Firm Profile > Gulapa & Lim (Gulapa Law) > Manila, Philippines
Gulapa & Lim (Gulapa Law) Offices
UNIT 12A, 12TH FLOOR, MARCO POLO ORTIGAS
MANILA SAPPHIRE ROAD, ORTIGAS CENTER
1605 PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA
Philippines
Gulapa & Lim (Gulapa Law) > The Legal 500 Rankings
Antitrust and competition Tier 2
Established in 2015, Gulapa & Quicho (Gulapa Law) advises government agencies, banks and private companies on merger control and clearance issues. The group is particularly active advising clients in the infrastructure space on project structuring compliance issues, most notably in relation to transport; a recent highlight has been assisting the Asian Development Bank with the applicability of the merger notification regime in relation to the Metro Manilla subway system. Aris Gulapa, the founding partner and key practitioner, has global competition law experience having previously assisted the chair of the antitrust bureau in New York.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Asian Development Bank
Consortium of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Alliance Global Group, Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation, Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings, Inc., and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation
Department of Transportation
Bases Conversion Development Administration
Projects and energy Tier 2
The team at Gulapa & Quicho (Gulapa Law) advise domestic and overseas financial institutions and development companies on all aspects of large-scale energy and infrastructure projects. Public-private partnership is an area of expertise, and the team advises private bidders looking to secure projects for the development of toll roads, airports and railways. Aris Gulapa 'never fails to deliver' as a key practitioner across all non-contentious areas of practice; he has extensive experience advising on projects across Asia and the US, and frequently assists multinational conglomerates with unsolicited proposals. Charmaine Rose Haw-Lim is the primary contact for energy work in addition to working alongside Gulapa on the firm's biggest infrastructure projects.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission
Asian Development Bank
SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Infracorp Development, Inc.
Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.
International Finance Corporation
Manila Water Company, Inc.
Foremost Cagayan Development and Leisure Corporation
Real estate and construction Tier 2
Gulapa & Quicho (Gulapa Law)'s broad practice includes advising international and domestic companies on transactions relating to commercial and residential property. The group is also heavily involved in public-private partnership projects with a real estate element, advising both private companies on making bids and financial institutions working with the government. Aris Gulapa is the firm's founding partner and operates across a range of sectors. His real estate practice includes assisting Asian Development Bank in advising the Department of Transportation on the operation and maintenance of the North-South Commuter. Jose Angel Machuca advises on unsolicited proposals and concession agreements.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Consortium of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Alliance Global Group, Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation, Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings, Inc., and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation
Asian Development Bank
SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Infracorp Development, Inc.
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission
International Finance Corporation
Manila Water Company, Inc.
Ayala Land International Sales, Inc.
Ayala Land, Inc.
Intellectual property Tier 3
Gulapa & Quicho (Gulapa Law)'s intellectual property practice developed out of a need to service its corporate software clients, and it now advises a variety of companies from the technology, media and telecoms sectors on registering trade mark and patent applications. In addition, the group handles licensing, franchising and technology transfer agreements. Oliver Baclay, Jr, who practices both in the Philippines and New York, leads the team and works with companies to register and maintain their trade mark portfolios. Ray Maynard Bacus is the key contact at associate level.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Francorp Philippines
Phar Philippines, Inc.
Day1Tech, Inc.
Machuca Baldozas Inc.
APO-UGEC Security Printing Joint Venture (APO Production Unit, Inc. and United Graphic Expression Corporation)
Maria Francesca Tan (MFT) Group of Companies, Inc.
and Mondial Medical Technologies, Inc.
Phil Jacobe Ventures, Inc.
United Graphic Expression Corporation
TMT Tier 3
Much of Gulapa & Quicho (Gulapa Law)'s work involves advising clients active in developing web platforms and mobile apps on various corporate matters including commercial agreements and technology transfer agreements. The group also advises technology companies on their bids for government projects, and are particularly active assisting operators of public-private partnerships with compliance with information technology regulations. Practice head Aris Gulapa operates a broad practice spanning various commercial issues.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Asian Development Bank
Quipper United Kingdom
APO-UGEC Security Printing Joint Venture
Seabiscuit Technologies, Inc.
Day1Tech Inc.
AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation
Foremost Cagayan Development Leisure Corporation
Corporate and M&A Tier 4
Gulapa & Quicho (Gulapa Law) advises a broad range of domestic clients on share and asset acquisition as well as establishing new and innovative corporate vehicles. An additional area of specialism is assisting with financial rehabilitation under the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act; team leader Aris Gulapa is frequently instructed by the court to act as a rehabilitation receiver for companies in the manufacturing and materials sectors. The group was further strengthened in 2020 by the arrival from Prime Asset Ventures, Inc. of Teodulo San Juan, who has expertise in areas including commercial transactions in the gaming and energy sectors. Melissa Chavez-Dee is particularly experienced in issues relating to the insurance industry.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Seabiscuit Technologies, Inc.
Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc.
Pacific Alliance Group Ltd.
Maria Francesca Tan Group of Companies, Inc.
Autocirculo Corporation
Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp.
