Noted for its ‘commendable commitment’ to its clientele, the team at Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) is well equipped to handle the broad range of complex work. Such work includes assisting with significant joint ventures, the development and construction projects of considerable scale, and with divestments and sales of high-value. Raoul Angangco has significant experience handling work in the real estate, energy and construction sectors, Sylvette Y. Tankiang’s areas of specialism include taxation, and power and energy, while Kristin Charisse C. Siao provides end-to-end support across the array of complex and high-value transactions. The three lead the practice alongside Juanito L. Sañosa, who joined in April 2024, following the January 2024 departure of former co-lead Franchette Acosta.
Assisted in the acquisition by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. through a joint venture company, of 100% of the outstanding shares of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc.
Acted as lead counsel for Fountel Corporation and its subsidiary, Felicitas Antoinette, Inc., assisting with projecting their financial interests relating to preparing documentation for the sale of its shares in a public healthcare company in the Philippines.
Assisted in the joint venture of ACEN and IBV for the development and construction of solar power plants with a total aggregate capacity of up to 1,200 MWdc.
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)’s ‘best in class’ team is well regarded for its experience assisting its plethora of clients on the array of disputes, and is helmed by Raquel Wealth Taguian. The group handles high-stakes matters of multi-millions in value, ranging from those involving money laundering, to the seizing of companies, to sale and purchase disputes. Alejandro Alfonso Navarro harnesses expertise defending high-profile names in criminal aspects of corporate and commercial issues; Augusto San Pedro’s specialisms include representing clients in product liability, insurance and competition-related disputes, amongst others; and Joseph Anthony Lopez harnesses broad ranging experience. The ‘exceptional’ Thea Daepis also noteworthy.
‘The team delivers superior value. They have depth and breadth of bench, an ear to the ground, a pulse on the market, and many more intangibles make this firm best in class.’
‘Extremely bright, energetic, down-to-earth, hungry, and genuine human beings. They have a healthy sense of humour despite all the stress.’
‘The team always thinks of several strategies and thinks outside the box. They also consider all aspects of the case when determining the best way to move forward.’
‘Fritzie Espanol is very hands on and provides timely updates on all developments. She also led the team to strategize in the best way to handle the case.’
‘The firm delivers excellent results.’
‘Thea Daep is knowledgeable on Philippine litigation and is very hands-on, although very busy at times.’
‘The partners in the team are very hands-on. They do not simply delegate the work to the associates so a client knows that his or her case is being handled well. They also generally provide comprehensive updates whenever necessary.’
‘Thea Daep provides exceptional work. She is able to convey the case strategy in a way that can be easily understood even by non-lawyers. She is also able to think outside the box when needed.’
Key clients
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
Ayala Land, Inc.
Manila Water Company, Inc.
E. Zobel Inc.
RCBC Securities Inc.
Bank of the Philippine Islands
BDO Unibank, Inc.
EEI Corporation
Petron Corporation
UC Malampaya Philippines PTE Ltd.
Alveo Land Corporation
ABS-CBN Corporation
Udenna Corporation
Japan Tobacco International
The Haskell Company
Phinma Construction Group
Grobest Philippines Inc.
Work highlights
Secured an acquittal of the last of 4 officers of RCBC against charges of money laundering in connection with one of the most sensational cases in the world involving a cyber-heist of $101m taken from Bangladesh Bank, which was allegedly committed by North Korean hackers.
Secured a favourable decision for the client at the Supreme Court through a successful motion for reconsideration it prepared.
Represented the minority shareholders of the company who has been the subject of concerted actions from other shareholders to seize control of said company.
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)‘s group is well-versed in assisting on litigious IP matters, in both inter-partes and IPR violation contexts in relation to both trademarks and patents. Trademark prosecution work forms a prominent portion of the team’s workload and involves assisting both foreign and domestic clients across the array of industry sectors. Bienvenido Somera has notable experience handling the range of IP matters, from the commercialisation of novel IP, to protecting copyrights and litigating patent and trademark matters. Somera heads up the offering alongside Katrina Doble whose expertise covers these areas also. Antonio Miguel Lu stands out for his specialism in trademark and patent litigation work.
Secured, on behalf of Petron Corporation, the conviction of the directors and officers of Masagana Gas Corporation, one of the largest illegal refillers of Petron “GASUL” Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders in the Philippines for unfair competition.
