Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

Managing Partner: Joe Nathan P. Tenefrancia
Senior Partners: Avelino J. Cruz, Jr., Simeon V. Marcelo, Manuel L. Manaligod, Jr., Susan D. Villanueva, Patricia A. O. Bunye, Rodel A. Cruz, Aida Araceli R. Rivera, John Jerico L. Balisnomo, Miguel U. Silos, Elmar B. Galacio, Rosa Michele C. Bagtas, Divina Gracia E. Pedron, Victor E. M. Pangilinan, Pancho G. Umali
Number of partners: 20
Number of lawyers: 74
Languages: Chinese, English, Filipino, Japanese

Firm Overview:
Building upon the founding principles that brought success to a partnership that spanned over 33 years, a group of 15 partners led by Avelino J. Cruz, Jr., former Secretary of National Defense and Simeon V. Marcelo, former Ombudsman and Solicitor General – exceptional lawyers with impeccable professional reputations – founded Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia.

Main Areas of Practice:
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Corporate & Commercial
Intellectual Property
Mining & Natural Resources
Energy
Labour
Taxation
Infrastructure, Transportation & Public Utilities (PPP Projects)
Information Technology, Telecommunications & Media
Family Law

Corporate & Commercial:
5 partners, 14 fee-earners
■ Handles significant commercial transactions and projects for clients in mass media, energy, infrastructure development, real estate, retail and healthcare industries
Partners: Manuel L Manaligod, Jr, Patricia A O Bunye, Aida Araceli G Roxas-Rivera, Rosa Michele C Bagtas, Pancho G Umali Key Clients: ABS-CBN, Fox Network, Pilipinas Shell, Total (Philippines) Corporation, Aboitiz, RII Builders Group, W Group, Sta. Lucia Land Inc., Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Nestle Philippines, Bench, Ayala Healthcare
Key Contact: Aida Araceli G Roxas-Rivera
Tel: +63 2 8810 5858
Email: [email protected]

Litigation & Dispute Resolution:
11 partners, 16 fee-earners
■ Represented Yujuico Group of Companies and secured a favorable dismissal of a civil case seeking to nullify titles covering huge hectares of land and multi-billion peso contracts affecting these properties
■ Handles key litigation and tax cases for clients in manufacturing, banking, insurance, transportation and agriculture involving hundreds of millions of pesos Partners: Simeon V. Marcelo, Joe Nathan P. Tenefrancia, Rodel A. Cruz, John Jerico L. Balisnomo, Miguel U. Silos, Elmar B. Galacio, Victor E. M. Pangilinan
Key Clients: Philippine National Bank, Philam Life, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, BDO, Manila Water Company, Inc., Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine Banana Exporters & Growers Assn., Philippine Chambers of Commerce & Industry, ABS-CBN, SM Group, Tullet Prebon, Dole Foods, Inc., Union Bank of the Philippines, Inc., Yujuico Group of Companies
Key Contact: John Jerico L. Balisnomo
Tel: +63 2 8810 5858
Email: [email protected]

Intellectual Property:
4 partners, 15 fee-earners
■ Handles patents, trademarks, copyright and litigation involving IP rights; IP enforcement
■ Advises in technology transfer and IP commercialisation, IP audit and IP due diligence Partners: Susan D. Villanueva, Patricia A. O. Bunye, Divina Gracia E. Pedron, Rowanie A. Nakan Key Clients: Cemex, JT International SA, Dole Asia Holdings Pte Ltd., Siemens AG, United Laboratories, Inc., University of the Philippines, DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute, Max’s Group, Inc., San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc.
Key Contact: Susan D Villanueva
Tel: +63 2 8810 5858
Email: [email protected]

Mining & Natural Resources:
2 partners, 14 fee-earners
■ Advises Sagittarius Mines, Inc. on issues related to its Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement with the government Partners: Patricia A. O. Bunye, Pancho G. Umali
Key Clients: Sagittarius Mines, Inc., RTG Mining, Inc., Philippine Gold processing and Refining Corp., Aboitiz Power Corp., Shell Philippines Exploration, B.V., Galoc Production Company W.L.L., Nido Production Galoc Pty. Ltd.
Key Contact: Patricia A O Bunye
Tel: +63 2 8810 5858
Email: [email protected]

Taxation:
4 partners, 14 fee-earners
■ Represents Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. and Unilever RFM against excessive business tax assessments and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation and United Laboratories against alleged deficiency taxes ■ Assists clients in securing rulings from the BIR and BLGF and in addressing BIR tax audits
■ Renders comprehensive tax opinions Partners: Susan D. Villanueva, Aida Araceli G. Roxas-Rivera, Rosa Michele C. Bagtas, Pancho G. Umali, Jon Anton Daryl Y. Chua Key Clients: Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, United Laboratories, Inc.
Key Contact: Rosa Michele C. Bagtas
Tel: +63 2 8810 5858
Email: [email protected]

Capital Markets, Securities Regulation & Finance:
2 partners, 7 fee-earners
■ Counselled for Unicapital, Inc. as underwriter in connection with a follow-on offering of preferred shares
■ Advised BDO Unibank, Inc. in entering into a multi-million US Dollar syndicated term loan facility agreement
Partners: Manuel L. Manaligod, Jr., Rosa Michele C. Bagtas
Key Clients: Unicapital, Inc., BDO Unibank, Inc.
Key Contact: Rosa Michele C. Bagtas
Tel: +63 2 8810 5858
Email: [email protected]

Telecommunications & ICT:
6 partners, 14 fee-earners
■ Represented Multi-Media Telephony, Inc. involving the award of 3G frequency bandwidths
Partners: Simeon V. Marcelo, Joe Nathan P. Tenefrancia, Manuel L. Manaligod, Jr., Elmar B. Galacio, Ramon Manolo A. Alcasabas
Key Clients: ABS-CBN Corporation, Multi- Media Telephony, Inc.
Key Contact: Joe Nathan P. Tenefrancia
Tel: +63 2 8810 5858
Email: [email protected]