United Graphic Expression Corporation
Salve Regina Capulong
Dispute resolution Tier 4
Gulapa & Quicho (Gulapa Law)'s litigation practice underwent significant development in 2019, as the firm added expertise in infrastructure litigation to its existing commercial and civil disputes offering. The firm also has a niche representing indigenous people in a variety of contexts. Alternative dispute resolution is another area of activity for the team, which regularly represents private companies in arbitration proceedings related to the construction industry. Head of litigation Oscar Cajucom advises on a ranger of disputes in a labour, commercial and criminal context.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
JBROS Construction Corporation
Philippine South East Asean Games Organizational Committee Foundation, Inc.
Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp.
Paolo Alcantara
Edna Cureg, and Henry Cureg
Dr. Yvonne De Mesa
Minimax Advertising and Production Corp.
Stewart Ong
Gulapa & Lim (Gulapa Law) > Firm Profile
The firm: Gulapa Law Office (Gulapa Law) was established by Aris L Gulapa in September 2015. Before setting up Gulapa Law, Aris was a partner at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio from October 2011 to September 2015. Previously, Aris has advised sponsors and lenders in relation to the financing of important government projects in Manila, Singapore, Vietnam, and Tokyo. Aris worked at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan (December 2003-June 2006); Kelvin Chia Partnership (Singapore and Vietnam offices, July 2006- June 2008); and Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (Tokyo office, July 2008- June 2010). He also worked as research assistant to Harry First, former head of the Antitrust Bureau of the Office of the Attorney General of New York, from September 2010 to May 2011.
Aris is joined by Charmaine Haw-Lim, Melissa Chavez, Angel Machuca, Yasmin Sanchez, Aileen Sanguir, Dake Mandocdoc, and Janine Mesina, who all worked closely with Aris on various cross-border transactions and projects prior to Gulapa Law’s establishment. Oliver Baclay, Jr also joined the firm and heads the firm’s intellectual property practice. Recently, Rico Paolo Quicho joined the firm to head the litigation/dispute resolution department.
In less than a year, Gulapa Law has been nominated for legal awards and has been ranked as a leading firm by various international legal publications. Managing owner Aris L Gulapa himself has been ranked as a leading lawyer by these publications.
Areas of practice
Corporate/M&A: Gulapa Law’s unique selling proposition is that its lawyers are trained to provide not only legal advice to clients but commercial guidance in fast-moving industries. The firm acts for either the government or the private sector in public joint ventures for the delivery of public services. Managing owner Aris Gulapa has recently advised clients on bulk water treatment, the new e-Passport project, and the tax stamp projects.
Recently, the firm has begun to also focus on non-traditional sectors such as innovation and technology. Its strengths include advising clients on doing business in these sectors, drafting highly complex agreements in light of developments in electronic commerce, and structuring investments in these sectors for both tax and operational efficiency.
Infrastructure/government contracts: infrastructure is the firm’s main specialisation. Although recently established, the firm is already actively representing either private bidders or the Philippine Republic in almost every major flagship infrastructure project – from air to land to water.
The firm is advising the Philippine government on the bidding process for the Clark International Airport expansion PPP project, a US$250m project and the first PPP project to be rolled out under the Duterte administration.
The firm is representing the Ayala group and the SM group in their unsolicited proposal for the construction and operation of the proposed C3 elevated toll road.
Gulapa Law continues to advise APO Agua Infrastructura Inc, an Aboitiz company, on the implementation of its joint venture agreement with the Davao City Water District for the construction of a bulk water treatment facility in Southern Philippines.
Construction/real estate: Gulapa Law remains strong in construction. Currently, it is advising a leading real estate conglomerate in acquiring rights to develop government properties and to lease them out to private parties.
The firm also represented the Ayala group in the South Integrated Transport System PPP project which was awarded to Ayala Land, Inc after public bidding. This project involves the construction and operation of an integrated bus terminal system in South Manila. South ITS is envisioned to connect passengers coming from Southern Luzon to other transport systems.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate/M&A | Aris Gulapa | ||
| Corporate/M&A | Charmaine Haw | ||
| Infrastructure and construction | Aris Gulapa | ||
| Infrastructure and construction | Angel Machuca | ||
| Government contracts | Aris Gulapa | ||
| Government contracts | Aileen Sanguir | ||
| Dispute resolution | Rico Paolo Quicho | ||
| Dispute resolution | Angel Machuca | ||
| Tax | Aris Gulapa | ||
| Tax | Janine Mesina | ||
| i-Tech and intellectual property | Oliver Baclay | ||
| i-Tech and intellectual property | Yasmin Sanchez | ||
| Human resources and immigration | Rico Paolo Quicho | ||
| Human resources and immigration | Angel Machuca | ||
| Fashion, entertainment and media (FEM) | Aris Gulapa | ||
| Fashion, entertainment and media (FEM) | Yasmin Sanchez | ||
| Innovation and competition | Aris Gulapa | ||
| Innovation and competition | Dake Mandocdoc | ||
| ASEAN trade | Aris Gulapa | ||
| ASEAN trade | Melissa Chavez |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Aris Gulapa | Founder | View Profile |