John Jerico Balisnomo heads the practice at Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia, which has a stellar reputation in the market. It is particularly well-regarded for its work across commercial, tax, banking and administrative litigation, as well as for its expertise in all aspects of regulatory contentious matters. The group also excels in alternative dispute resolution and insolvency proceedings. In addition, it has a strong appellate practice. Rodel Cruz represents a wide range of clients from leading companies and conglomerates to high-net-worth individuals. Senior partner Miguel Silos is another leading figure who has a strong track record in cases involving bank fraud and debt restructuring. Silos is also recognised for his work on cases relating to international trade, taxation and other forms of civil and criminal litigation. Simeon Marcelo is another name to note.

Under the joint leadership of Ben Yap and Jesus Paolo Protacio, the excellent team at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) is well-equipped to handle a broad range of local and international high-value disputes. Its domestic and international arbitration practice is also well-regarded. The nimble team covers a diverse range of matters from construction and contractual disputes to advising on the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. The group is also recognised for its work on major disputes involving the energy sector. Head of the firm’s tax practice group Anthony Mark Gutierrez receives plaudits for his work on a variety of tax disputes and for his focus on commercial litigation. Vladi Miguel Lazaro plays a pivotal role in the department as well, representing clients in tax-related court proceedings against local government units.

Jointly spearheaded by Eduardo Martinez and Shirley Alinea, the versatile team at Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad is experienced in all areas of criminal and civil law, in addition to commercial and administrative litigation. It also has a strong practice in commercial arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. Martinez, who is an appeals court mediator accredited by the Philippine Judicial Academy, is also actively involved in the firm’s family law practice. He covers civil, criminal and commercial litigation. Alinea specialises in debt restructuring, as well as arbitration and other alternative modes of commercial dispute resolution. Kristine Bongcaron is also recommended. She heads the firm’s intellectual property team and co-heads the commercial arbitration, alternative dispute resolution, data privacy and security practice groups. In addition, Bongcaron is a trained arbitrator of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Eliseo Zuñiga heads the department at Quisumbing Torres, which adeptly handles all forms of dispute resolution, with particular strength in large-scale commercial disputes. The team is skilled at advising on mediation and arbitration, as well as general and specialised litigation for international and local clients. Ramon Quisumbing is recognised for his work on all aspects of commercial, civil and appellate litigation. Donemark Calimon has a broad practice and is also an accredited arbitrator of several Philippine arbitration institutions. Michael Macapagal has a wealth of experience in a wide range of matters including healthcare disputes, as well as all forms of civil and criminal litigation. Miguel Galvez and Marvin Masangkay are notable members of the practice, while Dranyl Jared Amoroso has a particular focus on criminal litigation and arbitration. Camille Bianca Gatmaitan-Santos was promoted to the partnership in July 2023.

The ‘organised and thorough’ team at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan is ably led by Ricardo Ma. P.G. Ongkiko. It represents foreign and local clients from a wide range of industries, and has a particularly strong appellate and Supreme Court practice. The group has been involved in numerous landmark commercial cases in the Supreme Court in recent years too. In addition, it has a first-class arbitration practice, and frequently represents clients before various administrative agencies. Carlos Lopez has particular experience in high-value intra-corporate disputes and commercial arbitration. Ma. Patricia Paz-Jacoba has a vast array of experience in complex commercial contract, intra-corporate and shareholders’ disputes. Paz-Jacoba is also highly regarded for her work on white-collar crime investigations and prosecutions. John Regalado specialises in commercial arbitration.

Led by Raquel Wealth Taguian, the outstanding team at Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) has considerable expertise in various business sectors ranging from banking, insurance, telecommunications, construction and real estate, through to energy and infrastructure. It has a proven track record in international disputes, and is well-placed to handle an array of complex corporate/commercial cases on various international trade issues. The group is also adept at advising foreign investors on disputes with their domestic partners. Names to note include Alejandro Alfonso Navarro who covers an array of commercial cases and arbitrations. Augusto San Pedro is a senior partner who handles many complex commercial disputes and arbitrations. Thea Daep specialises in areas as diverse as money laundering, fraud and other aspects of commercial and corporate law. Joseph Anthony Lopez frequently advises on civil and corporate litigation, as well as other areas such as family law and competition law litigation.

