Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) > Manila, Philippines > Firm Profile

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) Offices

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)
30/F 88 CORPORATE CENTER
SEDENO CORNER VALERO STREETS
SALCEDO VILLAGE, MAKATI CITY 1227
Philippines
Visit website 63 2 8894 0377

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) > The Legal 500 Rankings

Philippines > Antitrust and competition Tier 1

The team at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) is well-equipped to handle the full array of competition and M&A issues. The team’s workload ranges from advising on investigations into anti-competitive conduct during complex transactions, to advising on regulatory issuances brought by the PCC, with the firms work often being high-value and cross-jurisdictional in nature. The ‘super sound’ Norma Margarita Patacsil is a corporate and M&A specialist who sits leads the group and has expertise handling the full range of issues relating to acquisitions and investments. Andrea E. Katipunan-Leido specialises in projects, infrastructure and energy-related matters.

Practice head(s):

Norma Margarita Patacsil

Other key lawyers:

Andrea E. Katipunan-Leido

Testimonials

‘C&G law has been involved in every major matter in the Philippines. They act for the largest MNCs of the world, and were involved in a recent merger clearance touching on beverage. They are the top choice for international law firms too. They are business centric and take very practical views as they advise clients.’

‘Norma Margarita Patacsil is super sound, and in her calm and collected manner is able to swing things her way. She is effective and gets the client what they need.’

Key clients

The Coca-Cola Company

FGen LNG Holdings Corporation

Philippines > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)’s group is well placed to represent its portfolio of clients, which features well-known domestic and international names, in the plethora of complex disputes across the array of industry sectors. Examples of the team’s caseload includes its defending a banking client in a failure to meet contractual obligations, and handling a high-stakes infrastructure dispute, the outcome of which has the potential to change the Philippines’ rail system. Ben Dominic R. Yap and Jesus Paolo U. Protacio co-head the practice; Yap has particular expertise handling energy, construction and infrastructure-related disputes, while Protacio’s broad range of specialisms includes handling product liability, malpractice and environmental disputes. Vladi Miguel Lazaro is experienced handling civil and commercial litigation at various court levels.

Practice head(s):

Ben Dominic R. Yap; Jesus Paolo U. Protacio

Other key lawyers:

Anthony Mark Gutierrez; Vladi Miguel Lazaro

Key clients

Standard Chartered Bank

Metro Rail Transit Corp.

TeaM (Philippines) Energy Corporation

TeaM Sual Corporation

STEAG State Power, Inc.

Ayala Group of Companies

Aboitiz Group of Companies

MarcVentures Mining and Development Corporation

Filinvest Development Corporation

P-H-O-E-N-I-X Petroleum Philippines, Inc.

Canon Marketing (Philippines), Inc.

Premiere Horizon Alliance Corporation

Total (Philippines) Corp.

CD Processing (Philippines), Inc.

Aice Brands Ice Cream Philippines, Inc.

PLDT Inc.

Work highlights

  • Representing Standard Chartered Bank in pursuing its PHP 1.12bn claim against Philippine Guarantee Corporation.
  • Representing Metro Rail Transit Corporation in proceedings before various courts against the local governments of Makati City, Pasay City, Mandaluyong City and Quezon City.
  • Representing TeaM Energy Corporation in defending the President of the Philippines’ executive orders reducing the real property tax of independent power producers.

Philippines > Labour and employment (including immigration) Tier 1

The ‘very dependable’ cohort at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) is well-equipped to handle complex labour matters, including employment contract compliance breaches, terminations, and investigations of misconduct, fraud and negligence. The team is also well-equipped to handle complex disputes, with practice head Cesar Santamaria having noteworthy experience in handling sensitive and complex immigration cases. Immigration is also an area of specialism of both Vladi Miguel Lazaro, who is noted for his ‘mastery of Philippine law’, and Katrine Paula Suyat-Antonio. Nicolo Mendiola also stands out for his expertise in both contentious and non-contentious employment work.

