Department profile
Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

Dispute Resolution

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : Philippines


Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

Rankings

About

Provided by Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

Innate talent, exacting diligence and dogged determination are qualities that best exemplify our litigators.

Each year, top graduates of leading law schools in the country are drawn to our firm by a common desire to undergo intensive and comprehensive training on legal research, pleading preparation and trial techniques. After this rigorous initiation into litigation practice, our recruits emerge capable of working efficiently under extreme pressure and engaging, together with our seasoned litigators, in “bare-knuckle” litigation for which our trial lawyers have become known for. Investments in our training program have given us a deep bench of litigators who work as a cohesive team under the guidance of the country’s former Solicitor General and Ombudsman.

Our collective experience from decades of engagement in complex disputes has yielded unparalleled expertise that has consistently delivered positive and concrete results for our clients. Today, our firm has the unique ability to wage coordinated and multi-pronged litigation campaigns that has an unmatched record of success both in public interest cases and in critical, high-stakes and must-win commercial disputes.

By matching arduous training with expansive experience, we deliver tailored solutions to our broad spectrum of clients that include high net worth individuals, as well as start-up companies and prominent corporations, leading banking and financial institutions, multinational conglomerates and even entire industries.


Clients (4)

  • Bank of the Philippine Islands
  • First Philippine Holdings
  • Marine Fuels Philippine
  • Green Energy Management

Industries (6)

  • Trial Advocacy & Commercial Litigation
  • Banking Litigation
  • Tax Litigation
  • Appellate Practice
  • Corporate Rehabilitation
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Dispute Resolution - Philippines

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia's highly regarded team of lawyers in Manila possesses experience in commercial, tax and banking litigation. The firm is noted for its impressive history of involvement in high profile public interest cases and significant commercial disputes. The practice is also well equipped to handle appellate work, as well as arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. In addition, the firm boasts experience handling criminal mandates, and has a proven track record acting for a number of local and international energy and consumer goods companies, among others.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia represented DATEM in a complaint for a sum of money against Megaworld Corporation, a real estate developer based in the Philippines.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia's attorneys are not only highly skilled and results-driven, but are also consistently quick to act and exceptionally well-organised.

    Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia is able to formulate a creative legal strategy and deploy some non-typical legal tactics.

    Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Simeon Marcelo
    Band 1Simeon Marcelo

    Simeon Marcelo

    Simeon Marcelo is recognised as an esteemed lawyer in the Philippines. He acts for a range of domestic and multinational clients in complex litigation.

    • Simeon exhibits a lot of care for his client's concerns and is very proactive and protective.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 3John Jerico L Balisnomo
    Band 3John Jerico L Balisnomo

    John Jerico L Balisnomo

    John Jerico Balisnomo is a senior partner at Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia in the Philippines, who is experienced in criminal, civil and tax litigation. He is well versed in advising multinationals from a range of sectors, including oil and gas, and banking and finance.

    • He has a ready answer to every question.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

Ranked Individuals at Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia (2)

Philippines

Members

Provided by Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

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