Press Releases

Global law firm Latham & Watkins, in partnership with the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), will be holding its Philippine Investment Conference entitled "Breaking Ground - Unlocking Philippine Investment Opportunities in the Year of the Dragon" today, Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.SyCipLaw partner Arlene M ...

Partners and associates of SyCipLaw recently welcomed to the Firm's Makati Office Ms. Grace Vera Cruz, Country Head of Grab Philippines, for a legal staff meeting that focused on enhancing people skills in the workplace.Drawing from her years of experience in management, consulting, and operations roles, Ms. Vera Cruz engaged in a spirited discussion with the SyCipLaw lawyers about mentoring, giving and receiving constructive feedback, and taking part in difficult conversations in the workplace ...

SyCipLaw has been shortlisted for Philippine Firm of the Year in the Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific Awards 2024, an award the firm bagged in 2021 and 2023. Partner and Litigation Department head Ricardo Ma. P.G. Ongkiko and partner Russel L. Rodriguez have also been shortlisted for Philippine Lawyer of the Year. Partner Carlos Roberto Z. Lopez won the award in 2023 ...

SyCipLaw has been nominated for Regional Law Firm of the Year in the TrustLaw Awards 2024. TrustLaw is the global pro bono legal service network of Thomson Reuters Foundation. It serves as a platform for member non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and social enterprises to request free legal support from highly reputable law firms around the world ...

SyCipLaw is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Ms. Carina C. Laforteza as the head of the firm's Tax department, which practice group she has led since 2020. Ms. Laforteza is a certified public accountant with over 30 years of extensive experience in corporate and tax matters, including transaction structuring, finance, and tax litigation and administrative proceedings ...

SyCipLaw Co-Sponsors PIArb’s Annual Golf TournamentMarch 26, 2024The Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PIArb) recently held its annual golf tournament at the Tagaytay Highlands Golf & Country Club co-sponsored by SyCipLaw. The tournament had over 40 players participating in the tournament, including SyCipLaw senior partner and Litigation Department head Ricardo Ma. P.G. Ongkiko, partners Anthony W. Dee, Ronald Mark C. Lleno, and John Christian A ...

SyCipLaw's Banking, Finance and Securities (BFS) Department, with the support of officers of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), organized a visit for the firm's BFS lawyers to the bourse's offices at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The activity, meant to provide associates with a deeper insight as well as more practical understanding of PSE operations, is part of the BFS department's training program.The visit started at the PSE Museum, where Mr. John G ...

No legal opinions or pleadings were discussed when SyCipLaw lawyers enjoyed an afternoon immersed in the collection of contemporary art on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M) in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, last March 16, 2024.Organized by the firm's Associate Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committees in conjunction with The M (a pro bono client of SyCipLaw), the tour showcased Annie Cabigting's thought-provoking exhibit "When We Look at Art.. ...

IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024 recognized the J&T Express Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE) as Equity Deal of the Year, in ceremonies held on March 20, 2024 at The St. Regis in Hong Kong. J&T Express is a global logistics service provider with operations in Southeast Asia, China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Brazil, and Egypt. The offering was the HKSE's second-largest IPO in 2023.SyCipLaw was Philippine counsel to J&T Global Express ...

SyCipLaw partner Rose Marie M. King-Dominguez has been included in the Asian Legal Business (ALB) Asia's Super 50 TMT Lawyers 2024 list. The list was announced in ALB's March 2024 issue.Ms. King-Dominguez is an M&A, investments and commercial law practitioner, specializing in technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) as well as data privacy ...

Global research publication WTR1000 has given SyCipLaw a Gold ranking in the 2024 edition of its directory. The firm enjoyed the same ranking in 2023.This year's edition also highlighted the following lawyers as Recommended Individuals:Vida M. Panganiban-Alindogan, partner and head of the firm's Intellectual Property department, retains her Gold ranking ...

SyCipLaw has been cited in Asia Business Law Journal's (ABLJ) Philippine Law Firm Awards 2023, being one of four law firms recognized in the following categories:Best Overall Law FirmsArbitration & ADRAviationBanking & FinanceCapital MarketsCompetition & AntitrustCorporate & CommercialMergers & AcquisitionsRestructuring & InsolvencyTechnology, Media & EntertainmentAccording to ABLJ, awardees were selected based on votes, references, and qualitative information receive

SyCipLaw's Litigation Department, in cooperation with SyCipLaw Cebu branch, recently conducted a two-part seminar for its Cebu clients entitled “Dispute Management Strategies: A SyCipLaw Seminar on Case Management and Arbitration,” which was held at Holiday Inn Cebu City. A total of 31 clients representing 13 organizations attended the seminar.For the first part of the seminar, senior associate Ramon I. Rocha IV, with the assistance of senior associate Austin Claude S ...