Practice head(s):

Cesar Santamaria

Other key lawyers:

Katrine Paula Suyat-Antonio; Vladi Miguel Lazaro; Nicolo Mendiola

Testimonials

‘Vladi Miguel Lazaro’s team and the strength of his team is in client management – he is able to advise on a wide variety of matters and is very responsive and comprehensive in his advice. You know that you are able to rely on him to come back with an answer quickly, as compared to other firms that we have used.’

‘Vladi Miguel Lazaro is accommodating and quick to respond whenever we need.’

‘C&G Law is very dependable and they are always available to address our concerns. They have been very responsive and proactive and their team is well-staffed and well-trained. Their client service is outstanding.’

‘They certainly have commercial awareness and offer practical legal solutions to issues. We derive excellent value for money from them. ’

‘Vladi Miguel Lazaro responds to our questions and requests in a timely fashion, even at short notice, and is very thorough, reliable and has extensive experience and a mastery of Philippine law.’

Philippines > Projects and energy Tier 1

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)'s group advises its portfolio of clients on the remit of high-value energy, infrastructure and construction projects. The team has a broad expertise, its workload includes assisting with the financing and equity restructuring of large-scale projects involving solar power plants, wind farms, and renewable energy plants. In addition to its financing and transactional experience, the team is able to represent its clients before the Philippines ERC with regards to regulatory issues and formalities. Commercial transaction specialists Ben Dominic R. Yap and Jaime Renato Gatmaytan helm the practice. Annalisa Carlota  departed in May 2024.

Practice head(s):

Ben Dominic R. Yap; Jaime Renato Gatmaytan

Other key lawyers:

Andrea Katipunan-Leido; Katrine P. Suyat-Antonio

Key clients

First Gen Corporation

FGEN LNG Corporation

Retail Electricity Suppliers Association

SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc.

Aboitiz Power-Benguet, Inc.

Nuevo Solar Energy Corporation

Alternergy Holdings Corporation

Island Wind Energy Corporation

GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co.,

ACEN Corporation and AC Energy Corporation

AyalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp.

TeaM (Philippines) Energy Corporation

Aboitiz Renewables, Inc.

SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc.

Visayan Electric Company

Global Business Power Corporation

MGen Renewable Energy, Inc.

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Inc.

Work highlights

  • Advising First Gen Corporation and FGEN LNG Corporation on an LNG infrastructure development project valued in excess of $1bn. The facilities, when finished, will be among the first of its kind in the Philippines.
  • Assisted a client in the bidding for the Casecnan multi-purpose irrigation and power project, a hydropower generation and irrigation facility, which is being conducted by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation.
  • Representing the client in proceedings before the Energy Regulatory Commission for authority to develop and own or operate dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities to connect renewable energy plants to the Luzon Grid.

Philippines > Real estate and construction Tier 1

The practice at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) has a strong reputation for its capabilities handling high-value and frequently cross-jurisdictional construction and infrastructure work. It is well-equipped to assist its clients in the construction of such significant projects as telecoms towers, rail systems and airports. The team handles the full life cycle of construction projects, from the drafting of contracts, through to completion and ongoing operation. The group is jointly led by corporate and commercial transaction specialist Jaime Renato B. Gatmaytan and Ben Dominic R. Yap, who harnesses expertise in related disputes and transactions. Norma Margarita Patacsil and Andrea Katipunan are key names in the team. Annalisa Carlota departed in May 2024.

Practice head(s):

Jaime Renato B. Gatmaytan; Ben Dominic R. Yap

Other key lawyers:

Norma Margarita Patacsil; Andrea Katipunan

Key clients

First Gen Corporation

FGEN LNG Corporation

SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc.

Aboitiz Power-Benguet, Inc.

Nuevo Solar Energy Corporation

Vena Energy

Alternergy Holdings Corporation

Island Wind Energy Corporation

GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co.

ACEN Corporation

AC Energy Corporation

SM Prime Holdings, Inc.

Robinsons Land Corporation

Aboitiz Renewables, Inc.

SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc.

