Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula > Manila, Philippines > Firm Profile
Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula Offices
27/F 88 CORPORATE CENTER
141 SEDEÑO STREET, SALCEDO VILLAGE
MAKATI CITY 1227
Philippines
Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula > The Legal 500 Rankings
Philippines > Tax Tier 1
A member of the WPG Law Network, Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula is particularly adept at disputing Bureau of Internal Revenue assessments, often appearing before the Supreme Court and the Court of Tax Appeals in high-value matters. On top of this longstanding strength, Lily Gruba is noted for her wide-ranging expertise in tax planning and deficiency tax assessments; Angelo Patrick Advincula
specialises in assisting MNCs; Jorge Alfonso Melo regularly represents Philippines Airlines in major tax issues; Juan Miguel Victor De La Fuente is well-versed in the tax audit process and tax compliance; while Antero Jose Caganda handles a broad spectrum of tax issues.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Philippine Airlines, Inc.
G & W Architects, Engineers and Project Consultants, Co.
Island Quarry and Aggregates Corporation
Asia United Leasing and Finance Corporation
Work highlights
- Represented Philippine Airlines, Inc. before the Supreme Court in a dispute of assessments for excise taxes on importations of aviation fuel used by the client for its domestic airline operations, securing favourable decisions.
- Represented G & W Architects, Engineers, and Project Consultants Co. before the Court of Tax Appeals Division, En Banc, and with the Supreme Court of the Philippines in a challenge against the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s assessment amounting to $14m, securing a favourable decision.
- Represented Island Quarry and Aggregates Corporation in the Court of Tax Appeals in relation to income tax, Value Added Tax, and Withholding Tax.
Philippines > Banking and finance Tier 2
Recognised for its expertise in tax matters, Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula is equally adept on issues linked to capital markets, foreign investment and dispute resolution. In particular, it covers the documentation of regular and syndicated loans, the formulation of collateral packages and assisting with legal clearances for loan release. Rendering services to companies in infrastructure, power generation and manufacturing, its client base extends to restaurants, educational institutions, cooperatives and trade associations. Five leads oversee the offering: Lily Gruba , Antero Jose Caganda , Angelo Patrick Advincula , Jorge Alfonso Melo and Michael Stephen Lao.Practice head(s):
Lily Gruba; Antero Jose Caganda; Angelo Patrick Advincula; Jorge Alfonso Melo; Michael Stephen Lao
Testimonials
‘The firm is thorough in conducting due diligence and documenting commercial transactions for our Bank in terms of methodology, scope of coverage, and turn around time.’
‘I closely work with the senior partner, Lily Gruba, who always thinks outside of the box. Ms. Gruba is a lawyer who has business acumen aligned to the business objectives of the bank.’
Key clients
Asia United Bank Corporation
Philippine Bank of Communications
Bank of the Philippine Islands – Capital Corporation
BDO Unibank, Inc.
Work highlights
- Advised Asia United Bank Corporation on the preparation, review, and finalization of the documentation of its regular loan operations.
- Advised Philippine Bank of Communications on all major business transactions and in the development of policies, in compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Advised the Bank of the Philippines Islands – Capital Corporation on the negotiation and documentation of a loan agreement.
Philippines > Corporate and M&A Tier 3
Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula advises both domestic and international clients on a wide range of corporate and M&A matters, including due diligence, preparation and review of shareholders’ agreements, negotiations, and securing relevant approvals. Lily Gruba is an expert in cross-border transactions, while Angelo Patrick Advinculaadvises Fortune 500 companies on the tax implications of corporate transactions. Michael Stephen Lao assists local and foreign clients with mergers and collaborative agreements with government-owned corporations.Practice head(s):
Philippines > Dispute resolution Tier 3
Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula has extensive experience in all facets of litigation, with a strong focus on tax disputes. It offers advice on every step of the litigation process, including preparation of pleadings, representation, negotiation, trial, appeals, and enforcement of judgments. The team also has experience in arbitration, where it represents clients before the International Arbitration Centers in Singapore and Hong Kong. Antero Jose Cagandais experienced in representing clients before the Supreme Court and the Central Board of Assessment Appeals. Juan Miguel Victor Dela Fuente specialises in contentious and non-contentious taxation matters. Angelo Patrick Advincula and Jorge Alfonso Melo are also recommended.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Philippine Airlines, Inc.
G & W Architects, Engineers and Project Consultants, Co.
Island Quarry and Aggregates Corporation
Asia United Leasing and Finance Corporation
Work highlights
- Represented Philippine Airlines, Inc. in the Supreme Court of the Philippines for excise taxes on importations of aviation fuel used by the client for its domestic airline operations.
- Represented G & W Architects, Engineers, and Project Consultants Co. in the Court of Tax Appeals Division, En Banc, and with the Supreme Court of the Philippines against the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s assessment amounting to USD 14 Million.
- Represented the Island Quarry and Aggregates Corporation in the Court of Tax Appeals En Banc on the deficiency of Income Tax, Value Added Tax, and Withholding Tax amounting to USD 933,898.75.
Philippines > TMT Tier 3
A member of the Wong Partnership Group, Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula has earned a strong reputation for advising digital banking and fintech companies such as Jazzypay and Railspay. The firm is experienced in assisting companies in securing the necessary registrations, permits, and licenses to operate electronic payment systems and as electronic money issuers. It also provides services relating to cybersecurity, including reviews of vulnerability assessments, the establishment of cybersecurity operations centers, and technology service agreements. Angelo Patrick Advinculaleads the practice and serves as corporate secretary to several fintech companies in the PhilippinesPractice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘ZGLaw is professional and efficient in terms of securing bank licenses and giving legal advice to local companies related to finance/fintech.’
