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SENIOR PARTNERS
BELO

ENRIQUE M. BELO (1972-2004)

Born in Roxas City, Philippines, September 18, 1922; died December 23, 2004, admitted, 1950, Philippines. Education: University of the Philippines (A.A., 1946; LL.B., cum laude, Valedictorian, 1949); Bar Topnotcher (1949); Harvard Law School (LL.M., 1951). Phi Kappa Phi. Recipient: Order of the Chevalier First Class of St. Olav, Norway; "Most Distinguished Award for Justice 1991", Philippine Bar Association; one of the Top Ten in Performance, Convention Press Association; Golden Jubilee Celebration in the year 2001, Archdiocese of Capiz, Senior Partner, Ponce, Enrile, Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Belo, 1956-1972. Vice Consul (a.h.), Thailand in the Philippines, 1956-1992. Delegate, Constitutional Convention, 1971. Knight of the Order, While Elephant granted by the King of Thailand. Member, Parliament representing the Province of Capiz, 1984-1986. Member: Philippine Bar Association (President, 1974-1975; Director, 1962-1967, 1973-1986); Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Philippine Constitution Association; Harvard Law Alumni Association; American Chamber of Commerce; American Association of the Philippines; International Bar Association; Inter-Pacific Bar Association; Intellectual Property Foundation.

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GOZON

FELIPE L. GOZON

Born in Manila, Philippines, December 8, 1939; admitted 1963, 13th place, Philippine Bar Examinations; 1984, New York. Education: University of the Philippines (A.A., 1958; LL.B., 1962); Yale Law School (LL.M., 1965). Phi Kappa Phi. Order of the Purple Feather. Recipient: Most Distinguished Service Award, Leadership Award, Presidential Award of Merit, Philippine Bar Association 1986, 1989, 1990; Certificate of Appreciation, Supreme Court, July 6, 1989; Chief Justice Special Award, Chief Justice of the Philippines, June 11, 1991. Vice-President-Legal, Philippine Airlines, Inc., 1971-1972. Chairman/President, GMA Network, Inc. Advisor and Consultant, Philippine Air Panel, 1971-1993. Author: "The Civil Aeronautics Board: Powers, Procedures and Regulation", 1993. Special Lecturer: Taxation, Economic Development Foundation, 1969; Current Issues Affecting Airlines in the Philippines, U.P. Law Center, 1985. Lecturer: Seminar on Carriage of Goods by Air, Institute of Advanced Studies, 1984. Special Lecturer, 16th World Law Conference "Legal Issues in International Civil Aviation Arising from Deregulation," Manila, 1993. Promoting Ethical Behavior Among Sheriffs, Sheriff's Conference, 1989' Monopoly and Press Censorship: Some Lessons from the Philippine Experience, 14th Conference on the law of the World at Beijing, 1990. Member: The Preparatory Commission on Constitutional Reform (1999); Integrated Bar of the Philippines (Director, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong & San Juan Chapter, 1973-1974); Philippine Bar Association (President, 1988-1989; Director, 1983-1993); Telecommunications and Broadcasting Attorneys of the Philippines (Chairman, 1993); Philippine Society of International Law; Tax Management Association; Aviation Lawyers Association of the Philippines (President, 1982-1983; Director, 1984-1985); American and International Bar Associations; Makati Law Foundation (Chairman, 1995).

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino
PRACTICE AREAS : Appellate Practice; Aviation and Aerospace; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Communications and Media; Contracts; Corporate Law; Natural Resources; Taxation; Transportation.
EMAIL : mail@bgepal.com
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ELMA