Defended foreign beauty company F&CO Co., Ltd. (F&CO) against baseless trademark oppositions filed by local business giant and competitor, BENCH.
Assisted Innogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., one of the Philippines’ largest generic drug manufacturers, in assailing evergreening patents involving Sitagliptin and Etoricoxib held by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp to allow the entry of cheaper generic alternatives for lifesaving and/or essential medicines into the Philippines.
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s labour and employment offering is co-headed by Alejandro Alfonso Navarro and Rashel Ann C. Pomoy, and handles work ranging from the drafting and review of employment contracts, to the redundancy-related aspects of company restructurings, to the termination of contracts. It is also well-equipped to represent corporate clients in matters involving employee registration for Union representation. The practice is overseen by Raoul R. Angangco and Sylvette Y. Tankiang alongside Juanito L. Sañosa, who joined the firm in April 2024. Mark Benjamin Yam has experience handling both immigration and emigration matters for multinational clients, including advising on the obtaining of permits and visas.
‘Villaraza and Angangco’s team is composed of highly qualified and specialized members. Their structure is composed of departments categorised per legal field in order to hone the competence of each member.’
‘They are all specialists and generalists at the same time. This makes their output holistic and valuable to their clients.’
‘I love working with Rashel Ann C. Pomoy because of her eloquence and intelligence. She has a way of explaining her legal inputs concisely yet firmly without being aggressive. This makes her convincing and charming at the same time.’
‘They have a deep expertise in labour cases with a proven track-record of successful project delivery. Strong problem-solving abilities and innovative thinking.’
‘Their team consists of highly experienced partners and associates who have extensive knowledge in their respective fields.’
‘They are diligent and offer remedies that are creative.’
‘They are readily available and communicate options well.’
Key clients
McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited
Amazon Operation Services Philippines, Inc.
Autodesk Asia PTE LTD
King & Spalding, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LPP
Uber Philippines Centre of Excellence LLC
DTN Philippines, Inc.
Erickson Immigration Group
Tata Consultancy Services (Philippines), Inc.
Paypal Philippines, Inc.
Remitly Inc.
Bacardi Spain
Zendesk Inc.
WHG Customer Services Philippines, Inc.
PNB AllianzAccess Healthcare
Schneider Electric (Philippines), Inc.
Prime Metro BMD Corporation
Hijo Resources Corp.
Lalamove Philippines, Inc.
Access Health Care Services Manila Inc.
Benchling
McConnell Dowell Philippines, Inc.
Bricolage Distributor, Inc.
Clayton Utz
Alfa Laval in the Philippines
Business Support Outsourcing
CIBI Information, Inc.
Lantro Vision Inc.
Saga Events
Work highlights
Defended the employer successfully in its implementation of periodic drug tests in its workplace as part of all employees’ employment requirements.
Defended the client successfully in an illegal dismissal case filed against an employee who padded his payroll through the use of the company’s human resources information systems.
Drafted and reviewed for its client making employee redundancies in separation agreements, quitclaims, non-disclosure agreements and non-compete clauses to assure smooth transition of the employees.
Noted as ‘the leading firm on matters involving energy efficiency law in the Philippines’ by clients, the team at Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) is well-regarded for its broad experience in projects and energy. Regulatory and tax compliance are aspects of significant projects the group advises its clients on, in addition to complex transactional and financing issues. Raoul R. Angangco specialises in corporate, M&A, construction, infrastructure and M&A, Sylvette Y. Tankiang is a tax expert, and Kristin Charisse C. Siao advises on project development across the tech, transport and real estate sectors; all three head up the practice alongside Juanito L. Sañosa, who joined from an in-house role in April 2024 following the January 2024 departure of former co-lead Franchette Acosta.
Practice head(s):
Raoul R. Angangco; Sylvette Y. Tankiang; Juanito L. Sañosa; Kristin Charisse C. Siao
Other key lawyers:
Kristin Charisse Siao; Richard Henrick Beltran; Carlo Augustine Roman; Fritz Julius Casama
Testimonials
‘The team is well-organised and specialises in multiple areas of the law which almost completely covers our corporate requirements.’
‘The team professionally handles our matters and provides us personal attention, meaning they are a reliable source for all of our legal concerns. They are a competent and up-to-date team, which is why we have been loyal clients for many years – our most trusted legal advisor.’
