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

The legal department has worked on various transactions and initiatives that have driven the growth and expansion of the company’s business.

The company’s core business is distributing audio-visual content through satellite DTH technology. The company is recognised as a premiere destination for sports programming in the Philippines as it holds the Philippine TV broadcast rights for major international and local sports events.

In 2019, the company expanded into producing original content in-house and through strategic partnerships in the creative services industry. The objective was to grow not only the sports but also the general entertainment portfolio.

Previously, our company launched a proprietary streaming platform, making content and information more accessible to Filipino viewers. Innovation is a public service as much as it is business-driven.

We at the legal department take pride in the fact that we have been instrumental in achieving these milestones. We have provided vital support to various company operating units, mainly in contracting. While we are generally considered a support unit, we have often assumed lead roles in the different stages of this process, from stakeholder engagement and transaction documentation to contract administration and management. Our team has likewise provided timely, relevant, and pragmatic advice on issues impacting the company’s business.

Mindful that broadcasting is highly regulated in the Philippines, we keep continuously updated on relevant legislation and regulations developments. We recognise this imperative in light of our role not only as transaction counsel but often as compliance officers, risk managers, and policy reform advocates.

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most? Which have you found most useful in your legal team?

We experienced first-hand the impact of technology on the day-to-day operations of the legal department during the pandemic.