The ‘professional’ team at Du-Baladad & Associates specialises in taxation matters, as well as M&A, transfer pricing and related corporate services. It has an excellent reputation for its handling of a wide spectrum of tax matters, in addition to its work on international deals and indirect tax issues. Founding partner Benedicta Du-Baladad handles a wide array of matters from tax planning through to tax compliance. Fulvio Dawilan has a wealth of experience in advising on compliance with tax rules and regulations, and has represented clients in tax cases before the tax authority, the Department of Finance, and the courts. Irwin Nidea heads the firm’s litigation and transfer pricing unit. Rodel Unciano; Mabel Buted and Jomel Manaig are among the other prominent members of the department.

Praised for its ‘extensive tax practice’ by a client, Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) regularly advises several leading Philippine conglomerates and multinational corporations. It is skilled at advising on challenging assessments for various internal revenue taxes, and on other governmental impositions. Under the leadership of Anthony Gutierrez, it often helps clients with claiming tax refunds involving significant sums before various tax authorities, administrative tribunals, the Court of Tax Appeals, and the Supreme Court. The tax group also frequently advises on corporate and commercial transactions, and on large-scale projects, infrastructure, and energy matters. Advice on tax compliance matters is another core area of focus. Roxanne Tadique is also a key member of the Tax & Customs Practice Group and is a licensed accountant.

Quisumbing Torres fields a seasoned team, which regularly assists clients who are entering the local market, by designing and implementing their tax structures. It is also adept at advising on regulatory issues. The group is recommended for its work on cases before the various government agencies, local government units and the courts involving national taxes, local taxes and customs duties. In addition, the excellent team works closely with Baker McKenzie LLP, and tax specialists worldwide to deliver tax and customs planning advice. The senior key members of the department are Ronald Bernas and Kristine Anne Mercado-Tamayo. The practice is also recommended for its work on a myriad of other complex matters such as transfer pricing, indirect taxation and wealth management. Maria Ana Camila Jacinto-Lagustan was promoted to the partnership in July 2022.

The superb team at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan provides the entire range of tax services. It is expertly led by Carina Laforteza, Hector De Leon, Russel Rodriguez and Ronald Mark Lleno. The group is skilled at structuring the tax aspects of corporate transactions. It is also adept at advising on administrative and judicial litigation in relation to tax refunds, and at defending clients against assessments for national and local taxes, as well as in regards to customs duties. The group also assists the firm’s corporate clients with their compliance requirements. In addition, the department is developing considerable expertise in ESG tax work. Rolando Medalla is well-regarded. Maria Viola B. Vista advises clients on the tax implications of corporate transactions and structures in addition to her handling of tax assessments and refunds both at the administrative and court levels.

Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law) has demonstrable experience advising on corporate and international taxation mandates, in addition to tax planning for cross-border transactions. Counting domestic and multinational corporations among its key roster of clients, the team also assists families and individuals in estate planning, including the establishment of trusts, and preparation of last will and testament. Raoul Angangco, Sylvette Tankiang and Franchette Acosta collectively lead the practice.

The experienced team at Zambrano Gruba Caganda & Advincula represents various local and foreign clients. It is well-regarded for its work on a wide array of contentious and advisory tax matters. Its impressive mix of clients includes an energy corporation, Fortune 500 companies and other financial institutions. Lily Gruba is a key figure who advises multinational companies on effective strategies for tax planning. Gruba also has considerable expertise in handling cases relating to deficiency tax assessments both at the administrative and judicial levels. Antero Caganda is another leading partner in the tax team; Angelo Advincula advises on a broad spectrum of tax matters such as tax assessments; whilst Jorge Alfonso Melo is skilled at advising on both contentious and non-contentious tax matters. Juan Miguel Victor Dela Fuente, Salvador Andrew S. Tugade and Kimberly Joy L. Baraoidan are also recommended.

At Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, member of the Tax Management Association of the Philippines Vincent Paul Saavedra has an established reputation for his work on estate and tax planning structures. Saavedra also excels in advising on tax audits, and continues to provide legal opinions to numerous local and international clients on various corporate and tax matters. Managing partner Mark Gorriceta is another leading member of the practice. Senior associate Dyan Angela de la Fuente covers a broad spectrum of issues, and frequently advises domestic and foreign companies on tax matters.

Led by Al-Shwaid Ismael , the team at Gulapa & Lim (Gulapa Law) is best known for handling the range of tax and compliance matters for its roster of clients. It is adept at handling tax cases with the tax authorities, and in advising on related estate planning matters. The group often helps clients with their applications for tax relief, and on resolving issues with their tax assessments. At associate level, certified public accountant Marcley Augustus Natu-el frequently helps clients with their tax and financial matters.

At Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad the 'experienced' team is jointly led by Rosalia Bartolome-Alejo and Mary Elizabeth Belmonte. The agile team provides a wide-range of services from providing business advice on key deals, to helping with international taxation issues on cross-border transactions. It is also experienced in advising on the enforcement of tax treaties, and excels in helping individual clients with estate planning matters. The group is skilled too at advising on tax remedies, and on assisting clients with their tax compliance reviews. Reynaldo Dizon is recognised for his work on a range of contentious tax issues.

The versatile team at Sarmiento Loriega Law Firm advises on a broad-range of issues, from handling cross-border deals and other international tax matters to advising on transfer pricing, joint ventures and capital raising. Under the direction of Maria Elizabeth E. Peralta-Loriega and Recolito Ferdinand N. Cantre Jr, it also has a solid reputation for its work with individuals and families on their wealth management and estate planning matters. In addition, it is well-equipped to handle a variety of contentious tax matters.

At Subido Pagente Certeza Mendoza & Binay (SPCMB Law Offices), Ma. Joycelyn L. Guirnalda and Maria Patricia Alvarez co-lead the agile team, which handles a variety of complex tax cases at the administrative levels and in the courts. Of note too, is the fact that several of its lawyers are certified public accountants. The practice is well-placed to advise clients on challenging tax assessments, and is experience in taking cases all the way to the Court of Tax Appeals.