Law and behold!

It was simply a matter of time before Romulo, Mabanta, Buenaventura Sayoc and De Los Angeles, one of the country’s biggest and oldest law firms, opened a branch outside Manila.  And Cebu being the second most important city was the ideal and logical  choice.

At a recent cocktail reception held at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, the organization formally launched their  numerous services at the Insular Building at Ayala Business Park.

The intimate gathering was graced by Cebu Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia whose daughter Christina, herself an accomplished attorney, will be the resident lawyer for the Visayas.

The establishment — composed of 87 lawyers, majority of whom have gained global experience after obtaining graduate degrees from leading 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.

Christina Garcia Frasco, Gov. Gwen Garcia, lawyer Ricardo Romulo, and Consul Yoshiaka Hata

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 company traces its roots back to Gibbs, McDonough and Ozaeta who practiced law in the Philippines in 1902 when the country was still under the American rule.

It 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. 

With the demise of Jesus S.J. Sayoc and Roman Mabanta Jr., the current senior partners are Ricardo Romulo, Jose Buenaventura, and Eduardo delos Angeles. Other partners include Cynthia Castillo, Mio Ozaeta, Jose Mirasol, and Louie Ogsimer, while the associates are Yvettte Chua, Tracy Ngochua and Tara Mercado.