| Golden Arches Development Corporation (McDonald’s Philippines)
| International Container Terminal Services
| Liwayway Marketing Corporation (Oishi Group)
| Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank)
| Travellers International Hotel Group (Newport World Resorts)
In this first-of-its-kind edition of The Legal 500: GC Powerlist Philippines Teams 2024, we are honored to spotlight the nation’s premier in-house legal teams. These outstanding departments have harnessed their legal expertise to drive their organisations’ success strategically.
Philippines’ in-house counsel have navigated a dynamic and challenging year, demonstrating resilience and innovation in addressing potential risks without straining their companies’ budgets. A notable example is the legal team at AREIT, which adopted a hot-desking policy to improve accessibility. This approach has facilitated earlier and more frequent consultations, preventing potential issues at every stage. As the AREIT team shared: ‘Traditionally, lawyers have been seen as problem solvers, only called upon when trouble arises. This perception has often intimidated project and operation teams. By making our team more accessible, we have integrated our lawyers more effectively into company projects and processes.’
In-house counsel in the Philippines have been pivotal in supporting some of the country’s most significant transactions, maintaining a reputation for innovation and excellence. Their dedication and expert legal knowledge continue to set them apart.
In this edition, we also explore the creative strategies employed by these legal teams to align with their companies’ business goals. Their ability to foster internal cohesion and build a strong team identity has been crucial to their success. The legal team at Avida Land Corp. emphasises the importance of creating a collaborative environment: “We create a safe space for discourse and collaboration among all team members, regardless of rank or seniority. Everyone is encouraged to contribute, but the final decision lies with the lead. We also prioritise health and rest, encouraging participation in sports activities, the use of vacation days, and executive check-ups.”
As the legal landscape in the Philippines continues to evolve, in-house counsel remain committed to driving their companies’ growth and success through legal excellence, adaptability, and innovation. The GC Powerlist: Philippines Teams 2024 celebrates their achievements and serves as an inspiration for legal professionals striving for excellence in the country’s ever-changing business environment.
Joe Boswell
Global Editor: The Legal 500 GC Powerlist
As a proud sponsor of this landmark event, Villaraza & Angangco was honored to celebrate the achievements of the Philippines’ top in-house legal teams. This year marks a significant shift in focus—from the Legal 500 recognizing individual achievements to celebrating the collective excellence of legal teams. This shift reflects the evolving role of in-house counsel, who are increasingly seen as strategic partners within their organizations, driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and contributing significantly to their respective companies’ success. In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, the challenges faced by legal teams are more complex than ever. The teams recognized at this event have not only risen to the occasion but have also excelled by tailoring their strategies to seamlessly align with their respective companies’ overarching goals and vision. This demonstrates how the role of in-house legal counsel goes beyond being troubleshooters or merely ensuring legal compliance; it is about being key drivers of corporate strategy.
The achievements of these legal teams are a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and a deep understanding of the industries or business context in which you operate, further proving that when legal expertise and business acumen are combined the results can truly be groundbreaking and transformative.
We at Villaraza & Angangco extend our deepest congratulations to each team for your remarkable contributions. By sponsoring this event, we aim to promote the sharing of best practices in hopes of continuing to elevate the standards of our profession. It is through coming together to acknowledge and learn from one another’s successes that we can truly drive the entire industry forward.
Taking place at Manila BGC’s gorgeously opulent Grand Hyatt, the 2025 edition of Legal 500’s GC Summit Manila was a day to remember. As with all the events we put on in the Philippines, the event was extremely well-attended with over 250 GCs and other legal leaders in the room over the course of the day.
The first panel, produced in association with Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia and moderated by Jerome D. Canlas and Carla S. Pingul, both Partners at the firm, examined the challenges in securing and enforcing interim measures and arbitral awards. They were joined by Francis Julius Romeo del Valle, Government Corporate Attorney at the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), and Ali Loraine V. Manrique, Chief of the Legal Division at the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR). The panelists explored strategies for mitigating jurisdictional risks, ensuring enforceability, and managing arbitration outcomes effectively within corporate structures.
Our second session was helmed by Sy & Partners. Panellists delved into best practices for corporate investigations, emphasising legal, ethical, and strategic considerations. Tara A. Mercado, partner at Sy & Partners, Michelle Marie F. Villarica, partner at Nishimura & Asahi, and John Malcolm Aniag, associate at Sy & Partners, discussed structuring investigations, attorney-client privilege, whistleblower reports, and regulatory compliance. The panel provided actionable guidance on conducting thorough and defensible investigations while managing reputational risks.
A distinguished panel led by Mark Gorriceta, Managing Partner at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, and Kristine Torres, Partner at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, explored the shift from compliance-focused data strategies to monetisation. They were joined by Toni Lou Sevilla, Senior Regional Privacy Counsel at Grab, Sara Venturina, Chief Data Officer at GCash, Idesa Roxas – De Jesus, Head of Legal and Corporate Services at Aboitiz Data Innovation, and Mhedora Tan, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at GoTyme Bank Corporation. The discussion covered data-driven business strategies, regulatory considerations, and the potential for legal teams to spearhead digital transformation.
Rashel Ann C. Pomoy, Partner at V&A Law, and Paolo Miguel Consignado, Senior Associate at V&A Law, led an interactive session on crafting effective employee handbooks. They provided insights on aligning policies with evolving employment laws, avoiding common pitfalls, and fostering workplace harmony.
A comprehensive discussion on stock option plans was moderated by Cynthia del Castillo, Senior Partner at Romulo Buenaventura Law Office. She was joined by Roel A. Refran, Executive Vice President & COO at the Philippine Stock Exchange, Larry M. Barcelo, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) – deputy commissioner – legal group at the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Mike Ferdinand Z. Santos, Supervising Securities Examiner at the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Ma. Lourdes Pascual-Gatmaytan, corporate secretary, senior vice president, Co-Head of Legal Affairs and dispute resolution & head of corporate legal affairs at Bank of the Philippine Islands. The panel explored regulatory compliance, tax implications, and best practices for structuring stock option plans.
James Grandolfo, Partner and Head of Milbank (Hong Kong) LLP at Milbank LLP, engaged in a fireside chat with Ramon Monzon, President and CEO of The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE). They discussed recent PSE reforms, capital market transactions, and regulatory initiatives aimed at driving increased market participation.
The final panel featured Joe Boswell, global editor of the GC Powerlist at Legal 500, Kristian Nico Calugay Acosta, general counsel and Head of Legal at GUESS Group and Director at the Legal Management Council of the Philippines, Connie Chu, chief legal & compliance officer at Aboitiz group, Emma Theresa Cabochan, senior vice president – legal services head and Data Privacy Officer at Asia United Bank, and Cecily Nerisse (Chel) C. Ramirez-dela Cruz, country general counsel and GAM Lead at 3M Philippines. The discussion focused on the evolving responsibilities of in-house counsel, emphasising strategic legal leadership, regulatory adaptation, and corporate governance.
We at Legal 500 truly appreciate the great support we received from the Philippines GC Community, and are humbled that such large numbers of eminent people come to our events. We look to repay that by organising an even bigger and better GC Summit Philippines 2026.