‘Sylvette Y. Tankiang safeguards are interests, is quick and capable in her thinking.’
‘Villaraza & Angangco is the leading firm on matters involving energy efficiency in the Philippines. They have been involved in the drafting of the Energy Efficiency Law in the Philippines and therefore know the background and nuances about said law.’
‘V&A Law has a team of lawyers who always ensure that concerns are addressed. Richard Henrick Beltran always ensures that his team are involved and oversees the output of his team, ensuring that client needs are met. He is easy to contact and responsive.’
‘Fritz Julius Casama ensures the timely delivery of the outputs which are delegated to V&A.’
Key clients
ChongQing Panhua Steel Sheet Co., Ltd.
ChongQing Panhua Group of Companies
Global Infrastructure Partners
DITO Telecommunity Corporation
China Telecommunications Corporation
AC Infrastructure Holdings, Inc.
Lightspire Energy, Inc.
ACEN Corporation
Ib Vogt Singapore Pte Ltd.
Work highlights
Assisted in the joint venture of ACEN and IBV for the development and construction of solar power plants with a total aggregate capacity of up to 1,200 MWdc.
Assisted AC Infrastructure Holdings, Inc. with the majority acquisition of 8 companies engaged in various logistics fields.
Advised China Telecommunications Corporation and DITO Telecommunity Corporation regarding a project financing transaction intended to support DITO’s procurement, infrastructure construction, and network rollout.
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)‘s group is experienced handling the broad scope of work, from advising its clientele on transactions relating to the establishment of large infrastructure projects, including acquisitions and joint ventures, to advising on the finance aspects of such projects. Procedural and regulatory assistance provision also forms a significant portion of its workload. Commercial expert Raoul R. Angangco helms the team alongside Sylvette Y. Tankiang and Juanito L. Sañosa, who joined the practice in April 2024 from private practice. Kristin Charisse C. Siao has expertise handling project development matters. Former team lead Franchette M. Acosta departed in January 2024.
Practice head(s):
Raoul R. Angangco; Sylvette Y. Tankiang; Juanito L. Sañosa
The group at Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) advises a broad range of clients, which features both domestic and international entities, on the plethora of tax matters, both contentious and non-contentious. The team’s workload includes advising in complex corporate rehabilitation cases, on the tax aspects of the structuring of transactions and investments, and on the remit of business transactions, from joint ventures and corporate restructurings to M&A and large-scale infrastructure projects. Corporate and M&A specialist Raoul R. Angangco oversees the practice alongside Sylvette Y. Tankiang and Juanito L. Sañosa who joined the practice in April 2024, following the January 2024 departure of former co-head Franchette Acosta. Kristin Charisse C. Siao is regarded as ‘standout’ by clients.
Raoul R. Angangco; Sylvette Y. Tankiang; Juanito L. Sañosa
Other key lawyers:
Kristin Charisse C. Siao, Richard Henrick I. Beltran; Ma. Carla P. Mapalo; Mandy Therese M. Anderson; Mark Benjamin C. Yam; Ira Mari J. Sembrano
Testimonials
‘I am very satisfied with the performance and services rendered by Villaraza & Anganco. Their legal memorandum and opinions are always well-researched and matters of interest are explained sufficiently. They are also very open to client feedback.’
‘Lawyers are responsive and commit to their lead times.’
‘Kristin Charisse C. Siao has always been a standout among the individuals we’ve worked with. She is swift to respond and is very experienced and knowledgeable in her areas of expertise. She is also very approachable and reliable when it comes to seeking legal assistance.’
‘Ira Mari J. Sembrano is an individual we work with, who has a great level of professionalism.’
Key clients
China Telecommunications Corporation
Abundance Providers and Entrepreneurs Corporation
DSM Nutritional Products
Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. Ltd
Lotte Corporation
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc
Welcome Capital Worldwide Pte. Ltd.
Welcome Creditline Corporation
Fountel Corporation
Felicitas Antoinette, Inc.
Work highlights
Acted as the legal counsel of China Telecommunications Corporation in a joint venture, which allowed for the entrance of the third telecommunications provider in the country.
