All posts by Ink Elephant

Manuel M. Cosico is a partner who is affiliated with the Transportation, Litigation & Arbitration, and Labor & Immigration departments. His practice focuses on admiralty, litigation, arbitration, and labor.

As a maritime lawyer, Manny handles ship arrest and seaman’s claim cases. He likewise handles acquisitions and sales of ocean-going vessels, which involve extensive negotiations with foreign sellers or buyers and their foreign counsels, and dealings with the MARINA and Philippine Ports Authority. He also handles marine insurance, general and particular averages, and salvage cases.

As an arbitration lawyer, Manny handles both foreign and domestic arbitration cases, such as construction disputes and commercial transaction issues. He has appeared before the ICC, the Singapore International Arbitration Center, and the Triple-A Arbitration Center in New York City.

Manny is currently the Chairman of the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission, which has exclusive jurisdiction over construction disputes in the Philippines. He is also an Accredited Arbitrator at the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. which hears and decides disputes that are commercial in nature.

Manny rejoined the firm as counsel for admiralty and litigation after resigning as Regional Trial Court/Special Criminal Court Judge of Makati City in 1992, becoming partner the year after.

Manny acquired his basic training in maritime practice in the admiralty law firms of Walker & Corsa in New York and John Meadows & Associates in San Francisco, and at the California Maritime Institute. He received his bachelor of laws degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1967 and was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1968.

Cristina Collantes-Garcia is a partner working with the Project Development & Finance department. Her practice focuses on project development and finance, and securities.

Cristina gives advice on transaction structure, reorganization, and restructuring as well as licensing and regulatory matters. She has extensive experience in cross-border acquisitions and capital market transactions. She also specializes in banking, finance, energy, and infrastructure projects.

Cristina is well-versed in work involving public bidding of governmental assets. She has represented both domestic and foreign clients in various dealings before the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Cristina received her bachelor’s degree from the University of the Philippines in 1993 and her juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2002. She was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2003 and the New York bar in 2009. She joined the firm in 2008.

Yvette C. Chua is a partner who is a member of the Project Development & Finance department. Her practice focuses on project development and finance, and securities.

Yvette advises domestic and foreign clients on various corporate deals and transactions involving mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, initial public offerings, equity and debt issuances, project financing, corporate restructuring, government contracts, taxation, and regulatory matters. She represents domestic and foreign clients before various regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and The Philippine Stock Exchange.

Prior to joining Romulo, Yvette was with another law office where she handled various civil, criminal, and administrative litigation cases. She was also involved in international commercial arbitration cases and appellate proceedings before the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

Yvette has taught Business Law in the College of Business Administration of the University of the Philippines. She also speaks Fookien.

Yvette received her bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, cum laude, from De La Salle University in 2000 and was awarded the Joaquin Cunanan Medal of Excellence. She thereafter received her bachelor of laws degree, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines in 2005, where she graduated Salutatorian and was awarded the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence. She obtained her master of laws degree from Harvard Law School in 2009. She was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2006 and joined the firm in 2009.

Francesca Isabelle G. Calderon is a partner whose practice currently focuses on capital markets, project development and finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

Frankie advises and prepares the documentation for foreign and local clients on various corporate deals and transactions involving initial public offerings, equity and debt issuances, financing, mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring, licensing, and other regulatory matters. She represents clients before various regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Philippine Stock Exchange, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Frankie was part of the 2012 Ateneo team to the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, where she was awarded best oralist in the Philippine rounds.

Frankie received her bachelor’s degree in Management from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2009. She thereafter received her juris doctor degree from the same university in 2013 where she graduated with honors. She was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2014 and joined the firm in the same year.

Betrand Hans B. Cagayan is a partner who works with the Litigation & Arbitration, and Labor & Immigration departments. His practice focuses on litigation, arbitration, labor, and corporate law.

Hans’s litigation experience includes appearances before the trial courts, Court of Appeals, and quasi-judicial bodies of the Philippines. He is involved with several arbitration cases handled by the firm and has appeared before the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission. He represents corporate clients in labor disputes and environmental cases while also handling various corporate matters for clients of the firm.

Hans received his medical degree from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in 1992. He obtained his general surgery residency training from the Philippine General Hospital in 1997. He thereafter received his juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2011. He was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2012 and joined the firm in the same year.

Jose Gabriel R. Benedicto is a partner who is the head of the Family Law department and a member of the Litigation & Arbitration, and Intellectual Property departments. His practice focuses on family law, litigation, intellectual property, and corporate law.

Joey has extensive experience in litigation cases involving criminal, civil, and administrative matters pending in administrative agencies, trial courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. He specializes in family law cases involving pre-nuptial agreements, annulment of marriage, legal separation, spousal and child support, guardianship, adoption, separation of properties, wills, succession, and estate planning.

Joey handles applications for trademarks, copyright, and patent registrations as well as their prosecution and enforcement. He has long experience resolving disputes involving trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade dress, and misuse of confidential information.

Joey assists in negotiation and preparation of documentation requirements for projects between Filipino and foreign parties. He advises domestic and foreign clients on commercial transactions, licensing matters, and joint ventures. He also performs corporate secretarial functions for corporations.

Joey received his bachelor’s degree in Legal Management from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1982 and his bachelor of laws degree from the same university in 1986. He joined the firm in 1985 and was admitted to the Philippine bar in 1987.