Team size:   Four

 What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Our legal team has been actively involved in several significant cases and transactions, one of which was a merger filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that took place in April. A requirement to the submission of the merger documents with the SEC was the clearance of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC). This stream of work was done in-house. We meticulously analyzed and assessed the voluminous documents that were submitted to timely secure the clearance of the PCC. Per the usual review of the PCC and our tireless efforts to ensure a detailed submission we were able to secure the clearance in less than five working days without any further inquiry from the PCC. This gave the team ample time to prepare the merger documents with the SEC. Together with our external counsel who was in charge of the SEC filing throughout the entire SEC merger process, our team’s commitment and close collaboration with the different parties such as the finance team resulted in a successful resolution of the comments by the SEC Examiner, paving the way for the approval of this merger. Since then, our legal team has continued to provide assistance in ensuring that the transition is seamless and that the post-merger tasks are completed.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this? 

When we decide on which external lawyers to collaborate with, we ensure that their values are aligned with ours, since it is essential that they provide legal advice that not only meets the legal requirements but also aligns with our company’s ethical and moral principles. The commonality in values also leads to better collaboration, communication and teamwork. Further, external lawyers who share similar values as our company are likely to be more invested in our company’s success and may be better equipped to navigate any legal challenges that may arise. Lastly, the choice of external lawyers can reflect upon our company’s reputation. By selecting legal partners who align with our company values, we demonstrate a commitment to integrity and ethical practices thereby ensuring the protection of our reputation and stakeholder trust.

In a fast-paced world, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry? 

We all know that the legal industry is constantly evolving with new laws, regulations and decisions emerging regularly. A successful corporate legal team needs to cultivate a mindset of continuous learning to stay updated with the changes in the legal landscape. This will empower the legal team to quickly adapt to legal updates, ensure compliance with the law and provide legal strategies in support of the business objectives of the company. In-house legal teams often require a multidisciplinary approach in providing solutions. To address this, it is essential to promote collaboration with professionals from various fields for the corporate legal team to offer comprehensive legal advice which is still consistent with the culture of continuous learning. Lastly, as technology is rapidly transforming the legal industry, a successful corporate legal team needs to harness the power of technology and develop the necessary skills to effectively use them to streamline legal processes and enhance efficiency.

In summary, a corporate legal team who inculcates a mindset of continuous learning can adapt to the dynamic nature of the legal landscape, enhance their capabilities, and contribute to the success of the company.