Assisted Abundance Providers and Entrepreneurs Corporation with preparing documents to contest charges from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Advised DSM Nutritional Products Ltd. regarding the sale of Biomin Singapore’s shares in Biomin Philippines Animal Health & Nutrition, Inc. and its merger as the surviving corporation with Biomin Philippines Animal Health & Nutrition, Inc.
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s practice assists local and international clients with PCC procedures and regulations, including industry-specific competition restrictions as well as acquiring merger review clearance. Raoul R. Angangco heads the practice alongside Sylvette Y. Tankiang, who has expertise in corporate, contract and transaction structuring, Juanito L. Sañosa, who joined the team in April 2024, and corporate and M&A specialist Kristin Charisse C. Siao. Former co-head Franchette M. Acosta departed in January 2024.
Practice head(s):
Raoul R. Angangco; Sylvette Y. Tankiang; Juanito L. Sañosa; Kristin Charisse C. Siao
Other key lawyers:
Amber Shawn A. Gagajena
Key clients
Apolaki Two
ib Vogt (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc.
AC Infrastructure Holdings Inc.
AC Logistics Holdings Corporation
Work highlights
Represented a corporation based in Singapore and a corporation based in the Philippines, which is one of the two acquiring entities, in acquiring merger review clearance from the PCC.
Assisted in an acquisition by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc through a joint venture company of 100% of the outstanding shares of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. from affiliates of The Coca-Cola Company.
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s team advises on the full gamut of project financing issues, from development through to operation, in both domestic and cross-jurisdictional contexts. The group is co-headed by commercial expert Raoul R. Angangco; transaction structuring, corporate and contract specialist Sylvette Y. Tankiang; and Juanito L. Sañosa, who joined the team in April 2024 following the departure of former co-lead Franchette M. Acosta in January 2024. Kristin Charisse C. Siao and Richard Henrick I. Beltran are noted as being ‘very efficient and professional’ by clients.
Practice head(s):
Raoul R. Angangco; Sylvette Y. Tankiang; Juanito L. Sañosa
‘The team is responsive and good at what they do, and fees are reasonable.’
‘Kristin Charisse C. Siao and Richard Henrick I. Beltran are individuals at V&A that we have worked with, and they are very efficient and professional with their advice and responsiveness being oriented on getting the deal done.’
Key clients
DITO Telecommunity Corporation
China Telecommunications Corporation
BDO Unibank, Inc.
Bank of the Philippine Islands
Kiangan Mini Hydro Corporation
Alternergy Mini Hydro Holdings, Corp.
Fountel Corporation and its Subsidiary
Felicitas Antoinette, Inc.
Boku, Inc.
Lionpay
Work highlights
Assisting Omnibus Loan and Security Agreement in relation to the financing of the project of DITO Telecommunity Corporation for the development, design, construction, and operation of its Network in the Philippines
Acted as lead counsel for Fountel Corporation and its subsidiary, Felicitas Antoinette, Inc., assisting with projecting their financial interests relating to preparing documentation for the sale of its shares in a public healthcare company in the Philippines.
Advised a technology company on the proposed multi-million-dollar acquisition of a financial app.
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law)'s group handles the full gamut of matters relating to project financing, with its workload including finance-related documentation preparation, negotiation and implementation. Raoul R. Angangco, whose specialisms include corporate and M&A issues, heads up the practice with Sylvette Tankiang. Juanito L. Sañosa joined as a team co-lead alongside Angangco and Tangkiang in April 2024, and former co-lead Franchette M. Acosta departed to an in-house role in January 2024.
Assisted Omnibus Loan and Security Agreement in relation to the financing of the project of DITO Telecommunity Corporation for the development, design, construction, and operation of its Network in the Philippines.
Acted as lead counsel for Fountel Corporation and its subsidiary, Felicitas Antoinette, Inc., assisting with projecting their financial interests relating to preparing documentation for the sale of its shares in a public healthcare company in the Philippines.
The team at Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) is very experienced in advising on the full range of TMT work for a client roster of prominent domestic and international entities. The group is co-led by commercial law expert Raoul R Angangco, Sylvette Y. Tankiang and Juanito L. Sañosa, who joined from private practice in April 2024. Kristin Charisse C. Siao has expertise in handling acquisitions and investments. Franchette Acosta left the firm in January 2024.
