CEBU, Philippines - It was simply a matter of time before RomuloMabanta BuenaventuraSayoc&DelosAngeles, one of the country’s biggest and oldest law firms opened a branch office outside Manila. And Cebu being the second largest city was the logical and ideal choice.
At a recent cocktail reception held at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, the firm formally launched the opening of their office at the Insular Life Building at Ayala Business Park.
The intimate gathering was graced by Cebu Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia whose daughter Christina, herself a skilled lawyer will be the resident lawyer of the firm in the Visayas.
The establishment composed of 87 lawyers majority of whom have received training and graduate degrees from universities abroad, engages in the general practice of law. It also offers a full range of legal services with wide experience in the fields of corporate and business laws, taxation, energy, infrastructure, securities, foreign investments, banking, finance, litigation, intellectual property, aviation and admiralty.
The firm utilizes and constantly upgrades its office technology to provide more efficient and effective legal service to its clients. In addition, the lawyers use computerized database systems for research on Philippine laws and jurisprudence. They are also provided with fully-networked personal computers and laser printers to create and produce documents efficiently.
Interestingly, the firm traces its roots to GibbsMcDonough&Ozaeta that practiced law in the Philippines in 1902 when the country was still under the America rule.
The firm is the sole Philippine member of Les Mundi, a worldwide network of more than 160 independent law firms, with a combined total of more than 16,000 lawyers in all commercially significant jurisdictions throughout the world.
The current senior partners are Ricardo Romulo, Jose Buenaventura and Eduardo de los Angeles. Jesus S.J. Sayoc died on June 21, 2002 and Roman Mabanta Jr. died on August 19, 2008. Other partners include Cynthia Castillo, Mio Ozaeta, Jose Mirasol and Louie Ogsimer while Associates of the firm are Yvettte Chua, Tracy Ngochua and Tara Mercado.