What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have recently been involved in? 

AREIT is the premier real estate investment trust in the Philippines. Starting with an asset base of PHP 27bn, which included three office buildings at the time of its initial public offering in 2020, AREIT has steadily expanded through strategic acquisitions. By the end of 2023, AREIT’s assets under management had grown to PHP 87 billion. Notable recent acquisitions include property-for-share swap transactions totalling PHP 22.5bn in the first half of 2023, and an additional PHP 30bn in November 2023. These acquisitions included prime commercial assets, such as offices, malls, and hotels, as well as industrial land for the construction of a solar power plant. 

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?   

Traditionally, lawyers and general counsels have been seen as purely problem solvers, called upon only when trouble arises. This perception has led many project and operation teams to be intimidated by lawyers. Adding to this stereotype created around the legal profession is the seeming inaccessibility of counsels. To combat this and enable our teams to better include our lawyers in the company’s projects and processes, we adopted a hot-desking policy, making everyone more accessible. As a result, the in-house team is now consulted more often and earlier in processes, preventing potential issues at every stage. Conversely, the legal team is exposed to more operations and is no longer limited to their back-office support.  

How do you see the general counsel role evolving in the Philippines over the next five-ten years?   

General counsels are now deeply integrated in the organisation. Traditionally seen as guardians of the law, they were sometimes sidelined until legal issues arose. However, in past years, the role has evolved significantly. Indeed, general counsels at AREIT and elsewhere have become integral business partners. They actively take part in the planning stages of all projects, their implementation, and beyond. At AREIT specifically, the legal team sits at the decision-making table, contributing to strategy, and project development, offering insights across diverse fields such as finance, operations, regulatory compliance, marketing, communications, investor relations, and stakeholder engagement. Beyond their legal function, general counsels drive change by promoting good corporate governance practices and mitigating risk factors. As artificial intelligence and information accessibility continue to expand, the role of general counsel is expected to grow even more and transcend the traditional legal practice.