MAGDANGAL B. ELMA

Born in Lucban, Quezon, Philippines, January 2, 1939; University of the Philippines, B.S.J., cum laude, 1961; LL.B., cum laude 1961; Yale Law School, LL.M 1962; Editor-in-Chief, Philippinesian 1961; Vice-Chairman, Editorial Board, Philippine Law Journal (1960–1961); Vice-Chairman, Editorial Board, Law Register (1959–1960); Member, Order of the Purple Feather, U.P. Law Honor Society(1957–1961); Government Service: Presidential Assistant for Legal and Judicial Affairs and Acting Executive Secretary (Presidency of Corazon C. Aquino); Chairman, Presidential Commission on Good Government and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel (Presidency of Joseph Ejercito Estrada); and Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns (Presidency of Simeon Benigno C. Aquino III) and Associate Justice, Court of Appeals (1987); First Filipino Editor, The Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, Rochester, New York, U.S.A. (author of various treatises appearing in American Jurisprudence 2d and annotations in American Law Reports) (1962–1967); Author, “The Aquino Presidency and the Constitution” (1993); Professorial/Special Lecturer, College of Law and U.P. Law Center, University of the Philippines; Member, Board of Editorial Consultants, Supreme Court Reports Annotated (1972–1974); Member, Board of Directors of various private corporations (e.g. PLDT & PNOC); Scholarships & Awards: Sterling Graduate Fellowship, Yale University Law School (1961–1962); Yale Club Law Golden Jubilee Scholarship, College of Law, University of the Philippines (1959–1961); Entrance and College Scholarships, University of the Philippines (1955–1961); U.P. Presidential Pins and Certificates of Merit (1958–1961); Awards/Citation: Plaques, awards and/or citations from Presidents Corazon C. Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada & Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, from the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment & Natural Resources and other government instrumentalities; Awards from the Province of Quezon (Medalya ng Karangalan), Municipality of Lucban and various civic and charitable organizations; Biographical sketch included in prestigious international publications, such as “Marquis Who’s Who in this World” and “The Barons Who’s Who (USA)”.Organizations: Phi Kappa Phi (International Honor Society); Phi Gamma Mu (International Honor Society); Philippine Bar Association (Director, 1994 – 1998); U.P. Law Alumni Association (Vice-President & Director, 1986 – 1987); Yale Club of the Philippines; Foundation for Judicial Excellence (Chairman, Screening Committee, 1996 – 1997); Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Philippine Society of International Law; Philippine Constitutional Association; Asia-Pacific Lawyers Association.

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino
PRACTICE AREAS : Appellate Practice; Political Law; Corporate and Commercial Law; Communications and Media; Contracts; Natural Resources
EMAIL : mbelma@bgepal.com
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PAREL

ROBERTO O. PAREL

Born in Manila, Philippines, February 19, 1956; admitted 1981, Philippines. Education: University of the Philippines (A.B., Philosophy, 1976; LL.B., 1980). Manila Alumnus, 1989 Academy of America and International Law, The Southwestern Legal Foundation, Dallas, Texas, Member: Alumni Association of the Academy of American and International Law (Philippines); AOTS Alumni Society. Member: Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Philippine Bar Association. He is a Director of Time-Life International Philippines, Capitalex Holdings, Inc., Ipilan Nickel Corporation, Nickel Laterite Resources, Inc., Berong Nickel Corporation, Ulugan Nickel Corporation, Ulugan Resources Holdings, Inc., Nickeline Resources Holdings, Inc., TMM Management Inc., and Assetvalues Holding Company, Inc., Selenga Mining Corporation; Corporate Secretary of Alta Productions Group, Inc., Scenarios, Inc., Citynet Network Marketing and Productions, Inc., GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc., Hinoba Holdings (Philippines), Inc.

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino
PRACTICE AREAS : Labor Relations; Natural Resources; Intellectual Property.
EMAIL : roparel@bgepal.com
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ASUNCION

GENER E. ASUNCION

Born in Tarlac, Tarlac, Philippines, September 12, 1945; admitted, 1972, Philippines. Education: University of Santo Tomas (A.B. cum laude; LL.B., cum laude). Recipient, Academic Award for Academic Excellence from the Rector Magnificus, University of Sto.Tomas, 1971. Editor-in-Chief, UST Law Review, 1971. Judicial Assistant of Associate Justice Ruperto G. Martin, Supreme Court of the Philippines, 1975-1977. Professor, Civil Law Review, 1975-1984. Member: Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Philippine Bar Association; Makati Law Foundation (Director).

