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

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.

SyCip’s tax practice has developed in tandem with its strong corporate practice and is well respected by peers and clients alike. The head of the tax practice, partner Rolando Medalla Jr, draws compliments from competitors for his “first rate knowledge and professional ability”.

SyCip’s broad offering of high quality practice areas has given the firm a legitimate ‘one-stop-shop’ reputation with clients. Its ability to handle tax issues in conjunction with other work, such as M&A deals, is outstanding. Notable clients that have utilised the firm’s tax capabilities include San Roque Power, Colgate Palmolive Philippines and Kraft Food (Philippines).

ACCRALAW’s tax practice holds steady in the rankings this year because of its close relationship with the strong litigation and corporate practice groups. Head of practice Ruby Rose J Yusi is characterised by one competitor as “a formidable attorney with considerable tax expertise”.

The firm is working with Smartmatic International in structuring its transactions with an independent constitutional commission with the goal of finalising one of the largest IT public projects in Asia. The firm also works closely with government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs and the Department of Finance.

“Baniqued & Baniqued is a tax specialist firm, and around 80% of its workload centres on this area,” says one competitor. This tax boutique, comprising five partners and four associates, has worked for an impressive list of local and regional clients. These include Coca-Cola, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum and Philippine Long Distance Telephone. In the firm’s largest case this year, partner Terence Conrad Bello advised GSK Philippines, UCB Philippines and Stiefel Philippines on tax issues connected to its upstream merger of two subsidiaries into one parent company. Approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission is pending. If successful, the reorganisation will save the company US$152 million in taxes.

Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose is celebrating its 30th anniversary by maintaining its reputation as a full service firm that offers high quality expertise across a broad range of practice areas.

Managing partner Paulino Petralba is head of the firm’s tax practice, which boasts clients such as Davao Central Chemical and Suzuki Philippines.

Of its 44 lawyers at the firm, six are devoted to the tax advisory and planning group. Two attorneys specialise in international corporate tax, two focus on indirect tax, and the remaining two advise clients on transfer pricing. The development of the firm’s tax practice is meant to supplement and strengthen its growing corporate and litigation areas.

Peers respect Quiason Makalintal Barot Torres & Ibarra’s tax practice largely due to the presence of co-managing partner and head of tax group, Ruelito Soriano, and tax counsel and former managing director of an auditing firm, Wilfrido Sanchez. “Both of them are outstanding,” says one peer.

The firm handles both contentious and non contentious corporate tax matters on both a local and national level. Its partners often successfully bring cases to the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Court of Tax Appeals.

The firm’s long list of clients includes prestigious multinational corporation Levi Strauss and regional companies Rizal Commercial Banking and Lopez Holdings.

Quisumbing Torres expanded its tax capabilities this year by adding an associate. In a practice that is led by partner Dennis Dimagiba and houses just two partners and four associates, such an addition is a welcome boost.

The firm’s membership in the Baker & McKenzie network results in work from many multinational companies looking to gain a foothold in the Philippines. For example, it has advised companies from jurisdictions such as Australia, Canada, China, Denmark and the US this year on various Philippine tax matters.

Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako is a traditional presence in the Philippine legal market. As one of the oldest firms in the country, it even possesses one of the largest private law libraries.

Its tax practice has been hard-hit however by the departure of head Jose Lis C Leagogo to become a name partner at upstart Roxas de Los Reyes Laurel Rosario & Leagogo.

Well regarded partner Manuel Montecillo is now the best known tax lawyer at the firm, and he and his team provide full tax advisory services including tax assessments and customs work.

Del Rosario & Del Rosario

Del Rosario & Del Rosario’s strong tax practice covers issues relating to its strong shipping, maritime and aviation practice areas. It has advised shipowners from countries as diverse as Norway, Cyprus and Germany on legal matters, including tax restructuring, after changes in the Migrant Workers & Overseas Act last year.

Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices

In its largest tax case this year, Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices advised Philippine Associated Smelting & Refining (PASAR) in a PhP18 million dispute against the Bureau of Internal Revenue regarding excise taxes and tax free zones. The firm’s tax practice has grown this year, adding two junior associates one of whom was formerly a tax supervisor and the other a tax consultant.

Puno & Puno

Puno & Puno has added three new associates in tax, including a CPA from KPMG Manabat Sanagustin & Co, greatly expanding its capabilities. The firm assisted Aboitize Renewables and Luzon Hydro Corporation on its divestment of all interests in Pacific Hydro Bakun. Puno & Puno structured this exit to minimise tax exposure to both parties.

Puyat Jacinto & Santos

Puyat Jacinto & Santos’ tax practice, which is led by real estate partner Virginia Viray, acts for high profile clients such as Hewlett-Packard Philippines. Although the firm lacks a dedicated practice, it is advising a Reit on tax structuring for the acquisition of land and the proposed construction of serviced apartments. It also is representing several clients before the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Court of Tax Appeals and the Supreme Court.

Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco

Partner Sylvette Y Tankiang heads the tax practice at Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco. The full service firm’s strong international reputation has resulted in its representation of regional corporations, such as AP Renewables, HSBC Trustee, JT International and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, in tax disputes against the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

Zambrano & Gruba

Attorneys Angelo Patrick F Advincula and Michael Geronimo head the tax practice at Zambrano & Gruba, which specialises in both advisory and litigation. The firm maintains a prestigious list of local clients, including the Philippine National Bank, Philippine Airlines, De La Salle University System, Grand Plaza Hotel and Kepco Iljan.