Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad

Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Real Estate and Construction

Partner

Ms. Paulino co-heads the Business Formation & Foreign Investment and the Real Estate and Construction practice groups of the Firm.

Ms. Paulino has contributed most valuable work in the Firm’s recent transactions in the field of corporate and project finance. Having been exposed to this field since the start of her practice, she has represented arrangers, lenders, borrowers or project proponents in numerous high-value loan syndications, project financing, and corporate bonds and notes issuances.  Recent transactions include advising the arrangers and lenders on the grant of a Php7 billion term loan facility in favor of the Widus Group, which own and operate the Widus Hotel and Casino; acting as counsel to the lead arranger and syndicate of banks for the financing extended to one of the largest water utility company operating in Southern Philippines to fund the modernization of its nationwide water district projects in partnership with local government units; and representing a Japan-based investment bank in financing Inspire Brand Asia’s multi-jurisdictional acquisition of the Anytime Fitness Asia franchise. She has been particularly active in the financing of renewable energy projects, acting as counsel to various proponents for their hydropower and solar power projects across the country. She is a Recommended Lawyer and named Next Generation Partner in the 2021 edition of the Asia Pacific Legal 500 in the field of Banking & Finance.

In the field of Real Estate and Construction, Ms. Paulino handled the real asset portfolio divestment of one of the largest global banks, and advised on the funding of projects to construct hotels, casinos, and residential subdivision developments. She is a Recommended Lawyer of Asia Pacific Legal 500 in Real Estate & Construction.

Another practice focus is in M&A. Ms. Paulino has advised on structuring, modes of investment and doing business in the Philippines, and post-acquisition transition/integration matters, involving specialized industries such as banking and financial services, and renewable energy. While acting as internal counsel to a major player in the Philippine oil and gas industry, she handled the completion activities relating to the company’s offshore acquisition, which involved the conduct of an offshore tender offer, acquisition financing, integration and transition. Recent transactions in M&A include the on-going divestment by one of the largest Philippine conglomerates of its food and feeds manufacturing business, and the acquisition of solar power companies in the Philippines by a Singapore-headquartered independent developer and manager of power and infrastructure projects.

Ms. Paulino also has significant experience in the area of securities, where she handles debt and equity transactions, including private placements, initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, and placing and subscription transactions. She likewise regularly deals with equity-based employee benefit plans, from stock options and stock appreciation rights, to stock purchase plans, restricted stock units and other capital accumulation programs, especially those involving multinational corporations in respect of their Philippine legal vehicles.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Paulino was an associate at Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos Law Office until 2006. She graduated with a degree in A.B. Social Science from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2000, and completed her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines and was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2005.

English; Filipino

Integrated Bar of the Philippines; UP Women's Law Circle

University of the Philippines, Bachelor of Laws (2004); Ateneo de Manila University, AB Social Sciences (2000)