LANGUAGES : English, Filipino and Pampango.
PRACTICE AREAS : Civil Litigation; Criminal Litigation; Tax Litigation; Apellate Practice before the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court; Corporate Litigation; Agrarian Reform; Mining Law; Insurance Law.
EMAIL : geasuncion@bgepal.com
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LUCILA

ROBERTO RAFAEL V. LUCILA

Born in Camalig, Albay, Philippines, June 7, 1956; admitted, 1981, Philippines. Education: University of the Philippines (A.B. Psychology, 1976; LL.B., 1980). Phi Kappa Phi. Scholar, First National City Bank, CITIBANK. Contributor: The Lawyers' Review: Integrated Bar of the Philippines Journal and Magazine; Supreme Court Reports Annotated (SCRA). Accredited Court of Appeals Mediator; Accredited trainor for Court of Appeals Mediators; Accredited Tax Law Specialist, US International Revenue Service Special Examining Unit, Office of Personnel Management, 1982. Assistant Executive Secretary, Legislation, Office of the President of the Philippines, 1990-1992. Chairman: Philippine Retirement Authority, 1991-1992; Chairman, South China Sea Fishery Disputes Committee 1991-1992. Seminars on Taxation, Foundation for Accounting Education, New York City, 1982; 29th Academy of American and International Law, International and Comparative Law Center, The Southwestern Legal Foundation, Dallas, Texas, 1992; Strategic Business Economics Program, University of Asia and the Pacific (1999); Lecturer, College of Business Administration, University of the Philippines(1993); Professor, College of Law, San Sebastian College; Lecturer, Lyceum University College of Law (2004-present); Lecturer, 1997 XVth Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA). Legal Counsel, University of the Philippines, 1981. Member, Philippine National Railways, Board of Directors, 1989-1990; Civil Aeronautics Board, 1990-1991. Member: Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Association of Philippine Barristers (Member, Board of Trustees, 1991); Philippine Bar Association (Director, 2001-present); Philippine Constitution Association; Telecommunications and Broadcasting Attorneys of the Philippines; Lectures: “An Overview of: Creditors Rights under Philippine Law and the Philippine Corporate Rehabilitation” Presented at the 2005 Avenue Global Investor Conference, September 15 and 16, 2005, The Pierre, Manhattan, New York, U.S.A.; “The Legal Framework of the Telecommunications Industry in the Philippines”, Presented at the XVth [LAWASIA] The Law Association for Asia and The Pacific Conference, 26-31 August 1997, PICC, Manila, Philippines; Center for Global Best Practices Lecture Series on Corporate Rehabilitation, 2008 (Peninsula, Makati City and 2009 (Shangrila, Mandaluyong); IBP National Convention in Subic, Olongapo City, 2010, with the topic on the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010 (“FRIA Law”); Book: Corporate Rehabilitation in the Philippines (2007;Central Book Supply)
Articles: Presidential Rule Making Power”, The Lawyers Review, (Vol. VII) pp.6-13 [1993]; “Negotiations with Taiwan on Navigation and Fisheries Issues: A Participant’s View, World Bulletin, (Vol. 8), pp.52-66 [Sept-Dec. 1992]; “The Legal Framework of the Telecommunications Industry in the Philippines”, The Lawyers Review, (Vol. XI), pp. 2 to 9, [1997], Presented at the XVth [LAWASIA]; The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific Conference, 26-31 August 1997, Manila, Philippines; “Merger & Consolidation Issues In the Telecommunications Industry”; Integrated Bar of the Philippines [IBP] Law Journal and Magazine pp. 118-123 [Nos. 2 & 3; 2nd and 3rd Quarter 1998]; “The Parameters of A Compromise In Cases Involving Ill-gotten Wealth” 299 SCRA,793-812 [1998]; “Rule Against Forum Shopping” in relation to the case of “Ramon M. Veluz v. Court of Appeals and Rudecon Management Corporation, G.R.No. 139951, November 23, 2000”(345 SCRA, 768-780 [2000]); "Classical Issues in Corporation Law” in relation to the case of "Republic of the Philippines v. Sandiganbayan” (3rd Division), Jose L. Africa, UNIMOLCO, Roberto Benedicto, Andres Africa and Smart Communications, G.R. No. 128606, December 4, 2000 (346 SCRA, 771-780 [2000]).

LANGUAGES : English, Filipino and Bicolano.
PRACTICE AREAS : Corporate and Commercial law; regulatory practice in Telecommunications, Broadcast and Aviation; Congressional matters; Appellate practice; and special projects involving Foreign Investments, Acquisitions, Divestments, Merger/De-merger, and Insolvency (Corporate Rehabilitation/Restructuring and Liquidation); Constitutional Law; Entertainment Law.
EMAIL : bobby.lucila@bgepal.com
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ESTOESTA

ERIC VINCENT A. ESTOESTA

Born in Manila, Philippines, July 18, 1965; admitted, 1991, Philippines. Education: San Beda College (A.B., magna cum laude, Economics, 1986); Ateneo de Manila University (LL.B., 1990). Member: Ateneo de Manila Law Alumni Association; Fraternal Order of Utopia. Member: Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Philippine Bar Association.

