Chambers Asia Pacific (2023)
Banking & Finance - Band 3
Corporate/M&A - Band 2
Corporate/M&A: Real Estate - Band 1
Dispute Resolution - Band 2
Dispute Resolution: Arbitration - Band 2
Employment - Band 3
Projects, Infrastructure & Energy - Band 3
Tax - Band 3
Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT) – Leading Firms
Ranked Lawyers:
Norma Margarita B Patacsil – Corporate/M&A (Band 2), Corporate/ M&A: Real Estate (Leading Individuals)
Jaime Renato B Gatmaytan - Corporate/M&A (Band 4)
Ben Dominic R Yap – Dispute Resolution (Band 3), Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Leading Individuals)
Jesus Paolo Protacio - Dispute Resolution (Band 3)
Cesar E. Santamaria , Jr. – Employment (Band 3)
Katipunan Andrea - Projects, Infrastructure & Energy (Up-and-coming individuals)
Anthony Mark A Gutierrez – Tax (Band 2)
Banking & Finance
What the team is known for
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio is a Philippines-based legal team that is noted for its project finance and general loan facilities work. It assists various foreign and domestic banks and corporate borrowers with transactions in the Philippines. The team is also active on fintech matters. Examples of the firm’s clientele include Lendable SPC and SN Aboitiz Power.
Work highlights
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez& Protacio advised The Export-Import Bank of China on a CNY2.3 billion loan to the government of the Republic of Philippines.
Notable practitioners
Norma Margarita Patacsil is a key point of contact for clients.
Corporate /M&A
What the team is known for
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio provides extensive advice on foreign investments, share and asset acquisitions, as well as regulatory and compliance issues and divestments in the Philippines. The firm is also experienced in assisting clients with the establishment of local businesses. It frequently advises on a range of corporate matters in the energy, aviation and technology industries. Clients benefit from its wide regional coverage and its experience handling cross-border matters. The team is additionally proficient in the real estate sector, often handling tax matters, as well as M&A and leasing mandates.
Work highlights
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez& Protacio assisted Ayala Land with its five-way merger with four of of its subsidiaries and affiliates. The firm advised AREIT on its listing of PHP3 billion fixed-rate bonds, due 2023.
Notable practitioners
Norma Margarita Patacsil is known to be active on corporate work, while also being recognised for expertise in competition matters. She is also experienced in advising clients on real estate matters, including land acquisitions and divestments of properties.
Jaime Renato Gatmaytan is experienced in equity investments and transactions. He often advises on matters in the projects and energy sectors.
Dispute Resolution
What the team is known for
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) has a robust team of lawyers in the Philippines able to advise on the full life-cycle of a dispute. The firm is particularly active in international arbitration and is known for representing leading conglomerates. The team is further equipped to handle the full range of litigation matters, including contractual, taxation and environmental disputes before local courts and the Supreme Court. Particularly active on energy and infrastructure disputes, the firm counts Metro Rail Transit, TeaM Energy and STEAG State Power among its clientele.
Strengths
“C&G Law are always prepared, punctual, and ready to help and guide us through the process.”
Work highlights
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio represented Metro Rail Transit in disputes ith the local governments of Makati City, Pasay City, Mandaluyong City and Quezon City, relating to whether the EDSA Light Rail Transit System, built by Metro Rail Transit, is subject to real property taxes.
Notable practitioners
Jesus Paolo Protacio is active on a range of commercial and employment disputes and has expertise incases related to the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Ben Dominic Yap is active on international arbitration and Philippine litigation mandates, including for energy clients.
Employment
What the team is known for
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio’s well-regarded team of lawyers in Manila regularly advises on employee misconduct, employee termination and contractual matters more generally. The practice is well versed in advising on the employment implications of M&A transactions, as well as collective bargaining agreements. The team also handles employment matters for multinational corporates setting up business operations in the Philippines. It counts among its clients multinationals in a range of sectors including technology, energy, shipping and finance.
Work highlights
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez& Protacio advised a major financial services multinational on over 20 cases against former employees alleged to have committed acts of fraud and harassment.
Notable practitioners
Cesar Santamaria is well versed in advising multinational corporations on a range of employment law issues in the Philippines, from advisory matters and collective bargaining negotiations to illegal dismissal complaints.
Projects, Infrastructure & Energy
What the team is known for
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio is recognised and respected in the legal market for its activity in the Philippines infrastructure and energy arenas. It is well versed in project finance, including in the LNG and renewable energy sectors. The firm demonstrates strong knowledge of the regulatory framework and contractual issues, including in relation to disputes work. It advises both public and private sector clients, including government bodies, significant financial institutions and major corporates, including FGENLNG, TeaM Energy and AC Energy Corporation.
Strengths
“I have been very pleased to work with the law firm Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio for projects, infrastructure and energy disputes.”
Work highlights
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez& Protacio advised Global Business Power Corporation on various regulatory and contractual issues, including power supply agreement review.
Notable practitioners
Andrea Katipunan advises clientele on a variety of mandates, including project development and regulatory compliance, while maintaining a key focus on the bidding process and government approvals of electricity supply contracts. She is also well equipped to handle energy sector corporate/M&A matters.
Tax
What the team is known for
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio continues to be prominent in tax disputes in the Philippines, with notable experience in challenging tax assessments. The practice is highly active in advisory matters, assisting clients with the tax aspects of transactional matters, including on cross-border aspects. The firm offers considerable expertise in advising clients from the energy sector, as well as the real estate and pharmaceutical industries. Clients include SM Prime Holdings, TeaM Energy and STEAG State Power.
Work highlights
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio advised FGEN LNG on tax matters relating to its USD1 billion LNG infrastructure development project.
Notable practitioners
Anthony Mark Gutierrez is highly active on tax work, advising on a wide range of matters from tax disputes to tax restructuring.
Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT)
What the team is known for
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio is a well-respected law firm in the Philippines for work in TMT. The practice advises international clients across the full scope of matters, particularly data privacy, gaming regulations, cloud services and telecoms infrastructure. The firm is regularly seen on matters in such industries as media, e-commerce and IT.
Notable practitioners
Mary Thel Mundin is the leader of the firm’s TMT practice, and is a key contact for clients.