Visayan Electric Company

Metro Rail Transit Corporation

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Philippines > Tax Tier 1

The practice at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) has experience advising multinational corporations and Philippines-based conglomerates in a broad range of matters, including internal tax assessments and handling governmental impositions. Further, the group has expertise assisting in tax refund claims brought before various tax authorities, as well as the Court of Tax Appeals and the Supreme Court. Advising on tax aspects of various high-value transactions such as sales and joint ventures in projects, energy and infrastructure contexts is also an area of specialism. Disputes, tax and customs expert Anthony Mark Gutierrez leads the team, a key practitioner in which is Roxanne Tadique who has a focus on high-stakes tax litigation matters in particular, as does Sophia Inoturan.

Practice head(s):

Anthony Mark Gutierrez

Other key lawyers:

Roxanne Tadique; Sophie Inoturan; Vladi Miguel Lazaro

Testimonials

‘The team is competent, helpful and accessible to its clients.’

‘I have worked with Anthony Mark Guttierez and Sophie Inoturan, and I have been happy and satisfied with their legal assistance.’

Key clients

The Coca-Cola Company

FGen LNG Holdings Corporation (a member of the Lopez group)

Metro Rail Transit Corporation

Sanofi-Aventis Philippines, Inc.

Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.

Edward Keller (Philippines), Inc.

SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc.

A. Menarini Philippines Inc.

Opella Healthcare Philippines Inc

Webb Fontaine Asia, Inc

SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet, Inc.

Arcadis Consulting Middle East Limited

TeaM Energy Corporation

Work highlights

  • Advising the clients on the tax aspects of the sale of their shareholdings in Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. to the joint venture of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Aboitiz Equity Ventures, one of the leading conglomerates in the Philippines.
  • Representing the client in proceedings before the Philippines’ Court of Tax Appeals, advocating for the cancellation of the assessment of alleged deficiency taxes.
  • Representing Sanofi-Aventis Philippines, Inc. (SAPI), before the BIR to dispute deficiency tax assessments issued against the client for taxable year 2020 equivalent to around $100m.

Philippines > Banking and finance Tier 2

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)'s practice routinely assists its varied roster of clients with  substantial loans for the development and construction of significant and high-value projects, loan facility agreements in cross-jurisdictional contexts, and advising on the finance aspects of acquisitions and joint ventures. Norma Margarita B. Patacsil leads team. Jaime Renato B. Gatmaytan remains a key figure within the practice, and Annalisa Carlota departed from the firm in May 2024.

Practice head(s):

Norma Margarita B. Patacsil

Other key lawyers:

Jaime Renato B. Gatmaytan; Andrea E. Katipunan-Leido

Philippines > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

The ‘excellent team’ at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) is headed up by Norma Margarita Patacsil, who is considered ‘a top practitioner in the Philippines’ by clients; Patacsil harnesses expertise in M&A, corporate and commercial matters. The group has well-established expertise advising on all aspects of the broad range of complex transactions, including joint ventures, acquisitions and sales of considerable value, often with cross-jurisdictional scope. Andrea E. Katipunan-Leido handles energy-related work, while Katrine Paula Suyat-Antonio has expertise in due diligence aspects of transactions.

Practice head(s):

Norma Margarita Patacsil

Other key lawyers:

Andrea E. Katipunan-Leido, Katrine Paula Suyat-Antonio

Testimonials

‘Excellent team – very responsive and have deep local market knowledge. Brought a problem-solving mindset to issues that arose.’

‘Norma Margarita Patacsil is a top practitioner in the Philippines.’

Key clients

The Coca-Cola Company

FGen LNG Holdings Corporation

Work highlights

  • Advised The Coca-Cola Company, its affiliates, and Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. in the $1.8bn sale of 100% of CCBPI by TCCC affiliates to a joint venture company of CCEP and Aboitiz Equity Ventures.
  • Advising and assisting First Gen LNG Holdings Corporation on the structuring, drafting of the agreements, and negotiations for the deal, on corporate, competition, tax, regulatory, and other aspects of its joint venture with Tokyo Gas Ltd.
  • Assisting a leading independent power producer and member of a prominent energy conglomerate client in the bidding for the Casecnan multi-purpose irrigation and power Project.

