The Legal 500 - Asia Pacific (2022)

Antitrust and Competition – Tier 1
Banking and Finance – Tier 2
Capital Markets – Tier 3
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 2

Leading Lawyers:
Anthony Gutierrez – Tax

Ben Dominic 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 Lawyers:
Annalisa Carlota – Projects and Energy

Roxanne Tadique – Tax
Vladi Miguel S. Lazaro – Labour and Employment

Rising Stars:
Katrine Paula Suyat – Labour and Employment; Corporate and M&A

Antitrust and Competition
The competition and anti-trust team at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) has developed a strong merger control offering, alongside its corporate and M&A practice; the two teams, in unison, provide holistic advice on Philippine competition law and M&A matters. Key services include advice on investigations related to PCC, audits, competition law compliance, and training. The team is led by Norma Margarita B. Patacsil , who is an expert in handling mergers and acquisitions, and adept at advising on competition law. Andrea Katipunan specialises in corporate transactions for local and multinational clients, public-private partnerships, and government procurement. Senior associate Jillienne Grace Sotto assists with due diligence reviews and drafting of definitive agreements.

Projects and Energy
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)‘s projects, infrastructure and energy practice is one of its most active, advising a diverse number of both public and private companies. The team, lead by Ben Dominic R. Yap and Jaime Renato B. Gatmaytan has handled a variety of infrastructure projects ranging from liquified natural gas terminals to seaports and toll roads. Especially highly regarded in the energy sector, the firm has acted as counsel for many of the largest power generation companies operating in the Philippines such as the Aboitiz group of companies and the Lopez group of companies. The firm is representing the Aboitiz group of companies, amongst others, in proceedings before the Supreme Court regarding the validity of certain laws and regulations relating to electricity spot charges in which Ben Dominic R. Yap is one of lead partners on the matter. Annalisa J. Carlota specialises in energy, having started her legal career assisting and advising foreign and local companies in the implementation of independent power projects in the Philippines.

Real Estate and Construction
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) has a strong reputation for advising on special classes of property, complex issues related to land conversion, and regulations governing housing and property development projects. The firm is advising Ayala Land on its five-way merger with four of its subsidiaries and affiliates, with Norma Margarita B. Patacsil the lead counsel on the matter. The practice is lead by founding and managing partners Jaime Renato B. Gatmaytan and Ben Dominic R. Yap .

Tax
Led by Anthony Gutierrez, the team at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) acts both for domestic conglomerates and multinationals, drawn from an array of sectors, in disputing tax assessments related to internal revenue taxes before state authorities, administrative tribunals, the Court of Tax Appeals and the Supreme Court. Additionally, the group specialises in tax compliance issues as well as the implementation of complex tax structures in high-value M&A, large-scale infrastructure projects and energy mandates. Another name to note is Roxanne Tadique, who also displays capabilities in tax incentive, tax treaty relief and audit investigation matters.

Banking and Finance
Advising a client base of domestic and international lenders, the banking team at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) advises on financial structuring, documentation, closing lending and securities. In addition, it assists with IPOs, private placements, capital building exercises and advisory work in relation to both market entry and regulatory compliance.  Team lead Jaime Renato B. Gatmaytan  is an expert in equity investments while Annalisa J. Carlota advises on regional public sector infrastructure projects.

Dispute Resolution
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) has a strong and extensive litigation practice that handles complex and high-value commercial disputes in the Philippines. The team covers a diverse range of subjects, such as contractual disputes, torts, intra-corporate controversies, environmental law, governmental impositions, corporate rehabilitation, and banking and securities law. Ben Dominic R. Yap specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration and co-heads the team with Jesus Paolo U. Protacio, who is experienced in representing clients before Philippine courts of all levels. Tax expert Anthony Mark A. Gutierrez is another key contact.

Labour and Employment
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) provides advice on matters relating to labour standards, benefits compliance, terminations, internal investigations and various forms of misconduct. It also advises on the preparation and review of employment contracts, the formulation of company policies, redundancy and overseas deployment. The practice is led by employment litigation specialist Cesar E. Santamaria, Jr., and also includes Vladi Miguel S. Lazaro and associate Jamie Alexandria Santos.

TMT
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) is known for its expertise in advising technology clients on compliance and regulatory issues. The firm counts an impressive number of leading social media platforms and fintech companies in its client list. Having recently separated the TMT and fintech practice from its general corporate practice group, the firm now offers highly focused services to its clients.  Partner Mary Thel T. Mundin now leads the practice group and Deborah Miriam Sobrepeña-Lacson is another notable name.

Capital Markets
Steered by Norma Margarita B. Patacsil , the corporate group at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) has a proven track record in the capital markets space. Patacsil is particularly active in follow-up offerings, IPOs, private placements, among other capital building exercises.

Corporate and M&A
The corporate team at Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) handles high-value commercial transactions for clients from a variety of sectors such as real estate, aviation, energy, manufacturing, logistics, and BPO industries. It assists with both, incorporation of new entities and merger/acquisition of existing entities. Other services include advice on foreign and local investments in the Philippines, governance and compliance, legal audits, and due diligence. The team is led by founding partner Norma Margarita B. Patacsil , who advises on acquisitions, foreign and local investments, and joint ventures. Andrea Katipunan specializes in public-private partnerships and government procurement.