Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)'s practice is well-equipped to advise its clients on the construction of a range of infrastructure projects including airports, rail systems, roads, and telecoms towers. The department is also experienced in contentious real estate and construction mandates before administrative tribunals, as well as before international and domestic arbitration panels. Team heads Jaime Renato Gatmaytan and Ben Dominic Yap are adept in transactional work in the construction, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Annalisa Carlota handles private and public infrastructure projects across the Philippines and other Asian countries.
Real estate and construction in Philippines
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)
Practice head(s):
Jaime Renato Gatmaytan; Ben Dominic Yap
Other key lawyers:
Annalisa Carlota; Norma Margarita Patacsil; Andrea Katipunan-Leido
Testimonials
‘Annalisa Carlota provided a professional service.’
‘Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP responded to us with quality feedback in a timely and effective manner.’
Key clients
Aboitiz (A group of companies)
Ayala (A group of companies)
Lopez (A group of companies)
SM (A group of companies)
Metro Rail Transit Corporation
Work highlights
- Advising First Gen Corporation and FGEN LNG Corporation on an LNG infrastructure development project valued in excess of $1bn.
- Advising on Ayala Land, Inc.’s rare five-way merger involving 2 publicly-listed companies.
- Advising on The Export-Import Bank of China’s RMB2.3bn loan to the government of the Republic of the Philippines to finance the implementation of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project.
Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad
Noted for its transactional real estate capabilities, Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad
assists private project proponents and financiers on energy and natural resources, housing, and public infrastructure projects. Janice Co leads the department; Manuel Gonzalez is adept in project finance and Erika Paulino handles real estate portfolio divestments. Gwyneth Ong caters to real estate developments, while Mark Vergara is also a name to note.
Practice head(s):
Janice Co
Other key lawyers:
Manuel Gonzalez; Erika Paulino; Gwyneth Ong; Mark Vergara; Rosalia Bartolome-Alejo
Key clients
Suntrust Resort Holdings, Inc.
Citicore Energy REIT Corp.
Sta. Lucia Land, Inc.
Asia United Bank, Union Bank of the Philippines
Century Pacific Group, Inc.
Steniel Cavite Packaging Corporation
Qbits Resources Corporation
Calumpang Packaging Corporation
Work highlights
- Assisted the subsidiaries of the Steniel Manufacturing Corporation and the Greenkraft Group of Companies in the acquisition of the box and printing plant assets of a multinational agricultural corporation.
- Represented Citicore Energy REIT Corp. (CREIT) in its ASEAN Green Bonds offering.
Quisumbing Torres
Jointly headed by Julius Cervantes and Donemark Calimon, Quisumbing Torres' team is knowledgeable of data centres, distressed assets, real estate transactions as well as warehousing logistics-related matters. Michael Macapagal is adept in PPPs, while Ina Alexandra Dominguez and Ramon Miguel Bacani are noted for their expertise in infrastructure projects.
Practice head(s):
Julius Cervantes; Donemark Calimon
Other key lawyers:
Michael Macapagal; Ina Alexandra Dominguez; Ramon Miguel Bacani
Key clients
Alphabet (Google)
Shell
China Harbour Engineering
Changi Airport International Pte. Ltd.
SBA Communications Corporation
Tecnimont SpA
Repsol SA
Work highlights
- Advise a global manufacturing company in the formation of a wholly-owned subsidiary that will manufacture and export manufacture magnetic components.
- Assisted a global religious organisation in setting up a new entity in the Philippines.
- Assisted a private equity fund in preparing and reviewing its engineering, procurement, and construction contract for a new manufacturing facility to be built in a Philippine ecozone.
SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
Land due diligence remains a key strength of SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan‘s practice, which maintains its broad client roster of foreign governments, hotel operators and real estate developers. The team is also a key contact for land developers on a breadth of real estate projects including hotel developments, residential condominiums and multi-use projects. Rocky Alejandro Reyes spearheads the department and is adept in infrastructure in addition to power and energy mandates. Angel Salita is well-versed in special projects including oil and gas, telecoms and water, while John Paul De Leon and Bhong Paulo Macasaet are knowledgeable of financing.
Practice head(s):
Rocky Alejandro Reyes
Other key lawyers:
Angel Salita; John Paul De Leon; Bhong Paulo Macasaet; Arlene Maneja
Key clients
Aboitiz Group
Bell Canada
Dentsu Aegis Network
Frontier Tower Associates Philippines, Inc.
Gilbert & Tobin
Hyatt International
Keppel Midgard Holdings Pte. Ltd.
Manila Electric Company
Marriott
MasterCard
Metro Pacific Group
Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Mitsui Fudosan
Mitsui & Co
PLDT, Inc.
San Miguel Corporation
Skadden Arps
TMI Associates
United Laboratories, Inc.
Work highlights
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)
is well-placed to advise on the entire life-cycle of real estate transactions, with additional experience in handling high-value residential, industrial, and leisure projects. The firm’s expertise also covers projects under the Build, Build, Build Program, designed by the government to facilitate investments into the Philippines. Raoul Angangco, Sylvette Tankiang and Franchette Acosta lead the practice.
Practice head(s):
Raoul Angangco; Sylvette Tankiang; Franchette Acosta
Other key lawyers:
Kristin Charisse Siao
Key clients
Taihu Holding Pte. Ltd.