Philippines > TMT Tier 2

Operating under the leadership of corporate and commercial law expert Mary Thel T. Mundin, Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)'s team handles the full gamut of TMT matters for a client roster of international and domestic companies. The group has a solid track record in advising on network infrastructure and data protection issues; Deborah Sobrepena-Lacson is a key contact for compliance work. Dwight Tan is a name to note.

Practice head(s):

Mary Thel T. Mundin

Other key lawyers:

Deborah Sobrepena-Lacson; Vladi Miguel Lazaro; Dwight Tan

Philippines > Capital markets Tier 3

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)'s team is well-regarded for advising on the regulatory aspects of share offering matters, IPOs and planned listings of significant value. Norma Margarita Patacsil has particular expertise in corporate, commercial and M&A work, and Andrea E. Katipunan-Leido is also a noteworthy practitioner.

Practice head(s):

Norma Margarita Patacsil

Other key lawyers:

Andrea E. Katipunan-Leido

Philippines > Transport Tier 3

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)'s team is led by Ben Dominic R. Yap, who harnesses particular expertise in contentious transport matters. Aviation and shipping are key areas that the team’s workload covers, with a strong focus on tax, administration and leasing-related matters. Yap is considered a ‘true professional with authenticity and sincerity’ by clients alongside Norma Margarita B. Patacsil.

Practice head(s):

Ben Dominic R. Yap

Other key lawyers:

Norma Margarita B. Patacsil; Katrine Paula V. Suyat-Antonio

Testimonials

‘Ben Dominic R. Yap and Norma Margarita B. Patacsil are true professionals with authenticity and sincerity. They listened to the client’s needs and addressed them in a practical manner with an appropriate sense of urgency. We felt that we were truly working in partnership with them. Knowledgeable and experienced, they did not shy away from whatever challenges that were presented to them.’

‘They assigned one partner to us acting as sort of a relationship manager. This has eased communications and has helped establish a good working partnership.’   

‘We are working in a high pressure project with lots of bureaucracy and complexity. Katrine Paula V. Suyat-Antonio has remained calm despite every curveball thrown our way in the project has been immediately thinking of solutions and working hard with her team to navigate through the complexity, cautiously bringing us close to the finish line. Her explanations are thorough and reliable. We’ve been very satisfied that she has been the partner assigned to us.’

Key clients

Metro Rail Transit Corporation

Aviation Working Group

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms

2023 Singapore silk appointment Kelvin Poon SC heads the arbitration practice of Rajah & Tann Asia, a firm which has built presences across ASEAN jurisdictions and into China, including handling investor-state disputes and cases involving India. In addition to Poon SC, key names in Singapore include Avinash Pradhan, Francis Xavier SC, Ng Kim Beng and shipping specialist Kendall Tan. The firm’s regional coverage, via the firm’s offices and partner firms, also include Eri Hertiawan in Jakarta, Savada Prom in Phnom Penh, Ben Dominic R. Yap  in Manila, and Chau Huy Quang  and Logan Leung in the firm’s Vietnam offices. Recent recruits include Hew Kian Heong in Shanghai, as well as Shilin Huang and Vanina Sucharitkul in Singapore – the latter two bringing with them specialist expertise relating to Taiwan and Thailand respectively.

Key clients

Vedanta Limited

National Bank of Fujairah

FIMBank plc

Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc

Work highlights

  • Advised Vedanta Limited on a US$3.8 billion Singapore-seated treaty arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules relating to Vedanta’s claims against the Republic of India under the United Kingdom-India Bilateral Investment Treaty.
  • Advising National Bank of Fujairah on multi-jurisdictional and multi-million-dollar claims in the wake of the collapse of a substantial commodities player.
  • Successfully represented Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc in a multi-million dispute over a Joint Operating Agreement parties’ liability for incurred costs.

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) > Firm Profile

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law), formerly known as Caguioa & Gatmaytan, is a full-service law firm in the Philippines specializing in competition and anti-trust, corporate and commercial transactions, energy and infrastructure, labour and employment, litigation and arbitration, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and construction, taxation as well as technology, media and telecommunications.

