SyCipLaw Co-Hosts TrustLaw's 'Cafe Pro Bono' for Social Enterprises and NGOs
September, 2024 - Manila, Philippines
TrustLaw, Thomson Reuters Foundation's global pro bono legal service network, with the support of SyCipLaw, the British Embassy in Manila, and Puyat Jacinto & Santos (PJS Law), hosted its annual Café Pro Bono for the social enterprise and non-governmental organization (SENGO) sector. Over 30 representatives from various SENGOs attended the event held at the SyCipLaw Center in Makati City.
Café Pro Bono aimed to provide a platform through which legal professionals and civil society representatives can meet to discuss how the law can be used to support the work of SENGOs going forward. The activity was moderated by Emmanuele Marie Parra, TrustLaw's Programme Officer for Asia.
During the program, TrustLaw formally awarded SyCipLaw the 2024 Regional Law Firm of the Year Award, with a video message from TrustLaw Director Carolina Henriquez-Schmitz. SyCipLaw Managing Partner Hector M. de Leon, Jr., received the award on behalf of the Firm. In receiving the award, Mr. de Leon reaffirmed the Firm's commitment to making a positive difference for its clients and the community through pro bono projects undertaken with TrustLaw.
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) National Center for Legal Aid Director Marcelino Mike Atanante IV gave a keynote address on the importance of pro bono legal assistance in furthering an organization's mission and advocacy.
In the first part of the program, SyCipLaw Partner Ricardo Jesus E. Gutierrez and Senior Associate Javierose M. Ramirez spoke in a panel discussion about successful pro bono collaborations between SENGOs and law firms. Also in the panel were Cecilia Oebanda Pacis, Founder of Voice of the Free Foundation, Yasmin Mapua Tang, Executive Director of Probe Media Foundation, and Roy Enrico C. Santos, Managing Partner of PJS Law. Camille Ross Parpan, Human Rights Advisor of the British Embassy in Manila, served as moderator.
After the panel discussion, TrustLaw members had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one consultations with lawyers from SyCipLaw and PJS Law on various topics and concerns such as, Employment, Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Trademarks, Taxation, Corporate Services, and Investments and Financing. Joining Ricardo and Javierose during these consultations were SyCipLaw Partners Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba and Easter Princess U. Castro-Ty, Special Counsel Catherina M. Fernandez, and associates Faye Antoinnette L. Bengzon, Jon Ericson T. Ledesma, and Maia Freya M. Co.
Participants who are not yet members of TrustLaw participated in an online Legal Health Check workshop conducted remotely by TrustLaw Legal Programme Manager for Asia Joanita Britto Menon and Legal Officer Shaun Vaz.
SyCipLaw has been an active member of TrustLaw since January 2017. The Firm also co-hosted TrustLaw's first in-person Legal Health Check Workshop in 2023.
SyCipLaw Partner Ricardo Gutierrez (2nd from R) and Senior Associate Javierose Ramirez (1st from R), with (from L) British Embassy in Manila Human Rights Advisor Camille Ross Parpan, PJS Law Managing Partner Roy Enrico C. Santos, Voice of the Free Founder Cecilia Oebanda Pacis, and Probe Media Foundation Executive Director Yasmin Mapua Tang. The speakers discussed their experiences in pro bono legal assistance and its value and benefits to SENGOs.
SyCipLaw Managing Partner Hector M. de Leon, Jr. (center) and Partner Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba (R) formally received the TrustLaw 2024 Regional Law Firm of the Year Award, presented by IBP National Center for Legal Aid Director Marcelino Mike Atanante IV (L).
Café Pro Bono in Manila