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto for Hankyu Hanshin Express Philippines, Inc.
NAPPCO Land Development Corporation
Haskell Philippines
Ayala Land Inc. and its affiliates
LF (Philippines) Inc.
Kilowatt Holdings, Inc.
Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.
Work highlights
- Acted as counsel for Taihu Holding Pte. Ltd. for the development of a 50MW wind turbine project worth USD120,000,000.00 in the northern portion of the island of Luzon, intended to supplement the energy capacity available for the region’s far-flung towns and cities.
- Acting as legal counsel in the conduct of legal due diligences for the acquisition and development of several residential projects involving multiple hectares of land with an average cost of Php 1,750,000,000.00 per project.
- Assisted in the negotiations and eventual leasing of NAPPCO Land Development Corporation’s commercial office building in a prime commercial real estate location in the Philippines.
Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia
Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia is well-equipped to handle the full spectrum of real estate construction, development, and transactional matters. The practice also caters to advising on financing, restructuring arrangements and joint development agreements. Aida Araceli Roxas-Rivera co-heads the team with Rosa Michele Bagtas, who assists clients with the acquisition and disposal of condominiums. Manuel Manaligod is experienced in infrastructure transactions, while Pancho Umali assists clients with land and environmental issues. Francis Fragante often advises government bodies on PPP projects.
Practice head(s):
Aida Araceli Roxas-Rivera; Rosa Michele Bagtas
Other key lawyers:
Manuel Manaligod; Pancho Umali; Francis Fragante; Fernand Joseph Miranda; Eric Dykimching; Karla Ysabel Galang
Key clients
W Group, Inc.
Portuguese Land, Inc.
Abraham Holdings, Inc.
Italpinas Development Corp.
IRMO, Inc.
Baltimore Land, Inc.
Citigold Resources and Development Corporation
LuxPacific Realty Corporation
ILO Properties, Inc.
ILO Land, Inc.
Mapex Realty, Inc.
Asian Development Bank / Philippine Public-Private Partnership Center (PPPC)
PRI Realty, Inc.
Portuguese Land, Inc.
Haus Talk, Inc.
Landco Pacific Corporation
Costa de Madera Landholdings, Inc.
Work highlights
- Conducted due diligence for a real estate company on over 154 parcels of land located at San Juan, Batangas.
- Advised the Philippine Public-Private Partnership Center in the proposed development project of the Philippine Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.
Gulapa & Lim (Gulapa Law)
Gulapa & Lim (Gulapa Law)'s team often represents the Philippine Republic and private bidders in flagship infrastructure projects. It has also recently seen an uptick in water and renewable energy projects. Aris Gulapa co-heads the team with Jose Angel Machuca who is particularly proficient in concession and public-private-partnership agreements for airport, rail, and toll road projects.
Practice head(s):
Aris Gulapa; Jose Angel Machuca
Testimonials
‘Very pragmatic legal advice. Quick turnaround.’
‘Very commercially-oriented and reliable. Very experienced and easy to deal with. Inspire confidence.’
Key clients
Asian Development Bank (“ADB”)
Standard Systems and Wastewater Technology (“Standard Systems”)
SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (“SMPHI”)
International Financial Corporation (“IFC”)
Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (“AIC”)
Lamut-Asipulo Mini Hydro Corporation
First Balfour, Inc.
WPD Onshore GmbH
University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital
Bases Conversion and Development Corporation
Work highlights
- Advising Philippine General Hospital on a project to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain a cancer facility.
- Advising Solar Tanauan Corporation on the full array of matters including the development and operation of the Terra Tanauan Solar Power Plant and the Terra Maragondon Solar Power Plant.
- Assisting SMPHI on domestic law issues and preparation on the development of its project ‘Future City’.
Serrano Law
Under the leadership of Elmer Serrano, Serrano Law
excels in PPP projects. Phil Ivan Chan handles gaming, mining and real estate projects while Tephanie Gandia caters to acquisition structures and financing in the banking, logistics and retail sectors.
Practice head(s):
Elmer Serrano
Other key lawyers:
Phil Ivan Chan; Tephanie Gandia; Melissa Jean Hipolito
Testimonials
‘Equally as important as their legal expertise, Serrano Law is very easy to work with.’
‘They are highly responsive to our requirements, accessible at reasonable time and can work with tight deadlines’
‘Elmer Serrano and Phil Ivan Chan have extensive experience knowledge of our business and the industry that we belong to.’
‘They often provide practical advice to complex issues.’
‘Up-to-date in the current business climate, always ready to provide sound advice’
‘Partners are respected in the industry.’
‘Quick to respond.’
Key clients
Anchor Land Holdings, Inc.
BDO Unibank, Inc.
BDO Life Assurance Company, Inc.
Neo Group of Companies
SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
SM Keppel Land, Inc.
Industry Holdings and Development Corporation
Work highlights
- Advised Anchor Land Holdings, Inc. on a joint venture with the local government unit of Parañaque City for the development of a commercial mixed-use project in Parañaque City.
- Advising BDO Unibank, Inc. and SM Keppel Land, Inc. on the conversion a condominium project in the Podium Complex.
- Advised a corporation in its acquisition of a major Grade A office building located in Makati Central Business District.