Poblador Bautista & Reyes

Chairman: Alexander J. Poblador
Managing Partner: Mario Luza Bautista
Number of Partners: 15
Number of Lawyers: 32
Languages: English, Hokkien, Mandarin

Firm Overview:
Poblador Bautista & Reyes was founded on 1 October 1994 by Alexander J. Poblador, Mario Luza Bautista, and Gilbert Raymund T. Reyes. The firm has consistently been in the top tier in Dispute Resolution and its partners are cited as leading practitioners in Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Construction and Real Estate, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, Tax, Labour and Employment, Information Technology, Telecommunications, and Media.

Main Areas Of Practice: 

Dispute Resolution:  

13 partners, 32 fee earners

Arbitration:
• Obtained: (a) award confirming conglomerate’s 95% interest in toll road project and granting costs of US$14.6 million; and (b) award of US$23 million and judgment on taxes of US$240 million for property conglomerate in railway project

• Representing: (a) service provider against government firms overseeing the national power grid; (b) property conglomerate involving development rights to railway valued at US$90 million; (c) energy company (Php5 billion claim) against government firm; (d) concessionaire (Php600 million claim) against water district; and (e) e-commerce platform against logistics provider involving Php200 million in claims

• Enforcing: (a) two awards for construction arms of major property company; and (b) a Php1.4 billion award for the developer of John Hay against government corporation

Litigation:
• Representing energy companies in contract disputes with Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation involving Php10 billion

• Pursuing oil refiner’s action for reconveyance of lands worth Php9 billion against government oil company

• Defending: (a) toll road operator against “just compensation” claims of Php57 million (b) cement companies in environmental/class action; (c) insurance company against multi-million peso fire insurance claims; (d) developer against contractors and property owners; (e) port operator against insurance companies and broker associations; and (f) universal bank against fines for alleged violations of money laundering rules

• Representing bus operators questioning ban on provincial buses along major thoroughfare and regulation shortening terms of bus franchises

• Obtained dismissal of graft charges against former Chief Justice

• White collar criminal defense

Partners: Alexander J. Poblador, Mario Luza Bautista, Gilbert Raymund T. Reyes, Dino A. Tamayo, Romeo Johann I. Fernandez, Nick Emmanuel C. Villaluz, Deogracias G. Fellone, Jose Antonio J. Hernandez, Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz, Meghan G. De Guia, Anzen P. Dy, Justin Christopher C. Mendoza, Elizabeth L. Liceralde

Key Clients: San Miguel Corporation Group, National Grid Corporation, Ayala Land, Inc., ABS-CBN Corporation, Petron Corporation, Global Estates Resorts, Inc., CJH Development Corporation, Manila Water Co., Inc., Metro Rail Transit Corp., Asian Terminals, Inc., Malayan Insurance Group.

Contacts:
Alexander J. Poblador (Tel: +632 8893 7623 and +632 8817 4616)
Email: [email protected])

Mario Luza Bautista (Tel: +632 8893 7623 and +632 8817 4614)
Email: [email protected])

Gilbert Raymund T. Reyes (Tel: +632 8893 7623 and +632 8817 4640)
Email: [email protected])

Mergers & Acquisitions: 

3 partners; 25 fee earners

• Advised in sale of control in leading ICT firm to Japanese private equity firm

• Due diligence on: (a) mining company for acquisition of all shares; (b) Northern Luzon college for acquisition of assets and business; (c) energy company for acquisition of shares; and (d) for proposed acquisition of rights to parcel of land and improvements

Key Clients: Micro-D International, Inc.; Novare Technologies, Inc.; Galeo Equipment Corporation, San Miguel Group of Companies, RSA Foundation, Inc.

Corporate Organisation & Investments: 

3 partners; 25 fee earners

• Advised footwear retailer in negotiations with multinational footwear company

• Assisted multinational fast-food company in negotiations with franchisee

Partners: Raymund Martin C. Rodriguez, Marie Cecile Roque-Quintos, Meghan G. de Guia

Key Clients: Pizza Hut Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.; Trendworks International

Securities & Capital Market: 

4 partners, 10 fee earners

• Due diligence and independent counsel opinion on public offer of common shares

Partners: Raymund Martin C. Rodriguez, Marie Cecile Roque-Quintos, Meghan G. de Guia, Elizabeth L. Liceralde

Key Clients: Synergy Grid & Development Phils., Inc.

