All posts by Ink Elephant

Ronaldo Modesto J. Ventura, a partner, is a member of the Banking & Finance department. His practice primarily focuses on banking and finance, corporate law, real estate, and natural resources.

Ronald deals with a broad range of corporate matters. He handles real estate transactions, corporate structuring, joint ventures, conveyancing, acquisitions, energy and energy-related activities, public lands, and issues related to foreign investments in nationalized activities. He has also been engaged in financing of various enterprises through issuances of subordinated loans, bonds, and assignments of non-performing loans, among others.

Ronald has advised Philippine and foreign clients on regulatory and transactional matters. He has worked with government agencies in the development of other types of financing products that the government may execute with respect to capital market transactions. He has also handled various civil, criminal, and administrative cases.

Ronald was the Chairman of the Advocacy Group of the Ateneo de Manila Alumni Association in 2011, of which he was a director from 2008-2010.

Ronald received his bachelor’s degree in Legal Management from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1988 and received his juris doctor degree from the same university in 1992 where he graduated with a Silver Medal. He was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1993 and joined the firm in 1994.

Priscilla B. Valer is a partner who heads the Taxation department. Her practice focuses on taxation, and corporate law.

Precy is involved in a broad range of tax services which include tax assessments, tax refunds, creation of tax efficient structures, and tax planning. She also handles corporate matters.

Precy received her bachelor’s degree in Commerce with a major in Accounting from the University of Santo Tomas in 1985, and her juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1992. She was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1993, placing 10^th in the bar exams. She joined the firm in 1993.

Daniel Kendrick T. Tumangan is a partner who is a member of the Dispute Resolution, Project Development & Finance, and Environment & Natural Resources departments. His practice focuses on litigation, arbitration, corporate law, natural resources, and labor.

DK handles diverse litigation cases before numerous trial and appellate courts. He acts as counsel for major foreign and local clients in international and domestic arbitration cases, mediation, negotiations, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution regarding commercial disputes. He is conversant with the arbitration and mediation rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, American Arbitration Association, International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc., and the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission of the Philippines.

DK represents major companies in a broad range of environmental and safety-related issues including problems and concerns arising from environmental laws and related rules and regulations. He also assists clients in handling their employee relations, ensuring that the minimum labor standards under Philippine law are observed. He also has experience as counsel on matters involving corporate and business transactions.

DK received his bachelor’s degree in Commerce, major in Business Management from the De La Salle University in 1993 and his bachelor of laws from San Beda College in 1998. He went on further to receive his masters of law in International Legal Studies from Georgetown University in 2005, where he graduated with distinction. He was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1999 and joined the firm in the same year.

Aileen Sarah T. Lerma, a partner, is working with the Securities department. Her practice focuses on securities, and corporate law.

Aileen has extensive experience in handling various capital market transactions, among which are local and international offerings of debt and equity securities, asset-based securities, certificates of deposit, securitizations, and initial and follow-on public offerings. She represents both domestic and foreign clients regarding transactions, regulations, and investments before various government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Finance, Board of Investments, and Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Aileen has assisted numerous domestic and multinational companies in the registration of mutual fund companies. She also represented both borrowers and lenders in bilateral and multilateral financing and loan transactions. Furthermore, she has provided advice regarding consolidation, restructuring, and reorganization of operations to industries covering a diverse field, such as real estate, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and business process outsourcing,

Aileen received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1992 where she graduated with honors. She then went on to receive her juris doctor degree from the same university in 1996, where she also graduated with honors. She was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1997, and joined the firm in the same year.

Maria Paz S. Angeles-Carale is a partner working with the Project Development & Finance department.

Her practice focuses on corporate finance, and investment transactions.

Paz has represented international investors in structuring and implementing foreign investments and joint venture arrangements in the Philippines.

Paz received her bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of the Philippines in 1990 and her juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1994. She received a Certificate of International Law from The Hague Academy of International Law in 1996 and her master of laws degree from Yale Law School in 1997. She was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1995, placing 10th in the bar exams. She joined the firm in the 1997.

Rico Tan is a partner who is working with the Corporate Banking & Finance department. His practice focuses on banking and finance, corporate law, and securities.

Rico is a regular adviser of various multilateral financial institutions, offshore banking units, and most foreign banks in the Philippines. Mr. Tan has extensive debt capital market experience, having been recognized as a preferred Philippine counsel to the managers and dealers in all the recent global bond issuances in foreign currency as well as global Peso notes, bond exchanges, and tender offers by the Republic of the Philippines and other government-owned and -controlled corporations.  He works closely with the Philippine government through the Department of Finance, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Insurance Commission.

