics and manufacturing, in addition to power and energy, healthcare, and banking and finance sectors. The group is led by Raoul Angangco, Sylvette Tankiang and Franchette Acosta and acts for multinational companies on domestic and cross-border transactions, with an excellent reputation for its expertise in handling high-value acquisitions. It is also recommended for its advice on foreign direct investments into the country. Corporate and M&A expert Kristin Charisse Siao re-joined the team from an in-house position, while Maria Concepcion Simundac and Paul Rodulfo Imperial left the firm for in-house roles.

Steered by Rosalia Bartolome-Alejo, the team at Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad represents local and foreign clients on their acquisitions, strategic divestment of assets and businesses, as well as their mergers and consolidations with subsidiaries and affiliates. Counting private entities and publicly listed companies among its key roster of clients, the team advises foreign companies on their direct investment into the Philippines and has considerable experience in the banking, power and energy, shipping, real estate and manufacturing sectors. Key contacts include Manuel Gonzalez and Mark Vergara, while Elmer Serrano, Phil Ivan Chan and Tephanie Gandia departed to Serrano Law in January 2022.

Noted for its expertise in domestic and cross-border M&As, Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices advises on joint venture agreements, equity investments and divestments, in addition handling the acquisition of non-performing assets. The team is collectively led by Regina Jacinto-Barrientos, Virginia Viray, Gwen Grecia-De Vera, Rachelle Diaz, Maria Raquel Chavez, Shirley Velasquez-Viray and Elaine Marie Laceda.

Led by Aida Araceli Roxas-Rivera, the team at Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia handles a broad range of transactions and is highly regarded for its advice to local and foreign clients on their investments into the Philippines, in addition to compliance matters. It is also adept at advising on joint ventures and covers all aspects of M&As, from due diligence to post-closing requirements. Senior partner Manuel Manaligod is vastly experienced in infrastructure and public partnership deals, while Patricia Bunye has demonstrable experience across the mining, natural resources and energy sectors. Rosa Michele Bagtas and Pancho Umali are key contacts in the group.

Disini & Disini Law Office has been kept busy advising on corporate organisations and reorganisations, company registrations and a myriad of issues concerning financial restructuring and M&As. The agile team recently advised foreign clients on their investments into electronic money and cryptocurrency in the Philippines. Managing partner JJ Disini, who acts for foreign investors on the acquisition of financial technology companies, heads the department and Lars Serzo, who ‘goes above and beyond’ for her clients, is a key contact in the fintech practice. Special counsels Louis Marshall Lo and Janice Bernabe-Sibuyan are also key members of the team.

The corporate and M&A practice at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) is led by Norma Margarita Patacsil. It is regularly instructed on corporate and commercial transactions across the real estate, energy, manufacturing and logistics sectors. The team has also assisted clients in obtaining Philippine Competition Commission approvals for numerous M&As. Other names to note include Andrea Katipunan, who specialises in corporate and commercial transactions, as well as PPPs and government procurements, and Katrine Paula Suyat-Antonio.

With Aris Gulapa and Melissa Ester Chavez-Dee at the helm, Gulapa & Lim (Gulapa Law)’s practice focuses on share and asset acquisitions of public utilities, with demonstrable experience advising mergers in the insurance sector and assisting clients in the establishment of new corporate vehicles. Gulapa has recently advised various multinational clients on cross-border share and asset acquisitions, while Chavez-Dee covers a wide range of corporate and commercial matters.

Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula advises domestic and foreign clients on a broad array of M&As and corporate transactions, with considerable expertise in foreign investments. Lily Gruba specialises in commercial matters, as well as structuring cross-border deals and contracts, while Angelo Advincula advises on the tax aspects of transactions. Antero Jose Caganda and Michael Stephen Lao also play a pivotal role in the department.

Led by Maria Carmen D Babista-Lazaro, Fortun Narvasa & Salazar’s practice acts for a broad range of domestic and international clients across the manufacturing, real estate and retail trade sectors. The team covers the full spectrum of corporate and commercial matters, from advising on M&As to insolvency and debt restructuring, as well as corporate and commercial disputes. Roderick R.C. Salazar III is a primary contact for mining, projects and energy work.

Under the leadership of Mark Gorriceta, Kristine Torres and Micaela Kristina Galvez, the ‘client centric’ corporate team at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra has bolstered its expertise in the banking and fintech sectors, with demonstrable experience advising on cybersecurity, blockchain, smart contracts, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, cybercrime, and data privacy issues. Gorriceta is the firm’s managing partner and advises on capital markets transactions, while Torres is a key contact in the corporate and TMT departments. Galvez advises on matters concerning securities offerings, M&As and tax planning matters.

Noted for its expertise in the shipping sector, the corporate practice at Del Rosario & Del Rosario handles a broad range of matters concerning direct foreign investments, company formations and M&As, as well as joint ventures and general corporate work. Ruben Del Rosario jointly leads the team alongside Arturo Del Rosario.

Counting local and international companies among its key roster of clients, Kua Sy & Yeung Law Offices (SKY Law) advises on acquisitions and corporate restructurings across the banking and finance, real estate and telecoms sectors. The team is also noted for its expertise in assisting Filipino-Chinese families on all aspects of their business ventures. Practice head Edson Byron Sy advises on general corporate matters, in addition to foreign investments, M&As and joint ventures.

Led by founding partner Elmer Serrano, the group at Serrano Law handles the corporate governance and compliance requirements of publicly-listed companies, as well as public corporations holding secondary licenses. Praised for providing ‘valuable advice on complex M&As’, the team regularly acts as counsel on acquisitions involving both equity purchase and asset sales in the shipping, logistics, real estate, energy and retail sectors. Serrano established the firm in January 2022 and was joined by Phil Ivan Chan and Tephanie Gandia, who left Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad in the same month.

Subido Pagente Certeza Mendoza & Binay (SPCMB Law Offices) advises on projects and cross-border equity transactions, in addition to acting for clients on compliance issues with the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities Exchange Commission. Martin Subido and Jennifer Ong lead the team alongside Princesita Pasana-Turgano and Paula Katrina Nora.