Practice head(s):
Raoul Angangco; Sylvette Tankiang; Juanito L. Sañosa
‘The V&A team delivers quality service. The team take time to listen to the client’s concerns, understand the client’s objectives, and develop tailored strategies that address the client’s situation.’
‘Rashel Pomoy and Kristin Charisse C. Siao have a deep and comprehensive understanding of the law and the client’s situation. They are meticulous in their preparation and proactive in addressing potential challenges.’
‘The team is well-equipped and knows how to handle all matters at hand – from compliance to hearing. The team is proactive in helping us and sharing their advice when needed.’
‘The team are easy to reach, which is one of the reasons why we have partnered with them over the years. They are quick to revert and to act on certain matters.’
‘The various members of the firm specialize in different practices and coordinate smoothly with each other, such that they can provide holistic solutions to legal problems.’
‘Carlo Roman is a name to note.’
Key clients
Lalamove Philippines, Inc.
SEA Group
Tata Consultancy Service Philippines, Inc. (TCS)
China Telecommunications Corporation
Boku, Inc.
CIBI Information, Inc.
CIBI Tech Ventures, Inc.
Work highlights
Advised a technology company on a proposed multi-million-dollar acquisition of a financial app.
Assisted the shareholders of CIBI Information, Inc with a PHP 111m share purchase transaction.
Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) >
Firm Profile
The firm: Villaraza & Angangco Law (V&A Law) was founded in 1980. With approximately 70 lawyers recognised by their peers to be at the top of the legal profession, and 100 highly trained non-legal staff, the firm offers professional services of the highest calibre. With decades of experience in serving a full spectrum of clients’ interests, its lawyers are equipped to skilfully handle the most intricate problems and provide comprehensive solutions that deliver results. The firm has been at the forefront of the Philippine legal landscape and has gained the trust and confidence of leading multinational corporations, financial institutions and conglomerates. V&A Law is a full-service law firm with specialisation in the areas of litigation, corporate and intellectual property law.
Areas of practice Litigation: the firm is involved in commercial, civil, tax and criminal representation and trial advocacy in every forum. V&A Law provides efficient and effective strategies capitalising on alternative methods of dispute resolution. Its litigators have successfully handled cases in all appellate levels of the judicial system and routinely handle appeals from quasi-judicial agencies. The firm represents a wide array of banks and financial institutions, both local and foreign. V&A Law has been involved in almost all major corporate recovery projects in the country, both litigated and non-litigated. The lawyers of V&A Law have extensive exposure and a high level of competence in handling matters involving labour standards and labour relations law. Moreover, the firm also handles labour litigation before the regular courts and quasi-judicial bodies, such as the National Labour Relations Commission (NLRC).
Corporate: the firm is involved in major mergers and acquisitions in strategic industries, including banking and finance, telecommunications, transportation, manufacturing, food retail, business process outsourcing, insurance, entertainment, and pharmaceuticals. V&A lawyers are experts in the field of power and energy. The firm provides transactional advice on capital markets, securities regulations and finance and serves as counsel on major foreign investments in the country. The corporate lawyers in the firm are equipped with experience in giving comprehensive legal assistance in various property development and real estate transaction projects at all stages. The firm is counsel to leading mining and exploration companies on a broad range of matters, including compliance with nationality and capitalisation requirements and obtaining government licences. V&A lawyers are known for providing innovative solutions to efficiently manage the taxation burden of individuals and entities doing business in the Philippines. The firm plays an active role in the country’s leading public utilities and infrastructure projects under public-private partnership projects, build-operate-transfer, joint venture, and procurement projects.
Intellectual property: the intellectual property lawyers of V&A assist in trade mark and patent prosecution, particularly the filing and maintenance of both Philippine and foreign trade mark, patent, utility model and industrial design registrations. The firm also represents clients in the registration and deposit of copyrights and other related rights. It assists clients to ensure that full commercial value is realised through intellectual property commercialisation, licensing and franchising. V&A lawyers are experienced litigators who have extensive practice in intellectual property litigation. The firm provides efficient and responsive programmes for the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Philippines. The lawyers are equipped with competence in advising media, entertainment and broadcasting entities in the promotion and protection of their intellectual property rights consistent with their strategic business objectives. The firm also gives advice in border control measures and in the product registration of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The clientele of V&A includes domestic generic drug corporations, which the lawyers assist in freedom to operate searches and patent cancellation.
