Deborah Miriam D. Sobrepeña-Lacson

Partner

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law)

Deborah handles tax and customs matters for multi-national and local clients.

She has assisted in various due diligence exercises to determine compliance of entities with relevant national laws and regulations; advices foreign and local investors on Philippine law requirements and foreign equity restrictions, as well as drafting and reviewing contracts including shareholder’s agreement; joint venture agreements; EPC contracts; and other commercial documents. 

Deb has also conducted compliance audits, trainings and seminars, drafting of policies, forms and contracts and provides legal advice on Philippine data privacy requirements as well as legal advice on telecommunications and e-commerce laws and regulations. 

Deb likewise assist in litigation work including appearing before and submitting pleadings and documents with local tax authorities and the Bureau of Customs in relation to importations; advice clients on importation requirements; as well as tariff and customs regulations.

EXPERIENCE

Deborah has experience in advising on market entry and investments, regulatory compliance as well as other corporate and commercial matters including the following:

  • Provided market entry legal advice to numerous multinational clients in the electronic consumer product industry, tech industry, e-commerce industry, general consumer product industry, food and beverage industry, retail industry, energy industry, among others as well as assisted in establishing local presence in the Philippines for these clients.
  • Assisted numerous clients in the pharmaceutical industry, energy industry, consumer product industry, food and beverage industry in conducting due diligence for internal assessment as well as for purposes of potential acquisitions to ensure compliance of the target entity with relevant Philippine laws. 
  • Assisted numerous clients in the tech industry, investment industry, energy industry in the conduct of due diligence as well as drafting transaction and commercial documents in relation to their proposed investments in the Philippines.
  • Provided legal advice to Big Tech companies in relation to their proposed investments in the Philippines including providing foreign equity restrictions, and regulatory and permit requirements. 
  • Provided legal advice to Big Tech companies and other tech companies in relation to their proposed investment in telecommunications infrastructures, data centers, and towers in the Philippines. 
  • Provided legal advice on and drafting of EPC contracts, share purchase agreements, joint venture agreements, and subscription agreements, among others. 

Deb’s experience in handling technology, media and telecommunications laws and regulations in the Philippines include the following:

  • Providing legal advice to clients in business process outsourcing, online services, financial, health and insurance industries in relation to data privacy and protection laws of the Philippines for specific transactions.
  • Assisted clients operating e-commerce platforms with data breach notification and coordinating with the regulator.
  • Assisted clients in the hospitality industry, internet technology and social media industry, and other industries with audits on data protection requirements including audits with the regulators and conducting data transfer assessments based on Philippine privacy laws and the European Essential Guarantees and GDPR, among others. 
  • Provided regulatory and compliance advice as well as licensing requirements on relevant laws and practices for social media application services, OTT services, telehealth services, mobile applications, online and live streaming gaming applications and platforms; online gambling and e-games applications, global internet service providers and internet reselling; video on demand services; online verification services, voice-over internet protocol services, and  other value-added services, among others.
  • Provided regulatory and legal advice on e-commerce laws and regulations to clients selling consumer products and health products, as well as clients providing banking and financial services online in the Philippines. 
  • Provided regulatory and legal advice on telecommunications infrastructure, facilities and equipment, including advice on applicable laws, regulations and restrictions for value added services providers, telecommunication entities, and owning and operating network facilities and equipment in the Philippines. 

Deb also has experience in litigation and assisting clients with importation and customs related matters which include, providing import requirements and restrictions in relation to various products, advice on importation structures, filing claims for refund, application for the return of cash bonds posted as a safeguard measure before the proper customs offices; providing advice on requirements for accreditation as an importer; warrant of seizure and detention of imported products; and obtaining tariff classification rulings for importations, among others. She has also assisted importers conduct due diligence work in determining compliance with import permit and licensing requirements.

AWARDS / RECOGNITIONS

  • Asian Legal Business: Philippines Client Choice Lawyers (2022)

MEMBERSHIP

  • Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (2012-present)

PUBLICATION

  • Contributor, DataGuidance: Global Privacy Compliance (https://www.dataguidance.com/)

Location(s)

Practice Area(s)

Qualifications

  • JD (Hons), Ateneo de Manila University School of Law
  • Admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2013

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