‘I value their efficient and professional work ethic.’
‘Having experienced working with other law firms, ZGLaw is above the others in terms of promptness and appropriateness in responding to legal issues brought before them. Knowledge of the industry sector where our company belongs is another capability of the firm which augurs well in the light of changing economic environment brought about by the pandemic.’
‘Our company has been working well with the team of Angelo Advincula and John Godinez.’
Key clients
Lulu Financial Services
Jazzypay
Railspay
Next Generation Technologies Global
Doconchain PH
Work highlights
- Assisted Lulu Financial Services in securing its electronic money issuance license and registration for EMI-Others and electronic payment and financial services with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
- Acted as counsel for Jazzypay in securing its registration for operator of payment system before the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
- Advised Railspay in securing its registration for electronic money issuer, electronic payment and financial services, and operator of payment system with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula > Firm Profile
The firm: ZGLaw was founded in 1993 by the late Atty Daisy G Zambrano and Atty Lily K Gruba, who is the firm’s managing partner. In 2002, Atty Antero Jose M Caganda and Atty Angelo Patrick F Advincula were admitted to the partnership. In 2011, Atty Jorge Alfonso C Melo joined the firm as its fourth partner, followed by Atty Juan Miguel Victor C dela Fuente in 2013.
In 2016, the firm name was changed to Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula. The firm continues to grow in size and in its practice fields while keeping its core values of excellence, diligence, innovation and service foremost.
Recently in 2017, ZGLaw agreed to collaborate and enter into a strategic alliance with WongPartnership LLP, one of the top law firms in Singapore and the region, with practices in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar and the Middle East.
Areas of practice: ZGLaw is a mid-sized, full-service law firm representing and advising various local and foreign clients in the Philippines. In the past years ZGLaw has been consistently recognised by its peers and legal publications as a recommended firm in the following practice areas: taxation, banking and finance, corporate and M&A, dispute resolution.
Taxation: the firm specialises in both litigious and non-litigious matters in taxation. For litigious matters, the firm handles claims for tax refunds or issuance of tax credit certificates, and cases for cancellation of deficiency tax assessments. For non-litigious matters, the firm handles the tax audit process, tax compliance, and reconciliation for and settlement of deficiency tax assessments.
Banking and finance: the firm is regularly consulted by domestic universal and commercial banking institutions on tax, operations, compliance and other related matters. As external counsel, the firm is regularly engaged by its client-banks to document multimillion-dollar loan transactions.
Corporate and M&A: the firm acts as adviser and counsel for businesses setting up offices in the Philippines. It is likewise on retainer by hundreds of companies for corporate housekeeping and regular corporate matters. In M&A, the firm acts as adviser and transaction counsel for multimillion-dollar asset and share acquisition deals.
Dispute resolution: the firm handles civil and criminal litigation before the lower courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court for its various clients. It likewise participates in arbitration proceedings in local and foreign arbitration tribunals. The firm currently handles numerous tax cases before the Court of Tax Appeals and the Supreme Court.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbitration | Jorge Alfonso C Melo | ||
| Arbitration | Angelo Patrick F Advincula | ||
| Banks, banking and finance | Lily K Gruba | ||
| Banks, banking and finance | Antero Jose M Caganda | ||
| Business and company formation | Antero Jose M Caganda | ||
| Business and company formation | Jorge Alfonso C Melo | ||
| Constitutional | Joaquin G Bernas | ||
| Corporate | Lily K Gruba | ||
| Corporate | Antero Jose M Caganda | ||
| Energy | Angelo Patrick F Advincula | ||
| Foreign investment | Antero Jose M Caganda | ||
| Foreign investment | Angelo Patrick F Advincula | ||
| Government bidding and tenders | Angelo Patrick F Advincula | ||
| Intellectual property | Antero Jose M Caganda | ||
| Joint ventures | Antero Jose M Caganda | ||
| Joint ventures | Angelo Patrick F Advincula | ||
| Labour | Juan Miguel Victor C dela Fuente | ||
| Labour | Artemio P Calumpong | ||
| Litigation | Jorge Alfonso C Melo | ||
| Litigation | Artemio P Calumpong | ||
| Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures | Lily K Gruba | ||
| Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures | Antero Jose M Caganda | ||
| Tax | Lily K Gruba | ||
| Tax | Angelo Patrick F Advincula | ||
| Tax | Juan Miguel Victor C dela Fuente |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mr Angelo Patrick Advincula | Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation and Arbitration, Government Policy, Taxation. | View Profile |
 | Mr Antero Jose Caganda | Corporate Law, Tax Advisory, Banking. | View Profile |
 | Juan Miguel Victor De La Fuente | Taxation, Corporate Practice. | View Profile |
 | Prof Lily Gruba | Commercial Transactions, Banking, Tax, Mergers and Acquisitions. | View Profile |
 | Mr Jorge Alfonso Melo | Court Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Special Projects. | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 24Languages
English Filipino Fookien MandarinOther
Contacts : Antero Jose M Caganda Contacts : Angelo Patrick F AdvinculaDiversity
As part of the Firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility, the Firm renders legal services to several non-stock non-profit religious institutions. The Firm’s legal services generally comprise legal advisory in all aspects of their day-to-day operations, which includes tax advisory, assistance in securing Certificate of Tax Exemption Rulings from the Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue, and general corporate work and compliance. Notably, the Firm has been assisting these organizations in successfully defending them in various tax audits conducted by the Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue.
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