Poblador Bautista & Reyes

Chairman: Alexander J. Poblador

Managing Partner: Mario Luza Bautista

Number of Partners: 17

Number of Lawyers: 39

Languages: English, Hokkien, Mandarin

Firm Overview: Poblador Bautista & Reyes (PBR) is a professional partnership founded in 1994 by Alexander J. Poblador, Mario Luza Bautista, and Gilbert Raymund T. Reyes. PBR is a general practice and full-service firm with lawyers who have extensive experience and expertise, particularly in the fields of litigation and commercial arbitration (international and domestic), energy, real estate and construction, mining and resources, government contracts, intra-corporate disputes, intellectual property, media and telecommunications, e-commerce, logistics, data privacy, anti-trust and competition, insurance and banking, insolvency and restructuring, family law, taxation, and white collar criminal law.

Main Areas Of Practice:

Dispute Resolution:

16 partners, 38 fee earners

International Arbitration

•Representation of one of the Philippines's largest conglomerates against a partner in the tollways business, involving interests valued at roughly US$1.5 Billion (and costs of US$14.6 Million)

• Representation of a key energy stakeholder against two major government firms in the energy sector, in an international arbitration involving the country's state-owned power grid where the disputed amount is around US$1.5 Billion

• Legal advice and assistance to one of the country's leading conglomerates and its subsidiary, in an international arbitration involving a US$2.15 Billion transaction, and claims for damages amounting to US$570 million

• Representation of a Chinese construction firm in its claims against a Government-Owned-and-Controlled Corporation in an arbitration (seated in Hong Kong) involving a key government railway project, where the Firm successfully defended the validity of the contract under Philippine law

• Representation of a major real estate conglomerate against the Republic in multi-billion dollar Singapore-seated international arbitration, involving a key light railway transit system in the Metropolis, where the Firm assisted in securing a US$23 Million award in the client's favor, and declaratory judgments involving US$240 Million in taxes

• Representation of another business conglomerate in a separate international arbitration filed by the Republic, involving a claim for US$90 Million relating to development rights

• Representation of the project owner of the largest airport in the country in arbitration-related disputes with one of its land development contractors

• Representation of Philippine Swimming, Inc., the local federation for swimming, against World Aquatics, in two separate arbitration appeals before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland

• The Firm is regularly on the short-list of Philippine Firms considered to act as local Philippine counsel in international arbitrations

Domestic Arbitration

• Representation of an Independent Power Producer Administrator against a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation in an ad hoc arbitration involving the output of two major power plants (Php10 Billion)

• Representation of CJH Development Corporation against the Bases Conversion Development Authority in implementing a Final Award in favor of the client for Php1.42 Billion and related issues

• Representation of principal construction arm of one of the largest real estate developers in the Metropolis, against claims of a foreign subcontractor (Php200 Million)

• Representation of a prominent e-commerce platform in separate arbitrations filed by different logistics service providers (Php450 Million)

• Representation of subsidiary of water concessionaire in arbitration against water district (Php250 Million)

• Representation of principal construction arm of one of the largest real estate developers in the Metropolis, against claims of a foreign subcontractor (Php200 Million)

• Representation of the construction arm of one of the country energy conglomerates (Php200 Million)

• Representation of a prominent e-wallet operator against service providers (Php150 Million)

• Representation of the largest oil refiner in the Philippines against a local cargo hauler

• Representation of major e-commerce platform in referring seller's claims to arbitration

Litigation:

• Successful defense of two power companies before the Supreme Court in securing electricity price adjustments due to unforeseen circumstances (coal price increase and Ukraine war) (Php32 Billion)

• Legal advice to holding company in the enforcement of court decision involving Blue-Chip shares and accrued dividends (Php32 Billion)

• Successful defense of San Miguel Aerocity, Inc. in actions which seek to obstruct the development of the New Manila International Airport (which has a contract value of Php740 Billion)

• Representation of SMC MRT-7, Inc. before the Supreme Court in questioning the collection of a Php3.8 Billion additional deposit for just compensation in an expropriation case

Representation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines before the Supreme Court in an action questioning wheeling charges

• Representation of College Assurance Plans of the Philippines, Inc. in long-standing corporate rehabilitation proceedings

• Representation of Lazada E-Services Philippines, Inc. in the dismissal of eleven (11) consumer complaints filed with the local department of trade and industry

• Representation of Shopee Philippines, Inc. in the dismissal of a Php50 Million suit filed by two sellers

• Representation of Asian Terminals, inc. in various subrogatory actions filed by insurance companies

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, Anzen P. Dy, Justin Christopher C. Mendoza, Elizabeth L. Liceralde, Marie Michelle B. Go, Jayson C. Aguilar, Joseph De Jesus, Justa Aurea G. Bautista

Key Clients: San Miguel Corporation Group, National Grid Corporation, San Miguel Aerocity, Inc., Ayala Land, Inc., Makati Development Corporation, Petron Corporation, CJH Development Corporation, Asian Terminals, Inc., Malayan Insurance Group, Lazada E-Services Philippines, Inc., Shopee Philippines, Inc.

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, 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, Meghan G. de Guia, Elizabeth L. Liceralde

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

Contacts:

Raymund Martin C. Rodriguez (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, 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])

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])

Meghan G. De Guia (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: SPX Philippines, Inc., Eight Group of Companies, Lazada E-Services Philippines, Inc.

Contacts:

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

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

Tel: +632 8893 7623

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]