Philippines Teams 2024
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
| Golden Arches Development Corporation (McDonald’s Philippines)
| Liwayway Marketing Corporation (Oishi Group)
| Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank)
| Travellers International Hotel Group (Newport World Resorts)
| International Container Terminal Services
In this first-of-its-kind edition of The Legal 500: GC Powerlist Philippines Teams 2024, we are honored to spotlight the nation’s premier in-house legal teams. These outstanding departments have harnessed their legal expertise to drive their organisations’ success strategically.
Philippines’ in-house counsel have navigated a dynamic and challenging year, demonstrating resilience and innovation in addressing potential risks without straining their companies’ budgets. A notable example is the legal team at AREIT, which adopted a hot-desking policy to improve accessibility. This approach has facilitated earlier and more frequent consultations, preventing potential issues at every stage. As the AREIT team shared: ‘Traditionally, lawyers have been seen as problem solvers, only called upon when trouble arises. This perception has often intimidated project and operation teams. By making our team more accessible, we have integrated our lawyers more effectively into company projects and processes.’
In-house counsel in the Philippines have been pivotal in supporting some of the country’s most significant transactions, maintaining a reputation for innovation and excellence. Their dedication and expert legal knowledge continue to set them apart.
In this edition, we also explore the creative strategies employed by these legal teams to align with their companies’ business goals. Their ability to foster internal cohesion and build a strong team identity has been crucial to their success. The legal team at Avida Land Corp. emphasises the importance of creating a collaborative environment: “We create a safe space for discourse and collaboration among all team members, regardless of rank or seniority. Everyone is encouraged to contribute, but the final decision lies with the lead. We also prioritise health and rest, encouraging participation in sports activities, the use of vacation days, and executive check-ups.”
As the legal landscape in the Philippines continues to evolve, in-house counsel remain committed to driving their companies’ growth and success through legal excellence, adaptability, and innovation. The GC Powerlist: Philippines Teams 2024 celebrates their achievements and serves as an inspiration for legal professionals striving for excellence in the country’s ever-changing business environment.
Joe Boswell
Global Editor: The Legal 500 GC Powerlist
As a proud sponsor of this landmark event, Villaraza & Angangco was honored to celebrate the achievements of the Philippines’ top in-house legal teams. This year marks a significant shift in focus—from the Legal 500 recognizing individual achievements to celebrating the collective excellence of legal teams. This shift reflects the evolving role of in-house counsel, who are increasingly seen as strategic partners within their organizations, driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and contributing significantly to their respective companies’ success. In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, the challenges faced by legal teams are more complex than ever. The teams recognized at this event have not only risen to the occasion but have also excelled by tailoring their strategies to seamlessly align with their respective companies’ overarching goals and vision. This demonstrates how the role of in-house legal counsel goes beyond being troubleshooters or merely ensuring legal compliance; it is about being key drivers of corporate strategy.
The achievements of these legal teams are a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and a deep understanding of the industries or business context in which you operate, further proving that when legal expertise and business acumen are combined the results can truly be groundbreaking and transformative.
We at Villaraza & Angangco extend our deepest congratulations to each team for your remarkable contributions. By sponsoring this event, we aim to promote the sharing of best practices in hopes of continuing to elevate the standards of our profession. It is through coming together to acknowledge and learn from one another’s successes that we can truly drive the entire industry forward.
The 2025 edition of the GC Powerlist Colombia, held at the elegant Casa Medina in Bogotá, brought together some of the most influential general counsel and in-house legal leaders from across the country and region. The event highlighted how Colombian legal departments are evolving to meet the demands of an increasingly complex, tech-driven, and sustainability-conscious business environment. Key themes throughout the day included the strategic adoption of AI and legal tech, lean but agile team structures, shifting approaches to external counsel, and a strong commitment to ESG and inclusive leadership.
One of the most prominent discussion points was the integration of legal technology, particularly AI and large language models, into in-house legal work. Across companies like Uber, Unilever, Takeda, and GFT, there is strong momentum around the use of AI tools for contract lifecycle management—ranging from clause extraction and risk flagging to version control and automated drafting. However, rather than viewing AI as a replacement for legal professionals, most GCs described these technologies as strategic enablers that allow their teams to focus on higher-impact work. Laura Jaramillo Franco of Bayer provided one of the most detailed insights into how her team has deliberately structured their AI use. She emphasised that the value lies not in using AI for its own sake, but in tailoring each tool to specific use cases that align with legal risk standards and data protection policies. Tools such as Harvey, myGenAssist, Claude, Notebook, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Gamma are all part of Bayer’s ecosystem—each selected and implemented with clear purpose and governance.
Legal design was another emerging theme, with institutions like Scotiabank and Unilever investing in simplifying legal documents to make them more accessible to non-legal stakeholders. This is especially relevant in consumer-facing sectors where clear communication builds trust and mitigates risk. There is also growing interest in predictive analytics for litigation and compliance risk mapping, as legal departments seek more proactive ways to support business decisions.
Despite the growing influence of technology, staffing models remain lean. Most legal departments consist of teams ranging from three to nine professionals. However, size is no longer the defining factor of effectiveness. Instead, agility, business-embeddedness, and cross-functional collaboration are key. General counsel from companies such as Scotiabank, Cargill highlighted the increasing involvement of legal leaders in crisis management and business strategy, often working side by side with finance and communications teams. Upskilling, especially in technology and leadership, is an area of active investment, with Uber, for instance, noting formal programs aimed at equipping in-house lawyers for this evolving role.
The event also revealed a shift in the use of external counsel. In-house teams are now more confident in handling complex matters internally, including regulatory strategy, litigation, and M&A. Companies such as SierraCol and Bancolombia highlighted that while law firms remain essential, engagements are becoming more selective and strategic. The focus has moved from transactional work to long-term partnerships that add specialized value or support cross-border challenges.
Sustainability and ESG responsibilities continue to expand within legal departments. Legal leaders are increasingly central to ensuring compliance with ESG frameworks, advising on disclosures, and shaping product strategies aligned with social impact. Viviana Prada Rey of Grupo Cibest shared how her legal team plays a key role in advancing the company’s mission to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From advising on sustainable finance initiatives to monitoring ESG-related regulatory developments in both Colombia and the United States, the legal function has become instrumental in driving long-term impact.
Another area of strong focus was crisis resilience. Legal teams are leading scenario planning and designing compliance playbooks, ensuring they are prepared for unexpected events. Leadership and inclusion also featured prominently. Companies are integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into their legal team strategies. Juliana Hoyos Flórez, General Counsel of SierraCol, discussed the company’s ALMA program (Academia de Liderazgo para Mujeres de Alto Impacto), which has empowered over 180 women across the company and community with leadership skills and is expected to reach 300 by 2026.
In conclusion, the GC Powerlist Colombia 2025 was a testament to the transformation of the legal profession in the region. Far from being reactive support functions, today’s legal departments are strategic, tech-savvy, socially conscious, and embedded at the heart of business decision-making. As demonstrated once again, Colombia’s in-house legal leaders are not just keeping pace with global trends—they are helping define them.
