Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Projects & Energy, Real Estate and Construction

Mr. Vergara is the Head of the Banking and Finance Practice Group of the Firm.

Mr. Vergara has developed an expertise in project finance owing to his extensive exposure in the area. His early involvement in the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) and Build Own Operate (BOO) concessions of the government strategically placed him at the forefront of extensive legal advisories on project finance transactions, now noted as the first wave of power sector infrastructure projects under the original iteration of the Philippine BOT Law. He then acted as counsel to lenders on the financing of the nationwide computerization projects of the Land Transportation Office and the Land Registration Authority likewise under BOT and BOO concessions. His project finance work now continues under current Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects within the framework of the Philippine Amended BOT Law.

Mr. Vergara also regularly advises an array of clients in the private and public sectors, including government banks and financial institutions, in various transactions such as loan syndications and corporate bonds and notes issuances.

As part of the Firm’s Business Formation and Foreign Investments practice, Mr.Vergara provides dedicated advice to its international relationship firms on global corporate solutions for multinational corporate clients on cross-border issues, particularly on equity compensation.

His recent special projects include:

Advised local lenders in the loan syndications for the construction and operation of the expressway in north Luzon and the redevelopment of the harbor port for the domestic passenger terminal in Manila, both priority projects of the government. Represented arrangers and lenders in the grant of a multi-billion loan facilities in favor or a gaming company and its affiliate for the expansion of its hotel and casino operations in Clark Freeport Zone Acted as counsel to the contractor on the consolidation project in South Luzon Expressways Advised a syndicate of lenders in the grant of additional loan to the PIDC for the certified priority project, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Toll Expressway (TPLEX)

Mr. Vergara has been recognized as Leading Individual in Banking and Finance for 4 consecutive years since 2018 by Legal500 since. He is also a Recommended Lawyer in Capital Markets.

Integrated Bar of the PhilippinesFinancial Executives of the Philippines

Senior Partner

Ateneo de Manila University, BS Legal Management (1988)Ateneo de Manila University, Juris Doctor (1992)