Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s 'strong, efficient' and 'reliable' team provides a 'comprehensive' service to both established multinationals and innovative new start-up companies. Complex and large-scale acquisitions are a speciality, and the firm is especially active in the telecoms, infrastructure, construction, technology and e-commerce sectors. The group has forged strong relationships with some of the largest conglomerates in the country, including Ayala Land, Inc. and Aboitiz Land, Inc., for which it handles a full range of corporate work. Raoul Angangco advises on real estate and construction issues in addition to corporate matters, while Sylvette Tankiang specialises in M&A, tax and energy and Kristin Charisse Siao is also noted.

Dispute resolution Tier 1

One of the key firms in the Philippines for litigation work, Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) represents clients in complex disputes before courts, government agencies and arbitral tribunals, many of which have a multi-jurisdictional element. Joseph Anthony Lopez  leads the team and draws on his previous experience working in-house at a major bank to handle financial disputes, securities fraud and insolvency. Co-managing partners Augusto San Pedro Jr and Alejandro Alfonso Navarro are key members of the team; the former specialises in commercial disputes, advising on matters related to joint ventures, banking and finance, product liability and competition law,  while the latter is an arbitration specialist having previously represented clients before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. Thea Daep specialises in fraud and anti-money laundering investigations,

Intellectual property Tier 1

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s 'very responsive and capable' group has expertise on the full range of intellectual property matters, advising on all aspects of trade marks and patents in addition to border control measures and regulatory advice. Disputes are an area of particular activity, and the firm acts on behalf of, as well as opposite, high-profile international companies; in 2019, the team represented ABS-CBN Corporation in a trade mark opposition case against Apple Inc  relating to ABS-CBN’s “Three-Circle Device' mark. 'Extremely knowledgeable' Bienvenido Somera Jr leads the team and has vast expertise in trade marks and patents. Qualified patent agent Sophia Editha Cruz-Abrenica is able to draw on her background in biochemistry and molecular biology to advise on the patentability of innovate new products. Katrina Doble is noted for contentious issues.

Real estate and construction Tier 1

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s practice is supplemented by its strong projects and energy group, and therefore is heavily active in the construction sphere, advising on the acquisition of development land, financing and joint venture issues. The team is also instructed to advise on a range of real estate transactions and was involved in matters relating to residential property, office buildings and factories in 2019. Sylvette Tankiang advises on all aspects of construction projects in the energy sphere, including financial structuring, supply agreements and tax issues. Franchette Acosta is well versed in the bidding process for government infrastructure projects.

Tax Tier 1

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) advises companies on the tax implications of restructurings, investments and joint ventures. Additionally, the team represents clients in challenging tax and custom assessments. The practice is led by Raoul Angangco, Sylvette Tankiang and Franchette Acosta, and frequently acts alongside partners from the firm's corporate department. Maria Concepcion Simundac and Kristin Charisse Siao are also key contacts in the team.

Banking and finance Tier 2

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) is active in advising on the financing of projects in the energy and telecoms sectors, as well as providing regulatory advice to financial institutions. The practice also handles bank loan restructurings and insolvencies. Recently, the team has been involved in advising banks and non-bank financial institutions on the implications of the Philippines' Data Privacy Law. The practice is led by Raoul Angangco, Sylvette Tankiang and Franchette Acosta.

Capital markets Tier 2

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) is active in advising on listings and IPOs, including cross-border work. The team's client base is varied, including companies in sectors such as real estate, manufacturing, healthcare, and construction. Franchette Acosta leads on much of this work, alongside Kristin Charisse Siao and Paul Rodulfo Imperial.

Immigration Tier 2

Led by Raoul Angangco, Sylvette Tankiang, and Paul Rodulfo Imperial, Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) provides corporate immigration advice to major multinationals. In addition to assisting firms with securing work visas and permits, during the COVID-19 pandemic it has also advised clients on the rapidly changing immigration situation in the Philippines.

Labour and employment Tier 2

Led by Alejandro Alfonso Navarro, Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s labour practice represents multinationals and local companies in sectors including technology, law and logistics. The team acts as sole counsel to prominent international companies including Amazon, handling contentious and non-contentious work including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to Navarro, associate Rashel Ann Pomoy is also a key figure in the team.

Projects and energy Tier 2

Led by Raoul Angangco, Sylvette Tankiang and Franchette Acosta, Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s projects department focuses on energy matters, particularly those involving renewable energy. The firm advises on all aspects of project development and maintenance, including structuring investments, bidding processes and the negotiation of concession agreements. Telecoms is another area of activity; the firm was recently instructed by ISOC Asia Telecom Towers, Inc to assist with a joint venture to construct a telecoms tower, the first approved by the Philippine government in line with new regulations. Maria Concepcion Simundac is a key contact, and advises on the drafting of various contracts such as power supply agreements and service agreements.

TMT Tier 2

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) acts as local counsel for large international telecoms companies and advises on the corporate, regulatory and financial elements of transactions involving entry into the Philippine market. The group also assists domestic clients with issues such as the creation of new companies, joint ventures and anti-money laundering legislation. Sylvette Tankiang operates a broad practice that includes advising technology companies on tax and corporate issues. Kristin Charisse Siao advises on M&A transactions in the telecom sector.

Antitrust and competition Tier 3

Working alongside the firm's main corporate practice, Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s competition group advises national and international clients on the requirements of the PCC's merger notification regime. Sectors of particular activity include energy, shipping and manufacturing. Key practitioners Sylvette Tankiang and Franchette Acosta advise on competition as part of their broad commercial practices.