C&G Law currently comprises 17 partners, led by founding partners Jaime Renato B Gatmaytan, Ben Dominic R Yap, Norma Margarita B Patacsil, Anthony Mark A Gutierrez and Jesus Paolo U Protacio, as well as a full complement of associates and paralegals.

C&G Law is counsel to major Philippine and multinational companies which include banking and financial institutions, conglomerates, educational institutions, energy companies, investment companies, law firms, manufacturing companies, medical establishments, mining and cement companies, pharmaceutical companies, and special purpose vehicles and their servicing outfits.

Now in its 15th year of existence, C&G Law and its partners are highly regarded in various fields by a number of prestigious international publications, such as AsiaLaw, Asian Legal Business, Chambers and Partners, the Global Arbitration Review, International Financial Law Review, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal. In recent years, the firm has also consistently been a finalist for the “Philippines Law Firm of the Year” category at the Chambers Asia-Pacific Awards, including the 2021 edition of these awards.

C&G Law is a member firm of Rajah & Tann Asia, Southeast Asia’s largest legal networks. This offers C&G Law’s clients seamless access to over 800 fee earners who are qualified to practice local law in ten countries across the region, many of whom are highly regarded in their respective fields and jurisdictions.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Corporate and commercial Jaime Renato B Gatmaytan [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Corporate and commercial Norma Margarita B Patacsil [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Corporate and commercial Albert Vincent Y Yu Chang [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Corporate and commercial Annalisa J. Carlota [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Corporate and commercial Kristine N. L. Evanglista [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Dispute resolution and arbitration Ben Dominic R Yap [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Dispute resolution and arbitration Jesus Paolo U Protacio [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Dispute resolution and arbitration Jess Raymund M Lopez [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Dispute resolution and arbitration Vladi Miguel S. Lazaro [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Taxation and customs Anthony Mark A Gutierrez [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Labour and employment Cesar E Santamaria Jr [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Japan desk Tomoko Okazaki [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Project finance, energy and infrastructure Jaime Renato B Gatmaytan [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Project finance, energy and infrastructure Annalisa J. Carlota [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Project finance, energy and infrastructure Albert Vincent Y Yu Chang [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Competition and antitrust Norma Margarita B Patacsil [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
M&A Annalisa J. Carlota [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
M&A Kristine N. L. Evanglista [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
M&A Norma Margarita B Patacsil [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
M&A Mary Thel T Mundin [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
M&A Albert Vincent Y Yu Chang [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Real estate Albert Vincent Y Yu Chang [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79
Real estate Mary Thel T Mundin [email protected] +632 88940377 to 79

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers : 50+

Languages

English
Filipino
Japanese

Memberships

Rajah & Tann Asia

Interviews

Ben Dominic R. Yap, Managing Partner

Managing Partner Ben Yap shares what differentiates C&G Law from its competitors, the practices that he expects to see growth in 2025, and where he sees C&G Law in three years’ time.

 

What do you see as the main points that differentiate C&G Law from your competitors?

  1. Shared vision among our partners since our founding in 2007, which is reflected in our mission and vision statement:

We are committed to delivering to every client legal service that is excellent, timely, and of best quality, observing the highest standards of integrity and trustworthiness in every matter we are entrusted with. We are also committed to delivering to our clients novel solutions and strategies that are resourceful, effective, cost-efficient and of value, updating ourselves on and anticipating their growing and diverse needs, and working with them as their strategic partner and trusted adviser in nurturing and expanding their business. 

 We are also committed to developing lawyers and staff who share the same passion, commitments, values, and principles.

 Our commitment to excellent, effective, and focused counseling sets us apart, and shall make us, year after year, our clients’ trusted partner for all their business decisions and a top law firm of choice in the Philippines.

This, as well as our merits-based approach towards all our lawyers and staff, have allowed our firm to grow from just our 6 founding partners in 2007 to a firm of 16 partners and over 70 lawyers today, which ranks us among the ten largest law firms in the country. I’m not aware of any other firm that has grown has quickly over the same period.  We are also still growing today.