The able team at Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law Offices handles all forms of litigation as well as domestic and international arbitration, in sectors including energy and construction. Various members of the department are qualified arbitrators and officers of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Centre. At a senior level, key names to note include Joshua Gilbert Paraiso, Fidel Valeros and Roberto Miguel Ramiro. Roy Enrico Santos and Sergio Ildefonso Felipe Pinlac are also seasoned practitioners.

Led by Benjamin Tolosa, Tolosa Javier Law boasts an excellent reputation for its work on a wide range of disputes. It focuses on commercial, civil, criminal and administrative litigation, as well as having significant experience in arbitration. The group deftly handles diverse matters such as intra-corporate disputes, breach of contract, antitrust litigation and constitutional law. Other areas of expertise include advising on white-collar crimes, corruption charges and government contracts, in addition to foreclosure proceedings. Filemon Javier has considerable experience of representing clients before all levels of the courts and various administrative agencies in the Philippines.

De Guzman San Diego Mejia & Hernandez has demonstrable experience in all aspects of litigation, such as breach of contract, fraud and intellectual property cases. It has developed a niche insurance claims practice too, and regularly works on substantial insurance claims. At the helm are Michael Mejia, Rodolfo San Diego, Nestor Mejia and Jose Emmanuel Hernandez, who collectively have a wealth of experience in other sectors such as maritime, energy and mining.

Enrique Dela Cruz heads an excellent team at Divina Law, which represents clients from the banking and finance, manufacturing and retail sectors. It also frequently works with clients in other sectors such as real estate, oil and gas, healthcare and insurance. The firm has successfully represented clients both in securing arbitration awards and in the enforcement of arbitral awards.

Francis Africa and Ramon Andre Cedro jointly head the dispute resolution department at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra. It frequently handles civil, criminal, tax, corporate and labour related disputes. The team is also well-equipped to advise on compliance and regulatory matters in the transport sector. Other areas of focus include cases concerning nullity of marriages and adoption, as well as data privacy and cybersecurity issues.

Kua Sy & Yeung Law Offices (SKY Law) fields a team which is lauded for its ‘willingness to help’. It is ably led by Michael Marlowe Uy, who joined the partnership in 2022, and specialises in the prosecution of white-collar crime, construction and commercial arbitration, as well as asset recovery. It has several local and international clients, and has particular expertise in assisting Filipino-Chinese businesses. Kurt Glen Yeung, Kesterson Kua and Edson Byron Sy provide key support.

Sarmiento Loriega Law Firm has considerable strength in litigation across mining, energy, online gaming and other areas such as manufacturing and real estate. Under the collective leadership of Julito Sarmiento, Jose Linsangan and Bryan A. San Juan, the team plays a significant role in public interest cases in the electric power industry, as well as taking on various regulatory matters. The group has been busy too in other areas, spanning from tax litigation through to advising on the enforceability of foreign transactions involving international corporations.

The agile team at Subido Pagente Certeza Mendoza & Binay (SPCMB Law Offices) is adept at handling a variety of complex civil and criminal cases. It also excels at representing clients in special proceedings, tax and election cases. The group is well-placed to act for clients at all levels of the courts and administrative bodies. It is collectively led by Daniel Subido, Ma. Joycelyn L. Guirnalda, Joseph Joel Castillo, Maria Patricia Alvarez and Mary Christine Charisse Catre.

Tiongco Siao Bello & Associates receives a steady flow of instructions from a diverse range of clients, which includes several conglomerates in the Philippines, as well as a major business process outsourcing company. Other key clients include a number of healthcare institutions, in addition to a significant manufacturing and consumer goods company in the Philippines. Under the joint leadership of Greg Joseph SJ. Tiongco and John Philip Siao, it also acts for several of Asia’s biggest technology companies.