Rico also has significant experience in structuring and offering bank regulatory capital instruments and is a key advisor to arrangers and issuer-banks in connection with Basel II- and Basel III-compliant regulatory capital offerings.

Rico participated in the capital market development project on the immobilization of trading of equity securities, establishment of the clearing corporation and guarantee fund for the trading of equity securities, and organization of the fixed-income exchange and the depository and trust company in the country. Mr. Tan is the preferred counsel of government financial institutions for their monetization programs in connection with the Internal Revenue Allotments of local government units, as well as for the allocation of tobacco excise taxes, among others.

Rico received his bachelor of science degree in 1988 from the Ateneo de Manila University, and his juris doctor degree in 1992 from the Ateneo School of Law with a Silver Medal for academic excellence. He was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1993 and joined the firm in 1994.

Maria Teresita Geraldine C. Sison-Go is a partner who heads the Immigration practice. Her practice focuses on immigration.

Maritess handles applications with the Bureau of Immigration for the continued stay of foreign nationals and their dependents in the Philippines. She also assists clients in procuring all kinds of work permits, such as Alien Employment Permits from the Department of Labor and Employment for foreigners assigned in the Philippines for more than six months, provisional work permits for foreign nationals with pending Prearranged Employment Visa applications, and Special Work Permits from the Bureau of Immigration for those who need to work for a special project for a duration of less than six months. She also represents foreigners who desire to be naturalized Filipino citizens, as well as those who have pending deportation cases before the Bureau of Immigration.

Maritess also undertakes services related to immigration transactions, alien admission, and alien registration. She handles visa applications such as probationary and permanent visas on behalf of foreign nationals who are married to Filipinos and whose countries have reciprocity agreements with the Philippines.

Maritess is a former President of the Philippine Bar Association from 2010-2011 and is currently the National Treasurer of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. She is also a former President of the Women Lawyer’s Circle of the University of the Philippines from 2002-2004. She is a recipient of the Outstanding Integrated Bar of the Philippines Chapter President Award. She was also awarded as one of the Outstanding Scholastica Alumnae Awardees in 2006.

Maritess graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of the Philippines in 1975 and her bachelor of laws degree from the same university in 1980. She was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1982 and joined the firm in 1983.

Fernando C. Sioson is a partner who is a member of the Project Development & Finance department. His practice focuses on project development and finance, and natural resources.

Randy regularly advises Philippine and foreign clients in the energy, oil, mining, and infrastructure fields. He also represents clients in various dealings before the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation and Communications, Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Central Bank of the Philippines.

Randy’s expertise includes government contracts involving privatizations, public biddings, procurements, and joint ventures. He also advises clients on corporate structuring relative to mergers and acquisitions and corporate reorganizations.

Randy has represented clients in commercial arbitration before the ICC International Court of Arbitration. He has also acted as counsel to equity investors, turnkey contractors, financial advisers, and project lenders.

Randy received his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from De La Salle University in 1990 and his juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1994. He was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1995 where he placed 2nd and joined the firm in the same year.

Joaquin V. Sayoc, a partner, is a member of the Intellectual Property, Real Estate & Natural Resources, and Litigation & Arbitration departments. His practice focuses on intellectual property, real estate, and litigation.

Joaquin specializes in patent, trademark, and copyright registration, enforcement, and litigation. He likewise has extensive and significant experience in real estate development, acquisition of properties, land use and zoning, and planning and permit process. He also handles litigation before administrative bodies and the regular courts, including trial and appellate advocacy.

Joaquin received his bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from De La Salle University in 1979 and received his bachelor of laws degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1985. He was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1986 and joined the firm in 1987.

Jose C. Salvosa is a partner who is a member of the Litigation & Arbitration, Labor & Immigration, and Banking & Finance departments. His practice focuses on litigation, arbitration, labor, and corporate law.

Salvo has extensive experience in handling litigation and disputes involving civil, criminal, commercial, corporate rehabilitation and liquidation, labor and employment, real estate, torts, intellectual property, and tax matters. He handles cases before all levels of the Philippine judiciary, including the trial courts, Court of Tax Appeals, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court. He has likewise appeared before administrative and quasi-judicial bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Labor Relations Commission, and Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

Salvo has also been involved in domestic and international arbitrations, both institutional and ad hoc. Particularly, he has handled disputes under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc., and the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission.

Salvo’s practice also includes general corporate law. He renders regulatory and transactions advice, advisory assistance, and drafting, execution, and review of legal documents. He serves as a director and corporate secretary for clients and a member of the Legal Assistance Service of the Asian Development Bank.

Salvo received his bachelor’s degree in Legal Management from Ateneo de Manila University in 2000 and his juris doctor degree from Ateneo de Manila in 2005. He was admitted to the bar in 2006 and joined the firm in the same year.