2.Our partners (even our senior partners) are all hands-on, working practitioners; and our clients see this and value this. Our partners do not just attend the pitch to the clients. We actually lead our teams in delivering the services required by the clients, thus giving our clients the benefit of our years of experience.

3. We preach and practice collaboration, including among our partners across our different practice areas; and our clients see this and value this as well. This is because much of the transactions and projects now involve multiple practice areas, and so collaboration allows our clients to enjoy insights drawn from years of experience in each of these practice areas.

4. We continue to invest in our people and in the tools that will allow us to continue to provide effective and cost-efficient services to our clients. We also continue to look for opportunities to grow. In fact, at the beginning of the pandemic and the lockdowns, despite the uncertainties that arose from this extraordinary event, we did the opposite of what most Philippine law firms did – we implemented our usual pay increases for all our lawyers, and we also invested a significant sum to upgrade our hardware and software so that we would be better prepared to serve our clients once they’ve decided to resume their projects and transactions

5. Our membership in the Rajah & Tann Asia (RTA) legal network, which is Southeast Asia’s largest legal network with presences in ten countries across the region and in China. This has given us an unparalleled reach in the region among our Philippine peer firms, an advantage recognized and valued by our clients with business interests in the region, as they have seen how we are quickly able to tap our colleagues in any of these countries for local law support whenever they needed this Our membership in RTA has also allowed us to draw upon the knowledge and experience of our colleagues in other jurisdictions whenever we needed these.

 

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

Energy & infrastructure, M&A (especially on matters involving the energy and tech industries), TMT, commercial and construction disputes, and tax litigation.

Energy & infrastructure, M&A (especially on matters involving the energy and tech industries), and TMT – We’ve seen increased activities in these practice areas in the last few years, and especially this year. This isconsistent with the Philippines projected GDP growth of 6% to 6.5% for 2024, 6.5% to 7.5% in 2025, and 6.5% to 8.0% for 2026-2028. Increased activities in these practice areas are also directly or indirectly driven by strong domestic demand, increased public investments, steady remittances and improvements in the labor market.

Commercial and construction disputes – Increased transactions involving energy & infrastructure, M&A, and TMT typically lead to increased disputes involving transactions as well. As for tax litigation – the more business activities, the more the likelihood of tax issues arising, both on a national and local government level.

Fortunately for our firm, these are practice areas where we are strong and are highly regarded in.

 

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

Before the pandemic, most Philippine law firms (including the biggest ones) still relied on desktops as their main work tool as on-site work was obviously the norm. Fortunately for us, even before the pandemic erupted in the Philippines in March 2020, we were already in the process of shifting all our lawyers to laptops and improving our IT infrastructure as we were about to pilot test a limited work-from-home program for our lawyers to improve our efficiency given the traffic situation in Metro Manila. Therefore, when the pandemic erupted and the lockdowns began in March 2020, around 90% of our lawyers were already properly equipped to work from home, and we hit 100% shortly thereafter. This allowed our firm to quickly adjust to the pandemic and to efficiently serve our clients as they resumed their commercial activities.

 

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Most definitely. For example, while face to face meetings are increasing now, virtual meetings have become the norm, not just for foreign clients but also for local clients. We are also closely following developments in AI, as this is likely to become more and more important in the near future.

 

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

Recently, more and more of our clients have requested us to reinforce their inhouse legal teams for various reasons, including because they have seen an increased demand from their principals or because members of their team will be on extended leave. We have accommodated these requests by seconding our lawyers to them as long as necessary. This has allowed our clients’ inhouse teams to continue to deliver what is expected of them by their principals, and us to have these inhouse teams’ appreciation.

 

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

I should think so. Many of our major clients have been with almost since our firm was founded in 2007. I believe they value the institutional knowledge and the trust that have developed coming from working with the same partners in our firm over the past several years.

In 3 years’ time, I am hopeful that we will have increased our capacity and capabilities, especially in our core practice areas, and that the work that we will get from our clients will allow us to grow and become one of the five largest law firms in the Philippines (in terms of headcount). We have over 70 lawyers now. God willing, we may have over 90 lawyers by then.