Getting the Deal Through: Country Focus 2017 - Philippines

January 12, 2018

The Philippine chapter of the Getting the Deal Through: Country Focus 2017 was contributed by SyCipLaw partners Hiyasmin H. Lapitan and Franco Aristotle G. Larcina, and associates Anna Teresita A. Marcelo and Michael Trance Joseph M. Nuñez. The chapter provides answers to key questions on the legal landscape of the Philippines, including information on the legal framework, dispute resolution structure, foreign investment and trade, regulators, compliance laws, business operations, employment and intellectual property regulations in the country, among other resources.

Read the Philippine chapter of the Getting the Deal Through: Country Focus 2017 at the Getting the Deal Through website.

Hiyasmin H. Lapitan is a member of the firm’s special projects, tax, and banking, finance and securities departments, and provides corporate services. She specializes in insurance law and has broad experience in investments in, and regulation of, this sector. Her recent projects involve the acquisition of shares in a Philippine licensed life insurance company, a non-life insurance company, and an insurance broker. She has worked on the registration and licensing of a non-life insurer and of several insurance agencies. She acts as resident agent for a number of non-resident foreign reinsurers and reinsurance brokers.

Franco Aristotle G. Larcina is a member of the firm’s Special Projects group. He specializes in investments, mergers and acquisitions, particularly in industries with FDI and nationality restrictions and in listed and public corporations. His other work focus is arbitration and dispute resolution for commercial transactions. He has expertise in merger and competition law, securities regulations, and telecommunications, media, and technology. Mr. Larcina has assisted in the conduct of tenders offers including those conducted by RYM Business Management Corporation on AGF Finance, Incorporated, by Vega Telecoms, Inc. on Liberty Telecoms Holdings, Inc.

Anna Teresita A. Marcelo is an associate at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan and is currently rotating through the firm’s various practice groups. She has participated in a number of projects in the firm that involve the acquisition of interests in various industries and in conducting legal due diligence for corporate acquisitions and investments. She has also assisted in the rendering of legal advisory opinions on corporate, regulatory and labor-related matters as well as in general corporate housekeeping.

Michael Trance Joseph M. Nuñez is an associate at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan. He has assisted in the firm’s teams handling mergers and acquisitions, financing, as well as litigation before regular courts and administrative bodies. He also assists in the preparation of legal advice to clients on regulatory requirements, contract drafting, as well as labor-related matters.