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

ACCRALAW regained a key figure from its past when senior partner Francisco Ed Lim rejoined the firm following his tenure as the longest service President and CEO of the Philippine Stock Exchange. Upon his return, he immediately settled into his position as partner in the corporate and special projects department, the practice in which ACCRALAW’s real estate and construction group is categorised.

The firm’s expertise on Reits is outstanding. For example, the firm is advising clients on two separate Reits, one for JP Morgan and Ayala Land and the other for Macquarie Capital Securities and SM Prime Holdings.

An asset to the practice is the firm’s strong litigation capability, which can assist clients with any kind of dispute that might arise from construction and real estate work.

Although better known for its banking and finance practice, Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos possesses a strong real estate practice that is led by partner Cynthia dela Paz.

The real estate group has acted for corporations on several high profile projects, providing services on the acquisition, lease, development, and disposition of real estate. Paz is also highly regarded in the Philippine legal community as a member of the Tax Management Association of the Philippines and the UP Women Lawyers’ Circle.

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.

The Philippines’ largest full service firm handles all types of real estate and construction issues, but focuses mainly on complex deals and transactions. Head of the practice, partner Emmanuel C Paras, leads most of SyCip’s important work in this area.

For example, Paras assisted a buyer in the closing of an agreement to purchase a power plant in Cebu Province. This included both the acquisition of machinery and the land lease for the site.

Partner Rafael L Encarnacion, who is a member of the firm’s corporate practice, advised a multinational company regarding a long term lease in Fort Bonifacio. This was for an office building that would include processing facilities and a call centre.

Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose possesses a solid real estate and construction practice in line with its status as a mid size full service firm. Peers recommend the firm for this area on the basis of its strong project finance capability. Although the firm’s real estate practice is subsumed into its large corporate group, it remains ranked because of its recent work and notable personnel.

A leading figure at the firm is founding partner Polo Pantaleon, who is also involved in the firm’s corporate law and banking and finance practices. Pantaleon specialises in financial transactions, particularly involving large infrastructure projects.

The strong litigation practice at Poblador Bautista & Reyes forms the foundation of most of its construction and real estate work, and is led by name partner Alexander Poblador.

Poblador is representing property developer Ayala Land at the trial court level regarding a property ownership dispute regarding valuable land in Metro Manila.

Partner Mario Luza Bautista is also advising Malayan Insurance in an arbitration case in the Court of Appeals involving the interpretation of construction contracts to determine whether certain incurred costs are chargeable. The parties’ estimated costs differ by nearly PhP180 billion (US$4.3 billion).

Puno & Puno is well known for its prowess in project finance and is also generally strong in the corporate area, which is an asset to its real estate and construction practice. Partner Roderico Puno is head of the corporate department under which the real estate and construction area is categorised.

Most of the real estate deals the firm has handled this year have involved M&A transactions. Partner Joseph Marigomen is representing Ausphil Tollways in its acquisition by Premier Capital Venture for PhP797 million. Name partner Regis Puno is also advising Rockwell Land in its PhP3.5 billion acquisition of a 36,000 square metre property, which it intends to develop into a residential condominium community.

“They are my go-to people,” says one client of Quisumbing Torres. The firm’s strong corporate practice and credibility is due to its membership in Baker & McKenzie’s global network, and this has made the firm a strong choice for real estate work in the Philippines.

Although the firm is better known for its IP and corporate practices, the Elizabeth Opena led real estate practice is conducting groundbreaking work in the development of Reits in the Philippines. Opena herself is a noted specialist in this area.

Partner Pearl Liu, head of the Corporate and Commercial practice, is also a noted figure with years of expertise on real estate related M&A transactions.

Ocampo & Manalo

Ocampo & Manalo’s real estate capability is developing, and the firm advises clients such as Kajima Philippines, Jardine Distribution and BMU. In one highlight, the firm was appointed as the country representative of a large resort chain that is exploring business opportunities in the Philippines. It has also handled multiple contracts for Jardine Distribution and BMU this year.

Puyat Jacinto & Santos

Although Puyat Jacinto & Santos is best known for its project finance practice, the firm also possesses an active construction and real estate practice that is led by partner Virginia Viray. For example, Viray is advising an international fund regarding the management of its real estate investments. The work covers the full gamut of real estate work, including contract review, preparation of legal opinions, and preparation of sale and purchase documents.

Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco

Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco has represented clients involved in numerous high value cases this year. The most challenging and complex of these is its representation of Sagittarius Mines regarding due diligence on parcels of land in Davao del Sur or General Santos intended for a port or power plant. Over 100 parcels of land, each held by a unique owner, must be acquired to complete this acquisition.