Press Release

SyCipLaw mourns the passing of Andres G. Gatmaitan, a name partner and a former managing partner of the firm. He died at the age of 78.

Andy Gatmaitan obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of the Philippines, where he distinguished himself as a scholar, campus journalist, and student leader. He was the editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian, the chairman of the U.P. Council of Student Leaders, a member of the Philippine Law Journal's editorial board, and the valedictorian of his law class, among other distinctions. He pursued higher studies at Yale University, obtaining his master's degree in laws and a degree of Doctor of Juridical Science in 1962 and 1964, respectively.

He joined the firm in 1965. He gained recognition as an expert in tax and commercial practice, becoming a valued counsel to many leading international and local corporations and organizations, and respected adviser to captains of industry and policy-makers. In 1986, Andy became SyCipLaw's youngest managing partner at the age of 46, remaining at the firm's helm until his retirement in 2005. During his term, Andy helped enunciate and implement many of SyCipLaw's institutional tenets -- the need for professionalism and true partnership, a passionate adherence to meritocracy, and striving for excellence at a global level. When he passed away, he was Senior Counsel, and a model of loyalty to the firm that he had shepherded for almost two decades.

Andy's greatest loves were his family, the law, chess and the firm. When he welcomed new hires to SyCipLaw, he would always say they were joining the ranks of the "best and the brightest"; he was certainly among the very best and the very brightest. He will be missed.