The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > Philippines > Labour and employment

Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALaw) provides a comprehensive service in labour and employment, where it has a well-established client base of leading multinational companies in various sectors; key names include Coca-Cola, Chevron and AstraZeneca. In ongoing work on the contentious side, the team is currently handling several labour litigation cases - involving termination disputes, labour standards and labour relations matters - brought against client PMFTC; Erwin Jay Filio and of counsel Emiterio Manibog Jr are leading the team. The team has grown significantly at the associate level with several hires over the past couple of years, and other recent team changes include the promotion of Franchesca Abigail Gesmundo and Jose-Mari Roco to senior associate. Senior partner Emerico De Guzman maintains an active employment practice alongside his duties as managing partner. Ernesto Añasco has retired from practice.

Advising across the gamut of labour law issues, Quisumbing Torres has established itself as one of the leading firms in the Philippine market. Areas of expertise include employment litigation, occupational health and safety, trade union negotiation procedures, and the HR aspects of corporate transactions. As a member of the Baker McKenzie network, it has access to the firm's global expertise, and can work alongside overseas offices to handle multi-jurisdictional projects. It has notable strength in the IT sector, where employment practice head Kenneth Chua is a key contact. Eliseo Zuñiga, Jr.  is noted for his 'sound and practical advice', and associate Marianne Ko-Tibayan  is also recommended.

The employment and immigration department at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan expanded its already sizeable client base by attracting several new clients, including Firmenich Philippines and the University of Rhode Island. Its labour work spans contentious, bargaining, compliance and transactional contexts, and among its particular strengths are compulsory and voluntary arbitration and grievance handling, drafting of company rules and policies and employee retention programmes. In recent work, Leslie Dy and a team assisted Union Bank of the Philippines in the collective bargaining negotiations with a union, representing about 700 employees across more than 300 branches nationwide; the bank and union concluded a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) after less than six months of negotiations. Lusito Luban retired from practice in 2019; Dante Pamintuan - whose expertise spans industrial relations, collective bargaining, strikes and lockouts - is now the practice head.

The 'very reliable' employment department at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) remained busy in 2018 and 2019, receiving instructions from new and longstanding clients in the food and beverage, logistics, natural resources and financial services sectors, among others. It handles a range of employment work, covering contentious, non-contentious advisory and transaction-related matters, with recent victories including its successful defence of Hyder Consulting Middle East in a dismissal case concerning former employees dismissed for engaging in unauthorised consultancy work for other entities. Cesar Santamaria Jr leads the practice and is recommended. Vladi Miguel Lazaro was promoted to partner in 2018; he often takes a key role on the department's major cases.

Under the leadership of Reynaldo Dizon, Martinez Vergara Gonzalez & Serrano's employment team advises on labour policies, negotiating CBAs, dismissals, redundancy and company closure. Recently, it has expanded its offering to include data privacy issues, and the firm also has an active immigration practice. Its diverse client base includes companies operating in the media, tech, outsourcing and healthcare sectors. Supporting Dizon are experienced senior associates Kristine Bongcaron and Arleo Antonio Magtibay.

Platon Martinez Flores San Pedro & Leaño acts for an impressive roster of clients, including household name companies in the food and beverage and pharma sectors. The team has experience handling arbitration and litigation before the National Labor Relations Commission and the courts. It also represents employers in negotiating collective bargaining agreements with labour unions. Senior partner Grace Quevedo-Panagsagan leads the department and is supported by Israfel Fagela and Rachelle Aileen Santos.

Lawyers at Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako cover a range of employment matters but have a particular focus on contentious work including collective bargaining negotiations. The key contact is Romarie Villonco.

The 'approachable' team at Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) stands out in labour litigation, where it boasts a notable track record. Recent work includes assisting e-sports company Garena in complaints filed before the National Labor Relations Commission by two former employees for illegal dismissal, the payment of back wages, monetary benefits and damages. The firm also maintains a busy immigration practice. Senior associate Ma. Carla Mapalo and junior associates Ernesto Herrera and Efren Resurreccion often take key roles on the firm's employment engagements and are recommended.

Specialist maritime firm Del Rosario & Del Rosario provides a comprehensive service to shipping and insurance companies, including in labour law matters. Having been active in this space since 1977, the firm has handled the settlements of thousands of seafarer claims, and also advises on labour standards, wage policies and retirement benefits, among other areas. Joseph Rebano and Saben Loyola are key contacts.

In employment law, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra's expertise spans collective bargaining negotiations, illegal dismissal, social security, immigration requirements and sexual harassment in the workplace claims. The team manages the labour concerns of a multinational company with operations across Southeast Asia; recently, this has included representing the company in litigation before the Supreme Court. Francis Africa and Ramon Andre Cedro co-head the department and are particularly experienced in litigation.

Ocampo Manalo Valdez & Lim has a particular focus on advising management on disputes and bargaining agreements. The team includes Bernadeth Lim.

The recommended labour law practice at full-service firm Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices is equipped to advise employers on contracts, dismissals, secondment, outsourcing, disciplinary action and HR issues. On the contentious side, it represents clients in cases filed before the National Labor Relations Commission. Key practitioners include Roy Enrico Santos and Rachelle Magtanggol-Lim. Former department head Joseph Omar Castillo joined AirAsia as its chairman of the board.

The labour group at Quiason Makalintal Barot Torres Ibarra Sison & Damaso handles all aspects of labour relations, including collective bargaining agreements, dismissal, money claims and strikes.