Speakers
Mark S. Gorriceta, chairman and managing partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra
Mark S. Gorriceta is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, one of the Philippines’ leading and fastest-growing law firms, known for its strong focus on technology, infrastructure, and emerging industries. He also heads the firm’s Corporate, Banking & Finance, and Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) practice groups. Under his leadership, the firm has expanded its regional footprint with offices in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, serving clients across Southeast Asia.
Mark has been consistently recognized among the Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers (2020–2025) by Asia Business Law Journal and as a Leading Individual for TMT Law by The Legal 500. He is widely regarded as the country’s leading counsel in fintech, digital assets, blockchain, AI, data privacy, e-commerce, and digital platforms.
With over two decades of private-practice experience, Mark advises startups, multinational corporations, and domestic conglomerates on complex corporate transactions, digital transformation initiatives, regulatory strategy, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and cross-border matters.
Beyond private practice, Mark plays a key role in shaping the Philippines’ digital economy. He is the Chairman of Go Digital Philippines, a national private-sector initiative under the Private Sector Advisory Council, and serves in leadership and trustee roles across major fintech, blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, and investor organizations. He is also a faculty member at the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business, where he teaches Mergers & Acquisitions.
Kristine T. Torres, partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra
Kristine Torres is a Partner at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, where she heads the Project Finance and ESG Practice Groups and is a core member of the Corporate and Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) Practice Groups. She is widely recognized for her deep expertise across corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law, capital markets, banking and finance, project finance, ESG, compliance and regulatory and TMT.
Kristine regularly acts as lead counsel on complex transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, equity and debt investments, structuring, project finance, capital markets, banking and finance, PPPs, compliance and regulatory, TMT and ESG, with particular experience in highly regulated and across a large range of industries such as IT, tech and fintech, AI, retail, education, energy, logistics, banking, finance, retail trade and private equity – advising clients on matters that require both technical depth and strategic judgment. She also has extensive experience advising clients on a variety of compliance, regulatory, and licensing matters. Her expertise has consistently been recognized by The Legal 500 being named as a Next Generation Partner in TMT and as a Recommended Lawyer in Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance, Projects and Energy, and Capital Markets.
Edsel F. Tupaz, senior partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra
Edsel F. Tupaz is Senior Partner at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, one of the Philippines’ leading full-service law firms. He leads the Firm’s Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and AI Initiatives, as well as its Special Projects (Infrastructure) practice, advising on complex, high-stakes regulatory, data protection, technology, and cross-border matters.
Edsel advises Fortune 500 companies, NASDAQ-listed firms, major financial institutions, and leading technology startups in Silicon Valley and across Asia on data protection, AI governance, fintech, digital platforms, e-commerce, and banking and financial services.
He is a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) and holds the AIGP, CIPT, CIPP/E, and CIPM certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). He has been featured in the Data Protection Leader (July 2025 edition) by OneTrust DataGuidance as a leading Philippine data protection expert and is listed in international experts’ directories for Philippine privacy law.
He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Harvard Law School, where he served as Managing Technical Editor of the Harvard Human Rights Journal. He earned his Juris Doctor and B.A. in Economics (Honors Program) from Ateneo de Manila University and is dual-qualified in the Philippines and New York.
Rashel Pomoy is the Deputy Managing Partner, Deputy Head of the Firm’s Labor and Employment Department, and Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department. A trusted advisor to both local and international clients, she is known for her skill in navigating complex employment issues, both contentious and advisory. She was one of the youngest lawyers to be promoted to partner in the Firm’s history, reflecting her track record and leadership in the practice.
Rashel advises domestic and multinational clients on the full spectrum of employment and labor relations matters. Her practice includes workplace investigations, collective bargaining issues, large-scale retrenchments, corporate restructures, and cross-border employment transfers. She is regularly engaged to draft and review employment policies, handbooks, severance and release agreements, and non-compete clauses. Clients value her ability to deliver clear and actionable advice in time-sensitive and high-stakes situations.
Jerome D. Canlas, partner, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia
Jerome D Canlas’ practice focuses on Telecommunications and Information and Communications Technology Law, as well as Labor Law. He is currently a member of the firm’s Data Privacy Practice Group and is part of a team that successfully defended an online lending corporation against a temporary ban on processing of personal data, which would have effectively halted the operations of said corporation. Mr. Canlas is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E).
Mr. Canlas is also a Partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department and his areas of practice include tax and customs litigation, appellate practice, trial advocacy, and corporate and banking litigation. He obtained his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of the Philippines in 2009. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the same university, graduating cum laude in 2005. He authored the thesis entitled “Project MODEX and the Modernization of Philippine Elections”, which was awarded as the Best Political Science Thesis of his batch. Mr. Canlas was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2010.
