Asialaw Profiles (2019)

Banking & Finance - Recommended
Banking and Financial Services - Recommended
Competition & Antitrust - Recommended
Construction - Highly Recommended
Corporate/M&A - Recommended 
Dispute Resolution - Highly Recommended
Energy - Highly Recommended
Infrastructure - Highly Recommended
Labour and Employment - Recommended
Real Estate - Recommended
Tax - Recommended

Leading Lawyers:

Ben Dominic Yap - Dispute Resolution (Leading Lawyer)

Analysis:

Banking & Finance
Advised a group of banks, including DBS Bank and Mizuho Bank, on a $338 million acquisition financing to AEV International. The purpose was for Pilmico International, a subsidiary, to acquire Golden Springs, expanding Aboitiz Equity Ventures’ market share in Vietnam’s animal feed industry.

Competition & Antitrust
Represented AP Renewables, managing an anti-competitive case before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and court of appeals. The case focuses on whether the Philippine Competition Act removed ERC’s authority over competition matters in the energy sector.

Construction
Advised a group of clients, including JG Summit and Changi Airports International, on a bid to operate and maintain Clark International Airport’s new terminal under construction.

Corporate/M&A
Assisted on the merger of two Ayala Land subsidiaries, Cebu Holdings and Cebu Property Ventures and Development.

Dispute Resolution
Represented Italian confectionery company Ferrero in a dispute with its former exclusive distributor.

Labour and Employment
Advised HP on its employee transfers, terminations and recruitment as a result of the acquisition of Samsung’s printer division.

Tax
Represented Sanofi’s vaccines unit Sanofi Pasteur before tax officials, concerning a host of tax assessments including income and value-added taxes. The team succeeded in reducing the assessments by more than 97%.

Client Feedback:

“Hands-on and practical, very responsive and pleasant to work with. Solid all around but can improve on cost transparency.”– Construction, Dispute Resolution

“Provides prompt and comprehensive advice that takes into account both legal and practical considerations.”– Corporate/M&A, Labour and Employment, Regulatory, Tax

“The partners we work with are very responsive and reliable. Apart from having the substantive and technical skills for the legal work required, they are strategic and do keep a step ahead of the possible issues, challenges and difficulties.”– Dispute Resolution, Regulatory

“We appreciate their open-mindedness when clients challenge or test their approach, and their willingness to adapt and be flexible where extraneous or collateral considerations drive adjustments to their preferred approach. This demonstrates their consideration of the client's circumstances, and are willing to be collaborative towards solutions, which are optimal for the client.”– Dispute Resolution, Regulatory