Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

“We see Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles across the table from us, and the lawyers have always been sharp and great to work with. The firm is definitely top notch material,” says one peer. “The firm’s ability on securities is especially good.”

RMBSA’s banking practice is a traditionally an important player in the banking and finance sector and is well respected in the Philippine legal market, with special praise reserved for practice head Jose Salvador Mirasol. Peers note that Mirasol has a “formidable reputation within the banking community”, and possesses “excellent legal expertise”.

In the last year, the firm has acted for large multinational banks such as Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank.

Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles’ global reputation means that it is the choice of many corporations that are regional powers or international household names. It also garners respect from peers. One competitor notes: “We see the firm across the table from us, and the lawyers have always been sharp and great to work with.”

In a key transaction this year, well regarded partner Perry Pe advised Lotte Chilsung Beverage, a beverage manufacturing company and a member of Korea’s Lotte Group, in the acquisition of a 34% controlling stake in Pepsi Cola Philippines. The deal, completed in October 2010, was valued at PHP3.9 billion (US$91 million).

Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles is one of the largest law firms in the Philippines, and utilises its enormous resources to buoy its real estate and construction group.

Aside from handling acquisitions, leases and divestures, the firm is also able to advise clients on financing infrastructure facilities because of its strong corporate practice. It specialises in particular on leisure and resort development projects.

The expertise of name partner Joaquin Sayoc is highly recommended by peers and clients. Before joining Romulo, Sayoc was a legal assistant at the Housing & Land Use Regulatory Board.

RMBSA’s dispute resolution practice is a huge asset to the firm’s exceptional corporate capability. Although better known for its performance in areas such as banking and finance, the firm’s its dispute resolution team is a standout in the Philippine market and is led by name partner Eduardo De Los Angeles.

Partner Eduardo Hernandez advised Basic Energy Corporation in a dispute regarding offshore oil field contracts that had been signed in the 1970s. The contracts were not comprehensive, and US$15 million was in dispute. The two parties are now in settlement talks.

“Attorney Perry Pe has an extensive and well regarded team for project financing, especially on transactions relating to the privatisation of power assets in the Philippines,” says one client of RMBSA.

Pe is head of the firm’s energy and infrastructure department, which is bolstered by the firm’s strong all around expertise. The standout project finance practice is an asset for its energy and infrastructure practice, which has a bright future due to escalating FDI in the Philippine mining and natural resource sectors.

In the last year, the firm has acted for the Philippine national government and several local and foreign companies on both energy and natural resource issues.

RMBSA is one of the largest and oldest firms in the Philippines, and is well known for its abilities in IP prosecution. Partner and head of the practice Rogelio Nicandro is especially known for his exceptional skill in IP litigation.

The firm’s IP practice excels at both filing applications and monitoring registrations at the Intellectual Property Office. If violations occur, the firm also handles civil and criminal litigation aimed at alleged infringers.

The firm’s patent monitoring service, available upon request, is especially helpful for its many multinational clients, which include globally recognised brands such as Coca-Cola, Ford and Sony.

RMBSA is one of the largest and most well regarded full service firms in the Philippines. Its ability to handle cases across multiple practice areas is only shared by a few other Philippine firms.

Partner Cynthia Roxas de Castillo is head of the securities practice at the firm, but has handled its aviation related transactions this year because of their financial focus. In one notable deal, de Castillo advised borrower Johannesberg in the US$9 million lease and mortgage agreement from lenders VGS Holding and HSH Nordbank AG for an Airbus A319-132 aircraft leased to Zest Air.

RMBSA is a leading firm in most areas of Philippine law and its tax practice is no different, bolstering a well regarded corporate practice.

This practice is headed by partner Priscilla Valer, who is considered one of the best tax attorneys in the Philippines in both contentious and non contentious work. “Her expertise in Philippine tax law is nearly unmatched,” says one client. Another lawyer hghly recommended by clients is Jayson Fernandez.

The firm has given tax advice on a broad range of areas, including international tax treaties, estate planning and corporate structuring. In the last year, it advised Pilipinas Shell Petroleum on structuring its spin-off liquefied petroleum gas business.