Mr. Canlas holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Economic and Business Law and EU-Graduate Diploma from Kyushu University in Japan as a Monbukagakusho Scholar (Young Leaders’ Program). He has held internships in several international law firms in Japan, as well as in the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). He has likewise been a speaker in several conferences such as the Conference on Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Algorithms held in Japan in 2019.
Rogelio D. Torres, Jr, partner, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia
Rogelio D. Torres has been in the practice of law in the Philippines for almost 20 years with significant experience in dispute prevention and resolution, including appellate practice; labor and employment, including assisting corporations in collective bargaining issues and advising clients’ human resource department personnel in handling policies relating to labor standards as well as dismissal-related issues and proceedings; banking, energy and mining litigation even before quasi-judicial agencies; and corporate governance and regulation, rehabilitation and reorganization, including compliance with Anti-Money Laundering laws and rules and policies. At present, Mr. Torres is a member of the Management Committee as well as the Deputy Partner-in-Charge for Non-Legal Personnel overseeing the Human Resource Department of Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia. Mr. Torres has been appointed as an Investigating Commissioner for the Commission on Bar Discipline since 2019 until the present, and was awarded as one of the Outstanding Commissioners in 2022.
One of the Top 10 Ateneo de Manila University Alumni Leaders recognized by CEO Insights Asia in 2024 for being a top-notch professional and thought leader who drive corporate realm to its future in multiple dimensions, as well as an Alumni of Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines.
Mr. Torres obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in 2005. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Schools, where he graduated in 2000. Mr. Torres was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2006.
Ramon Manolo A. Alcasabas, partner, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia
Mr. Alcasabas is a Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department where he has actively handled civil, commercial, criminal and labor litigation before the courts and quasi-judicial bodies, as well as developed and implemented various legal strategies for his clients. Mr. Alcasabas’ practice likewise includes Telecommunications and ICT Law, where he was part of the team which handled one of the country’s largest acquisitions with respect to the cable television network industry. He is currently a member of the firm’s Competition Law and Data Privacy Practice Groups and has advised clients, as well as represented them before administrative bodies. Mr. Alcasabas is a member of the Philippine Bar Association and has previously served as its Co-Chairperson for Committee on Legislation & Law Reforms.
Mr. Alcasabas received his Masters in Law (LL.M.) from Columbia University in the City of New York in May 2014, graduating with honors as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. While at Columbia, he took up subjects in U.S. corporate law, federal rules of evidence, international commercial arbitration, as well as volunteered as an extern at the Bronx Defenders, a public defender office situated at the South Bronx area of New York City. He passed the New York State Bar Examinations in 2014. Mr. Alcasabas obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School in 2007. He graduated with honors and was ranked 7th in his batch. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2008. Mr. Alcasabas likewise holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Philippines.Mr. Alcasabas is a Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department where he has actively handled civil, commercial, criminal and labor litigation before the courts and quasi-judicial bodies, as well as developed and implemented various legal strategies for his clients.
Millicent Joie Desiderio-Dime, managing director, global counsel ethics and compliance, Accenture
Miscen Desiderio-Dime draws on 27 years of diverse legal experience across litigation, corporate practice, and technology. She began her career at the influential Becca Bar law firm, handling high-stakes cases involving kidnapping, arson, and post–Martial Law political unrest, work that honed her agility and courtroom rigour. After leading complex prosecutions, she transitioned to the corporate and tech sector, where she now champions thoughtful, responsible use of legal technology while mentoring young lawyers in adaptability and sound judgment. Miscen joined Accenture in 2012 where she built the local legal team from the ground up and led it for over 13 years. She is now Managing Director, Global Counsel, Ethics and Compliance, where she works on enterprise-wide compliance strategy with a focus on Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest and where she champions a culture of integrity across Accenture’s global operations.
Steering Committee
Ryan N. Espiritu, regional data protection officer & legal counsel (APAC/ME), Western Union
Ryan N. Espiritu is currently Western Union’s Regional Data Protection Officer and Legal Counsel supporting APAC and the Middle East. He possesses an IAPP Certification as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for Asia (CIPP/Asia). He has been an attorney for more than 18 years specializing in data privacy, labor & employment, litigation and intellectual property.
Steering Committee
Cecily Nerisse (Chel) C. Ramirez-dela Cruz, Asia+ CBG General Counsel, Philippines and GSC General Counsel, 3M Philippines
Chel Ramirez-dela Cruz is 3M’s Asia+ Consumer Business Group General Counsel, Philippines and Global Service Center General Counsel, and Country GAM Liaison. As part of the leadership team of the business and the country, she helps identify and address key policy, enterprise, and other risks to protect the company’s brand and operations while supporting growth.