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino.
PRACTICE AREAS : Civil and Criminal Litigation; Commercial and Tax Litigation; Mining Law; Natural Resources; Appellate Practice.
EMAIL : eaestoesta@bgepal.com
JUNIOR PARTNERS
 
ABROGAR

ANNA-TERESA GOZON-ABROGAR

Born in Makati City, Philippines, November 3, 1971; admitted, 1998, Philippines: Education: Ateneo de Manila University (B.S. Management Engineering, cum laude, 1993); University of the Philippines (LL.B., cum laude, valedictorian, 1997); Harvard Law School (LL.M. 1999). Phi Kappa Phi; Pi Gamma Mu. Trustee, Bantay Katarungan Foundation. Professor in Taxation, University of the Philippines, College of Law. Member: Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Harvard Law School Association; UP Women in Law; Order of the Purple Feather; Harvard Law School Association of the Philippines; Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Member, Committee on Taxation); Tax Management Association of the Philippines.

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino.
PRACTICE AREAS : Taxation; Corporate Law; Internet Law.
EMAIL : mail@bgepal.com
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CANTARA

PIERRE M. CANTARA

Born Manila, Philippines, November 8, 1971; admitted, 1998, Philippines. Education: Ateneo de Manila University (B.S. Business Management, 1993; J.D., 1997). Member: Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino.
PRACTICE AREAS : Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Labor Law, Mining Law.
EMAIL : pmcantara@bgepal.com
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MORENO

REGINO A. MORENO

Born in Caloocan City, Philippines, March 21, 1963; admitted 1993, Philippines. Education: University of Pangasinan (A.B., Political Science); University of Sto. Tomas (LL.B., 1987). Legal Assistant, Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudications Board, Department of Agrarian Reform, 1988-1989. Technical Assistant, Legal Office, Office of the President of the Philippines, 1990-1993. Officer-in-Charge, Office of Budget and Corporate Affairs, Office of the President, 1993. Member: Maritime Industry Authority Board, 1993; Investment Coordination Committee Technical Board, National Economic Development Authority, 1993; Inter-Agency Committee for Registration and Classification of Contractors, 1993. Assistant Secretary, Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Office of the President of the Philippines, 1999-2001. Chairman, Presidential Investigation Sub-Committee on Local Water Utilities Administration, 2000. Director and Vice President, Sagittarius Condominium Corp. 2010 – 2011, Director & President, Sagittarius Condominium Corp. 2011-2013; Director & Chief Executive Officer, Cerbio International Corporation, 2011; Director, OAMPI Inc. 2012-2013.

MEMBER : Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Aegis Juris Fraternity; Philippine Bar Association; Philippine Constitution Association.
LANGUAGES : English and Filipino.
PRACTICE AREAS : Litigation; Mining Law; Civil Law; Family Law; Criminal Law; Agrarian Reform; Labor Law; Constitution and Administrative Law, Immigration Law.
EMAIL : ramoreno@bgepal.com
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TUPAS

YVONNE ANGELI C. LEE TUPAS

Born in Manila, Philippines, June 15, 1970; admitted, 1999, Republic of the Philippines. Education: University of the Philippines (B.A. Communications-Mass Communications, magna cum laude, valedictorian, 1992; LL.B., dean's medallist, 1998). Phi Kappa Phi; Phi Gamma Mu. Order of the Purple Feather. Member, UP Women Lawyer Circle. Member: Philippine Bar Association; Integrated Bar of the Philippines. Concurrently Chief of Staff of Rep. Niel C. Tupas, Jr. who represents the 5th District of Iloilo Province, Philippines.

