The Legal 500 - Asia Pacific (2020)

Antitrust and Competition - Tier 2
Banking and Finance - Tier 2
Corporate and M&A - Tier 3
Dispute Resolution - Tier 2
Labour and Employment - Tier 2
Projects and Energy - Tier 1
Real Estate and Construction - Tier 1
Tax - Tier 1
TMT - Tier 3

Leading Lawyers:
Anthony Gutierrez - Tax
Ben Yap - Dispute Resolution
Cesar Santamaria, Jr - Labour and Employment
Jaime Renato Gatmaytan - Projects and Energy, Real Estate and Construction
Jesus Paolo Protacio - Dispute Resolution

Next Generation Lawyer:
Vladi Miguel Lazaro - Labour and Employment

Rising Stars:
Camille Maria Castolo - Corporate and M&A*
Katrine Paula Suyat - Labour and Employment, Corporate and M&A
Roxanne Tadique - Tax

Projects and Energy 
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)'s projects group expanded with the arrival of Annalisa Carlota from Asian Development Bank in 2018. This followed the earlier arrival of Albert Vincent Yu Chang from another leading firm. The team often advises energy companies on power purchase agreements and supply contracts, and also assists with corporate, dispute resolution, regulatory and tax issues. Major work highlights include its work for the North Luzon Airport Consortium (consisting of Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings and two others) in its successful tender for the concession to operate and maintain Clark International Airport; the team is now assisting the consortium in the incorporation and setting up of the joint venture company. It is also regularly engaged by major international banks in project finance transactions. Jaime Renato Gatmaytan is a key figure in the department.

Real Estate and Construction 
The 'responsive and knowledgeable' team at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) remains active in the real estate, construction and infrastructure sectors. Its diverse client base comprises new and longstanding clients operating in the transport, construction, energy and real estate sectors. In recent work, practice co-head Jaime Renato Gatmaytan and a team advised United Overseas Bank on a extending a loan facility to a Singapore property company, supported by a suretyship agreement issued by a Philippine affiliate of the borrower; the loan will be used to acquire a property in Singapore’s central business district. Norma Margarita Patacsil co-heads the team and often advises leading real estate developer Ayala Land on its land acquisitions and other legal issues.

Tax
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) covers the gamut of taxation, advising its clients on transaction-related tax, non-transactional tax matters and tax litigation. The team is a popular choice for leading multinational and domestic companies across the real estate, financial services, life sciences and food and beverage sectors, among others. In a recent success, the team acted for major pharma company Sanofi Pasteur in proceedings before the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); the assessment involved various issues around income tax, VAT and withholding tax, and the team succeeded in significantly reducing the assessment. Anthony Gutierrez heads the practice, which includes key associates Roxanne Tadique and Cler Thea Gonzales.

Antitrust and Competition
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) has developed a notable merger control offering alongside its significant corporate and M&A practice, and it is also capable of handling behavioural competition matters. In a recent transaction, practice head Norma Margarita Patacsil advised Ayala Land and its subsidiaries Cebu Holdings and Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corporation in the latter two company's merger; the transaction required the PCC's confirmation that the merger between the related entities did not require PCC clearance.

Banking and Finance
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) is well versed in structuring and documenting lending, security and other financial transactions, and counts major banks among its clients. In contentious matters, the team is also equipped to assist its banking-sector clients in litigation concerning their lending operations. The firm's expertise in corporate and M&A transactions means it is also called upon to assist in acquisitions of banks. Recent work highlights include Jaime Renato Gatmaytan's advice to DBS Bank, Mizuho, MUFG and Standard Chartered Bank on a facility agreement to AEV International; the loan financed the acquisition - by a wholly owned subsidiary of the borrower - of Gold Coin Management, an agribusiness venture active in Southeast Asia.

Dispute Resolution 
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)'s dispute resolution team is 'extremely responsive', and clients appreciate that 'research and opinions are provided quickly'. Covering a diverse range of subjects, the practice handles both litigation and arbitration. Areas of expertise include tax disputes, product liability and tort litigation, corporate rehabilitation and the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. Its arbitration experience spans ad hoc arbitration and procedures under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), among others. It has recently received instructions in complex disputes from new and longstanding clients. Highlights included its representation of SteelAsia Manufacturing Corporation in proceedings to nullify certain issuances of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that would allow imported steel bars to be “conditionally released” from the Bureau of Customs’ custody without being first inspected and certified by the DTI’s Bureau of Product Standards; Ben Dominic Yap and Jess Raymund Lopez lead on the case. Jesus Paolo Protacio co-heads the team with Yap and is recommended.

Labour and Employment
The 'very reliable' employment department at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) remained busy in 2018 and 2019, receiving instructions from new and longstanding clients in the food and beverage, logistics, natural resources and financial services sectors, among others. It handles a range of employment work, covering contentious, non-contentious advisory and transaction-related matters, with recent victories including its successful defence of Hyder Consulting Middle East in a dismissal case concerning former employees dismissed for engaging in unauthorised consultancy work for other entities. Cesar Santamaria Jr leads the practice and is recommended. Vladi Miguel Lazaro was promoted to partner in 2018; he often takes a key role on the department's major cases.

Corporate and M&A
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) handles a range of corporate and commercial matters, from incorporation to dissolution of companies to large-scale M&A. The firm recently expanded its client base with several new clients, including companies in the healthcare and financial services sectors. In 2018, the firm was bolstered by the arrival of corporate, energy and infrastructure projects expert Annalisa Carlota from Asian Development Bank. Recent highlights include advising real estate developer Ayala Land and its subsidiaries Cebu Holdings and Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corporation on the merger between the latter two; a team led by Norma Margarita Patacsil advised the companies on corporate law, competition law and securities regulation. The team also benefits from several experienced associates, including Camille Maria Castolo and Katrine Paula Suyat, who were promoted to senior associate in 2018.

TMT
The highly regarded TMT team at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) acts for clients in the tech, telecoms, financial services, construction and manufacturing sectors. A large portion of its workload involves data privacy advice, and the group also advises on cloud services, online platforms, media regulation and cybersecurity. Recommended partner Mary Thel Mundin heads the TMT department, which she established in 2016.