Prior to joining 3M, she was a Senior Associate at Puno and Puno Law Offices, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, special projects, taxation, and energy law, where she served for 9 years. Before that, she was an associate in the oldest and one of the most prestigious law firms in the Philippines, Sycip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan, and prior to that, she interned at the equally reputable Zambrano and Gruba Law Offices.
She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2008, after she completed her Juris Doctor degree with honors at Ateneo de Manila University – School of Law in 2007. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Legal Management at Ateneo de Manila University in 2003, with a minor in history.
Steering Committee
Kristian Nico Calugay Acosta, general counsel and head of legal (GUESS Group) and director (Legal Management Council of the Philippines), GUESS Group
Nico is the general counsel and head of legal department of the GUESS Group. He also serves as a director of the Legal Management Council of the Philippines, the country’s premiere association of legal professionals. Throughout the years, Nico has successfully represented his past and present principals before various quasi-judicial agencies, trial courts, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Because of his solid advocacies on ESG and intellectual property awareness, Nico is often invited as a lecturer and resource speaker by various government agencies, educational institutions and international organizations such as the International Trademark Association, EU IPO, World Intellectual Property Organization and the Asia Pacific Corporate Counsel Alliance. Moreover, several legal publications, such as AsiaLaw, the Asian Legal Business and Legal 500, has consistently commended him for his exemplary legal works. During his law firm days, Nico has been cited by Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner, and he has been consistently included by the publication’s General Counsel (GC) Powerlist Magazine in its lists of leading in-house lawyers across Southeast Asia and the Philippines. Just last year, Nico has made it to Legal 500 GC Elite Philippines, which recognized the country’s Top 20 most prominent and seasoned in-house lawyers. On his days off, Nico enjoys working out at the gym and car racing.
Steering Committee
Mary Rose S. Tan, associate general counsel and assistant corporate secretary, San Miguel Corporation
Mary Rose S. Tan is an Assistant Vice President – Associate General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary of San Miguel Corporation, one of the Philippines’ biggest diversified conglomerates, where she has been with the Office of the General Counsel for 20 years handling corporate governance and compliance, capital markets and corporate financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, as well as disputes and litigation management. Prior to joining San Miguel Corporation, Ms. Tan was a law clerk at the Supreme Court of the Philippines with the Office of the Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr., and an associate at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan. She obtained her Master of Laws degree from the University of Sydney in 2009 as an Endeavour Postgraduate Award scholar of the Australian Government. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2002. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from University of the Philippines in 2001 and her degree of Bachelor of Arts major in Psychology from the same university in 2001. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the UP Women Lawyers Circle for 2024-2026, and the Assistant Corporate Secretary of the UP Law Alumni Foundation.
Steering Committee
Bernard Malibiran, legal services director, Manila Water
Bernard “Bong” Malibiran is the Legal Services Director of Manila Water, bringing extensive experience from senior in-house leadership roles, including previously serving as Vice President for Legal, Compliance & Security at Republic Cement. A strong advocate of entrepreneurial thinking within the legal function, Bong champions the evolution of corporate legal teams, from traditional risk gatekeepers into proactive business partners and solution providers.
Known for valuing innovation, commercial awareness, and cross-disciplinary insight, Bong believes effective legal advice must balance legal rigour with a deep understanding of financial, operational, and strategic business realities. In an increasingly unpredictable global environment shaped by technological disruption, regulatory change, and geopolitical uncertainty, he emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and foresight as essential skills for modern in-house counsel. This approach positions the legal team as a critical enabler of sustainable business growth, while maintaining strong governance and risk management.
Steering Committee
Connie Chu, chief legal & compliance officer, Aboitiz Group
Connie Chu has more than 20 years legal experience in the areas of regulatory compliance, corporate governance, capital markets, finance, and M&A in multiple jurisdictions in Asia and the US.
She joined the Aboitiz Group in 2023 as Group General Counsel, and Chief Legal & Compliance Officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a leading company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange. The team was most recently awarded Asian Legal Business Philippine In-House Team of the year in 2023 & 2024.
She is the Private Sector Representative to the Philippine Department of Trade & Industry Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red Tape Advisory Council.
Prior to joining the Aboitiz Group, Connie was with Cleary Gottlieb in New York & Hong Kong where she advised the governments of Indonesia, Mongolia and the Philippines, and companies listed in Asia and the US.
Ms. Chu obtained her LLM with distinction from the New York University School of Law, U.S.A, and a juris doctor degree with high honors (Class Salutatorian) from the Ateneo de Manila University. She graduated magna cum laude with an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of San Carlos. She was a bar topnotcher ranking 2nd in the 2002 Philippine Bar Exams.