Contacts:
Raymund Martin C. Rodriguez (email: [email protected])

Marie Cecile Roque-Quintos (email: [email protected])

Tel: +632 8893 7623

Tax, Estate Planning & Settlement: 

8 partners, 10 fee earners 

• Protested assessed income and real property taxes in billions of pesos on government assets operated by client concessionaire

• Secured in foreign arbitration, declaratory judgment on taxes amounting to over Php12 billion

• Protested real property taxes of over US$7,000,000.00 on renewable energy developers

• Pursuing refund of excise taxes of Php700 million on petroleum products

• Secured government confirmations of tax-exempt status of merger worth Php10 billion and transaction worth over US$170 million

Partners: Mario Luza Bautista, Raymund Martin C. Rodriguez, Romeo Johann I. Fernandez, Marie Cecile R. Quintos, Deogracias G. Fellone, Meghan G. de Guia, Justin Christopher C. Mendoza, Elizabeth L. Liceralde

Key Clients: Energy Development Corporation, Petron Corporation, EDC Burgos Wind Power Corporation, Manila Water Co., Inc., Nexperia B.V. and related companies, Metro Rail Transit Corporation

Contacts:
Raymund Martin C. Rodriguez (email: [email protected])

Marie Cecile R. Quintos (email: [email protected])

Tel: +632 8893 7623

Intellectual Property:  

9 partners; 15 fee earners

• Protection of Levi Strauss & Co. trademarks, winning Supreme Court landmark decision cancelling “LIVE’s” trademark for confusing similarity

• Cancellation of names and marks infringing Intel Corporation’s trademarks and implementation of worldwide trademark protection initiative.

• Protection of Scotch Whisky as Geographical indication

• Protection of “TREK” as a well-known trademark

Partners: Gilbert Raymund T. Reyes, Dino A. Tamayo, Romeo Johann I. Fernandez, Nick Emmanuel C. Villaluz, Deogracias G. Fellone, Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz, Meghan G. de Guia, Justin Christopher C. Mendoza, Ma. Elizabeth L. Liceralde

Key Clients: Intel Corporation, Levi Strauss & Co., Scotch Whisky Association, Trek Bicycle Corporation, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., Aboitiz Power Corporation, Gaztransport et Technigaz, Pilmico Foods Corporation, Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation, Aboitiz Land, Inc., Aviemore Holdings Ltd. Liability Co., Nutri-Asia, Inc., Tommy Hilfiger, Trek Bicycle Corporation

Contacts:
Gilbert Raymund T. Reyes (email: [email protected])

Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz (email: [email protected])

Tel: +632 8893 7623

Labour & Employment: 

7 partners; 10 fee earners

• Advice on: (a) implementation of flexible work arrangements, retrenchment, and redundancy programs, considering the pandemic’s adverse economic effects; (b) issues relating to vaccination policies in the workplace; and (c) implementation of policies promoting safe and harassment-free workplaces

Partners: Alexander J. Poblador, Mario Luza Bautista, Gilbert Raymund T. Reyes, Romeo Johann I. Fernandez, Deogracias G. Fellone, Anzen P. Dy, and Justin Christopher C. Mendoza

Key Clients: SGV & Co., Ernst & Young Global Services Philippines, Inc., Energy Development Corporation, International School Manila, Asian Hospital, Inc., United Doctors Medical Center, Ateneo de Manila University, Eight Group of Companies

Contacts:
Romeo Johann I. Fernandez (email: [email protected])

Deogracias G. Fellone (email: [email protected])

Tel: +632 8893 7623

PRACTICE AREAS:
Civil, Criminal, and Commercial Litigation; Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution; Insolvency and Rehabilitation; Banking and Finance; Corporate Organization and Investments; Mergers and Acquisitions; Real Estate; Construction; Infrastructure; Energy; Patents, Utility Model, and Industrial Design; Intellectual Property Litigation; Trademarks, Licensing and Copyright; Family Law; Tax; Estate Planning; Public Utilities; Media, Information and Technology; Telecommunications; Employment; Immigration

OFFICES
5th Floor, SEDCCO I Building
120 Rada corner Legaspi Streets
Legaspi Village, Makati City
1229 Philippines

Tel: +632 88937623
Fax: +632 88937622
Email: [email protected]