Camille Angela M. Espeleta-Castillo is an M&A specialist, having handled important projects in various industries, including fintech, energy, and food and beverage. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she advises clients on key tax issues in projects and corporate structuring. She has assisted many multinational entities in market entry, and the establishment of their business presence, and worked closely with foreign counsel and in-house teams on post-transaction and regulatory compliance ...

SyCipLaw announces the retirement of partner and Employment and Immigration Department (EID) head Dante T. Pamintuan from the firm. Mr. Pamintuan will continue to serve as Of Counsel to SyCipLaw, effective March 1, 2024.Mr. Pamintuan joined the firm in 1985, with a practice that covered various areas, but primarily focused on employment law ...

SyCipLaw partner Leslie C. Dy has been appointed the head of its Employment and Immigration Department (EID), effective March 1, 2024. She succeeds Dante T. Pamintuan following his retirement at the end of February 2024. (Mr. Pamintuan will continue to serve as Of Counsel to SyCipLaw, effective March 1, 2024.)With a career spanning over three decades, Ms. Dy specializes in employment and labor, handling arbitration, litigation, collective bargaining negotiations, and immigration, among others ...

SyCipLaw retained its Band 1 rankings in the Chambers Global Guide 2024 for the following practice areas: Banking & Finance, Corporate/M&A, and Projects, Infrastructure & Energy. The firm also maintained its Spotlight ranking in Banking & Finance: Capital Markets.In addition, the following partners retained their individual rankings:Hector M. de Leon, Jr., Eminent Practitioner in Projects, Infrastructure & EnergyRocky Alejandro R ...

SyCipLaw has been featured for the first time in the recently launched The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Green Guide 2024. The Firm has been cited for its significant contribution to the green transition through its client work and thought leadership commitment, with a strong focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ...

SyCipLaw is shortlisted for 2024 IFLR AP Law Firm of the Year - PhilippinesSyCipLaw has been shortlisted for the 2024 Law Firm of the Year - Philippines Award by the IFLR Asia Pacific Awards. The firm won the award in 2022 and 2023.The J&T Express Initial Public Offering, in which transaction the firm acted for J&T Global Express, has been shortlisted for Equity Deal of the Year. The SyCipLaw team was headed by Arlene M. Maneja together with partners, Melyjane G ...

SyCipLaw announces the retirement of partner Rafael L. Encarnacion from the firm. Mr. Encarnacion will continue to serve as Of Counsel to SyCipLaw, effective February 1, 2024.Mr. Encarnacion joined the firm in 1990. As a member of the special projects department and banking, finance and securities group, he has worked on a wide range of significant transactions, with a focus on foreign investments, securities regulation, retail and privatization ...

SyCipLaw has been featured for the first time in the recently launched The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Green Guide 2024. The Firm has been cited for its significant contribution to the green transition through its client work and thought leadership commitment, with a strong focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ...

SyCipLaw retained its top-tier rankings in 12 of the practice areas in the 2024 research edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. These practice areas are: Antitrust and Competition; Aviation; Banking and Finance; Corporate and M&A; Dispute Resolution; Intellectual Property; Labour and Employment; Projects and Energy; Real Estate and Construction; Shipping; Tax; and Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT).The following partners were ranked:Hall of Fame Hector M. De Leon, Jr ...

SyCipLaw is pleased to announce the promotion of Diana Elaine B. Bataller and Gian Carlo B. Velasco to senior associates, effective January 1, 2024.Diana is a tax and corporate lawyer, with extensive experience in tax proceedings and applications with tax authorities such as those for rulings, refunds and reliefs, as well as settlement of estates. She has advised on tax and legal aspects of corporate acquisitions, restructuring, and other commercial transactions ...

For the sixth year, SyCipLaw brings aid and Christmas cheer to children undergoing cancer treatment at the UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH).This year, our lawyers and staff raised almost PhP700,000 to purchase the prescribed milk as well as gifts and snacks for 180 beneficiaries. The UP PGH Department of Pediatrics, through the Children Foundation Inc ...

SyCipLaw Partner Jose Florante M. Pamfilo and Special Counsel Catherina M. Fernandez contributed to the Philippine chapter of the guide to decarbonization across the region entitled “Navigating the Net Zero Transition: Spotlight on Southeast Asia, Japan and Republic of Korea.” The publication is a collaboration between King & Wood Mallesons and other independent law firms in the countries covered by the guide ...