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino.
PRACTICE AREAS : Corporate Law; Internet Law.
EMAIL : acltupas@bgepal.com
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DE MESA

MARIA THERESA E. DE MESA

Born in San Juan, Rizal, November 10, 1976; admitted, 2002, Philippines. Education: University of the Philippines (B.A. Political Science, 1997, cum laude); Ateneo de Manila University (Juris Doctor, 2001). Pi Gamma Mu. Member: Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino.
PRACTICE AREAS : Corporate Law; Litigation; Intellectual Property; Labor Law.
EMAIL : medemesa@bgepal.com
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GOZON

FELIPE M. GOZON, JR.

Born in Manila, Philippines on May 13, 1978; resides in Makati City; admitted to the Bar 2006; Education: Ateneo De Manila University (B.S. Management Engineering - 2000), University of the Philippines - College of Law (Bachelor of Laws, 2004); Harvard Law School (LL.M. 2009). Member: Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Philippine Bar Association.

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino.
PRACTICE AREAS : Corporate Law, Mining Law
EMAIL : fmgozon@bgepal.com
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ARLES

MARIA ESTELITA B. ARLES

Born in Bacolod City, Philippines, April 26, 1984; admitted to the bar 2010; Education: De La Salle University Manila (Bachelor of Arts Major in Literature, 2004, cum laude, Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English, 2004, cum laude) Most Outstanding Student Lecturer; Ateneo De Manila School of Law (Juris Doctor, 2009); Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

LANGUAGES : English, Filipino and Hiligaynon
PRACTICE AREAS : Litigation, Corporate, Labor.
EMAIL : rbarles@bgepal.com
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ALZONA

IVIN RONALD D.M. ALZONA

Born: Lucena City, Philippines, January 25, 1981; resides in Makati City; admitted to the Bar, 2011; Education: San Beda College (B.S.C. Business Management & Entrepreneurship, With Academic Distinction, 2002,); San Beda College of Law – Mendiola, Manila (Bachelor of Laws, 2010); Recipient, Ten Outstanding Students of San Beda College Award; Member: Alpha Phi Beta – San Beda College (Vice Lord Chancellor, 2008-2009); Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) – Makati Chapter; Work Experience: Financial Analyst, Intel Corporation; Tax Associate, Punongbayan & Araullo - Grant Thornton International, Ltd.

LANGUAGES : English, Filipino
PRACTICE AREAS : Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Corporate and Commercial Law, Taxation.
EMAIL : idalzona@bgepal.com
SPECIAL CONSULTANT
 
FIGUEROA

ROBERTO L. FIGUEROA

Born in Rosario, Cavite, Philippines, April 27, 1970; admitted 1994, Philippines; 2003, New York. Education: University of the Philippines (B.A. Political Science, magna cum laude, Valedictorian, 1989; LL.B., 1993); Harvard Law School (LL.M., International Finance Concentration, East Asia Legal Studies Fellowship Awardee, 2002); Hague Academy of International Law (Certificate in Public International Law, 2000). Phi Kappa Phi; Pi Gamma Mu. Vice President, General Counsel’s Office, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (New York), 2004-2010; Capital Markets Associate, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP (New York), 2002-2004; Partner, Pena Sanchez Lacson Mison & Figueroa, 1999-2001; Associate, Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose, 1993-1997. Professorial Lecturer (Bills, Notes and Negotiable Instruments; Agency and Partnership; Legal Theory), University of the Philippines, College of Law. Member: Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Cavite Chapter; American Bar Association; New York Bar Association; Harvard Club of New York City.

LANGUAGES : English and Filipino.
PRACTICE AREAS : Corporate and Commercial Law; Banking and Finance; Capital Markets; Swaps and Derivatives.
EMAIL : rlfigueroa@bgepal.com
 
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SENIOR PARTNERS

Enrique M. Belo (1922-2004)

Felipe L. Gozon
MAGDANGAL B. ELMA
Roberto O. Parel
Gener E. Asuncion
Roberto Rafael V. Lucila
Eric Vincent A. Estoesta

 
JUNIOR PARTNERS

Anna-Teresa Gozon-Abrogar *

Pierre M. Cantara

Regino A. Moreno

Yvonne Angeli C. Lee Tupas *

Maria Theresa E. De Mesa

 
ASSOCIATES

FELIPE M. GOZON, JR.

MARIA ESTELITA B. ARLES

Ivin Ronald D.M. Alzona

 
SPECIAL CONSULTANT

Roberto L. Figueroa

 
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Antonio A. Merelos
Angelita D. De Guzman
 
* - on leave