In this annual list, we highlight the best lawyers in the country when it comes to client service. These lawyers were selected based on client recommendations sent directly to ALB. The list is in alphabetical order, and certain lawyers have been profiled.
Evaluation criteria
- In the months of March and April 2022, ALB sought recommendations for lawyers in the Philippines from clients, including in-house counsel and business decision-makers
- Clients were encouraged to submit their recommendations to ALB directly via a survey link
- More than 100 clients, based across Asia and beyond, sent in recommendations
- The final list was chosen not only on the basis of quantity of recommendations, but also quality colleagues
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DANNY E BUNYI
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Bunyi has more than 31 years of experience in corporate and banking law. Before joining DivinaLaw, Danny was senior vice-president and corporate secretary for the Development Bank of the Philippines, one of the largest government-owned banks in the country. As the head of the firm’s corporate and special projects practice, he has dealt extensively with corporate law, banking and finance, M&A, cross-border transactions, as well as commercial contract drafting and review. “Danny can dissect the project into parts where his and the firm’s service will be optimized,” says a client, “I appreciate his recognizing the business impact of certain regulations and how he marries compliance with business, where one is more an enabler than a showstopper.” |
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ENRIQUE V DELA CRUZ, JR
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Dela Cruz Jr is a senior partner of DivinaLaw. He also acts as the data protection officer and leads the fintech, intellectual property and arbitration group of the firm. Dela Cruz Jr specializes in litigation, corporate, arbitration, intellectual property, e-commerce and technology. He is an active member of the Bulacan Local Government Unit and a lecturer for the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law and the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance. “Dela Cruz Jr is the best lawyer among the many high-caliber lawyers that I have met. He is thorough but more, importantly, he has a gift for perspective that allows him to dissect cases from different angles,” said a client. |
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NILO T DIVINA
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Divina is a seasoned corporate and banking lawyer with more than 30 years of experience. He established DivinaLaw in 2006 and has led the firm to grow rapidly from a boutique corporate legal practice of five lawyers to one of the largest law firms in the country. Divina has been widely acclaimed for his authority in Philippine corporate law and litigation and contribution to the firm, the Bench and Bar. In recent years, he has been named the Managing Partner of the Year in ALB Philippines Law Awards in 2021 and featured as one of the Super 50 Disputes Lawyer in 2022. A client of Divina describes him as “knowledgeable and communicative.” Says another: “Atty. Divina together with his partners possess the quality of being compassionate to their clients and always maintains good judgement.” |
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MARK S GORRICETA
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Apart from being the managing partner, Gorriceta also leads the corporate and TMT groups of the firm. He has gained extensive experience in complex corporate transactions, commercial contracts and regulatory matters in 17 years of private practice. Gorriceta is a leading lawyer in the Philippines in aspects of capital markets, M&A, securities, and technology law. He also specializes in complicated tax structures, tax examinations and investigations and tax ruling applications. “Working with Gorriceta Law has been a phenomenal experience,” says a client. “Not only do they bring deep expertise in various sectors of technology and corporate transactions, but they also ensure that provide the best quality service.” |
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DEBORAH MIRIAM SOBREPEÑA-LACSON
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Sobrepeña-Lacson handles general corporate and commercial transactions, and advises on data privacy, technology and telecommunications laws and regulations. She has extensive experience in advising on technology, media and telecommunications laws and regulations in the Philippines. She has advised clients in the financial, electronics, mining, engineering, energy, consumer products, logistic industries and businesses on compliance with data privacy and protection laws and regulations of the Philippines. “She provides very good and practical advice to hurdle legal and regulatory issues that we face in developing our projects,” says a client. “She doesn’t confine herself in providing purely legal angle but also sagely strategies in accomplishing our goals.” |
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EDSON BYRON K SY
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Sy is one of the founding partners of SKY Law. His practices range from general corporate work, foreign investments, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, anti-trust, banking and finance, real estate, to renewable energy laws. Sy advises clients on the structuring of various entities and handles registration of foreign investments with the Board of Investments, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and Maritime Industry Authority, among others. “Edson is very down to earth and does not distinguish between a big-shot client versus a start-up in terms of level of support,” says a client. |
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BEN DOMINIC R YAP
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Yap is a founding partner and the managing partner of C&G Law. He specializes in litigation and arbitration and deals with corporate and commercial transaction work in the energy sector as well. Yap has appeared and argued before Philippine courts and quasi-judicial bodies of all levels. He has also handled cases involving commercial and contract disputes, construction disputes, corporate restructuring and rehabilitation, debt recovery, enforcement of foreign judgements and arbitral awards, infrastructure and engineering disputes, intra-corporate controversies, product liability and tort. “Ben is somebody whom we can rely upon in terms of handling and managing our legal cases,” says a client. “His advice is very sound and with analytical skills.” |
THE LIST
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PHILIPPINES CLIENT CHOICE 2022 |
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PATRICIA AO BUNYE DANNY E BUNYI ENRIQUE V DELA CRUZ, JR NILO T DIVINA MARK S GORRICETA ARIS GULAPA DEBORAH MIRIAM SOBREPEÑA-LACSON EDSON BYSON K SY GREG JOSEPH SJ TIONGCO BEN DOMINIC R YAP |