SyCipLaw celebrated its 80th anniversary with an appreciation night on October 3, 2025 at The Fifth at Rockwell. Highlighting the theme and the Firm’s commitment, “Excellence with Purpose,” the event brought together clients, friends, alumni, as well as lawyers and staff of the Firm to honor a legacy of principled practice and client-centric service.
The evening opened with welcome remarks from Managing Partner Hector M. de Leon, Jr., who reflected on the Firm’s eight-decade journey of legal excellence, grounded in integrity and purpose. He expressed gratitude to the generations of clients, lawyers, and staff who have shaped and supported the Firm through the years.
Dean Jose Maria “Joey” G. Hofileña, alumnus and former partner of SyCipLaw, now serving as Dean of the Ateneo Law School, shared his personal experience of the Firm’s culture—one that fosters intellectual rigor, mentorship, and public-minded service. He underscored how SyCipLaw instills in its people not only the skills to lead in the legal profession, but also the commitment to use those skills for meaningful impact.
The celebration was hosted by Partner Aaron Roi B. Riturban, with Associate Graciella Rachel C. Robles as co-host, leading guests through a program that blended reflection and festivity. A highlight of the evening was an audio-visual presentation featuring several SyCipLaw lawyers who shared meaningful “firsts,” key milestones, and personal reflections—offering glimpses into the everyday moments and defining experiences of being part of the Firm. Attendees were then treated to upbeat performances by renowned singer and stage actress Bituin Escalante, the Tago Jazz Collective, chart-topping band Sunkissed Lola, and an energetic afterparty with DJ duo The Diegos.
The venue featured exhibits that offer a window into the Firm’s storied past and its vision for the future:
“Project 2045” highlighted the Firm’s sustainability roadmap to ensure responsible business practices, resilience, and ongoing value creation for clients, lawyers, staff, and society—reaffirming its core values as it looks toward its centennial.
“Excellence with Purpose” provided an overview of SyCipLaw’s sustainability initiatives. In celebration of its 80th anniversary, the Firm has committed to planting and maintaining over 1,000 native fruit-bearing trees across two hectares in the Marikina Watershed over the next three years, underscoring its commitment to environmental stewardship and gratitude to its clients.
“What’s Your SyCipLaw Story” featured narratives from a writing workshop organized for the Firm’s residents and alumni, including comic strips from newsletters dating back to the 1980s.The three-day workshop was conducted by Palanca Awards Hall-of-Famer Atty. Nick Pichay and poet Dr. Joti Tabula.
More than a celebration of longevity, the evening underscored SyCipLaw’s continued dedication to providing world-class legal service with purpose, responsive to the evolving needs of clients and society. The Firm reaffirmed its vision to remain one of the country’s steadfast legal institutions—upholding the values of integrity, excellence, solidarity, and stewardship—well into the future.
#SyCipLaw80