Under the leadership of Philbert Varona, SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan has a stellar reputation for its work with various foreign and local banks and financial institutions on a wide range of matters. Assisting borrowers and issuers on a variety of key deals such as acquisition and project financing, securities issuances and listings, forms as much part of the firm's strengths as advising on corporate notes, bonds, major syndicated loans and re-financings. Another core area of focus is in aviation financing, where the practice is regularly mandated by leading aircraft lessors, financiers and local operators. In addition, the practice works closely with international law firms on significant cross-border banking deals and advises clients on investment-related projects in the renewable energy and infrastructure arenas. Among the key names to note are Jan Celine Abaño-Ranada  and Bhong Paulo Macasaet. Roshni Balani and Mark Xavier Oyales were promoted to the partnership in January 2023.

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Key clients

  • AC Energy, Inc.
  • Arthaland Corporation
  • Asia United Bank Corporation
  • Asian Development Bank
  • Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited
  • Bank of America
  • Bank of Commerce
  • Bank of Singapore
  • Bank of the Philippine Islands
  • BDO Unibank, Inc.
  • Capital International Private Equity Fund
  • Citigroup
  • Credit Suisse
  • Del Monte Philippines, Inc.
  • Deutsche Bank
  • Frontier Tower Associates Philippines Inc.
  • GIV Capital Holdings Corp.
  • Hanwha Global Asset Corp.
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
  • Kingfisher Mobile Limited
  • Light Rail Manila Corporation
  • Markham Resources Corporation
  • Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
  • Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
  • MUFG Bank
  • National Grid Corporation of the Philippines
  • PH Global Jet Express, Inc.
  • Philippine National Bank
  • Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
  • Robinsons Bank Corporation
  • San Miguel Corporation
  • Security Bank Corporation
  • Science Park of the Philippines, Inc.
  • South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
  • Standard Chartered Bank
  • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
  • UBS AG
  • Union Bank of the Philippines

Work highlights

  • Acting for Frontier Tower Associates Philippines, Inc. (as borrower)/Pinnacle Towers Holdings Inc. (Pinnacle Towers) (as parent) in a  deal involving the sale and lease-back by Globe of over 7,000 towers.
  • Acted as counsel for the joint lead arrangers, Philippine Commercial Capital, Inc. and SB Capital Investment Corporation in a deal.
  • Acted as counsel for the lenders in the PHP 3bn financing of the Carbon Market Redevelopment Project.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Philbert Varona

Other key lawyers

Jan Celine Abaño-Ranada, Bhong Paulo Macasaet, Roshni Balani, Mark Xavier Oyales