About

Provided by SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan

Our Banking, Finance & Securities group has been consistently recognized by the financial and business community as the Philippine leader in this practice. It is a mainstay in country surveys as a top choice for local counsel. We represent and advise most of the major banks and financial institutions, both local and foreign, in all types of financing transactions and regulatory matters. 


The group is a pioneer in banking and finance as a specialization for a full-service firm, with one of its first major projects being our engagements as counsel to all creditor banks of the Republic of the Philippines in relation to the country's 1980s debt moratorium. Today, we are assisting clients in Fintech projects, from payment services to virtual currency to online lending, and the latest regulations on cyber security and privacy. 

On regulatory matters, we provide advice and accomplish jurisdictional questionnaires for foreign clients on topics ranging from licensing, inward investments (especially in light of the most recent liberalization of our banking laws that allow up to 100% equity for foreign banks) to specific products including lending, securities or commodities trading, securities custodial services, online trading, and financial advisory

Our experience in financing work cuts across not only in terms of structures – from bilaterals to syndicated and club-type financings – but also in industries.


Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers
Banking & Finance - Philippines
1
Band 1
What the team is known for

SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan is a top-flight legal team that receives praise for its expertise across a range of banking, finance and capital markets issues. Based in the Philippines, it gives advice on cutting-edge acquisition financing and corporate financing, among others. The team is further noted for its strong track record on major syndicated loans and highly experienced in advising on complex cross-border securitisation transactions. It has considerable expertise in debt and equity capital markets, advising on company floats, bond offerings and corporate notes issuances. The firm boasts considerable experience in project finance, and often acts on deals in the real estate and technology sectors. Its key clients include Philippine Commercial Capital, ING Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Work Highlights

Provided by SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
  • SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan advised Asian Development Bank as Filipino counsel on a USD4 million loan agreement with Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.

  • The firm acted for PNB Capital and Investment Corporation and SB Capital Investment as joint issue managers, underwriters and bookrunners in the offer of Philippine peso-denominated green bonds by Citicore Energy REIT.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers
Vicente Gerochi
2
Vicente Gerochi
2
Band 2

Vicente Gerochi is the head of the firm's banking and finance department. He is well experienced in advising multinational corporations on their finance matters, including project and joint venture financings.

Jan Celine C. Abaño-Ranada
U
Jan Celine C. Abaño-Ranada
U
Up and Coming

Jan Celine Abaño-Ranada enters the rankings on the back of her notable involvement in cross-border acquisition financings. She accrues market recognition for her assistance with major transactions and has lately handled transactions in the TMT sector.

Melyjane Bertillo
Melyjane Bertillo
Spotlight

Melyjane Bertillo is experienced in share registration and securities offerings. She is particularly noted for her work on bond issuances.

Ranked Lawyers at
SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Philippines

Banking & Finance

Vicente Gerochi
2
Vicente Gerochi
2
Band 2
Jan Celine C. Abaño-Ranada
U
Jan Celine C. Abaño-Ranada
U
Up and Coming
Banking & Finance: Capital Markets

Melyjane Bertillo
Melyjane Bertillo
Spotlight

Members

Provided by SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan

Aaron Roi Riturban

Angel Salita Jr

Arlene Maneja

Benedicto Panigbatan

Franco Aristotle Larcina

Hiyasmin Lapitan

Imelda Manguiat

Jose Florante Pamfilo

Maria Jennifer Barreto

Maria Teresa Mercado-Ferrer

Marievic G Ramos-Añonuevo

Head of Department

Melyjane Bertillo-Ancheta

Philbert Varona

Rafael Encarnacion

Rose Marie King-Dominguez

Simeon Ken Ferrer

Clients

Provided by SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan

BDO Unibank, Inc.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Bank of the Philippine Islands

Black River Asset

Clifford Chance

Credit Suisse

HSBC

PNB Capital and Investment Corporation

Standard Chartered Bank

Industries

Provided by SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan

Aviation

Banking

Energy

Financial Services

Insurance

Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences

Real Estate

Telecommunication

Transportation

Utilities