Firm Profile
The Firm was founded in 1984 by retired Justice Ricardo C. Puno, Sr., a recognized authority in Philippine civil, commercial and procedural law. From its initial concentration and expertise in litigation, the Firm has aggressively expanded and diversified its areas of practice in the last five years, and successfully positioned itself as a top-tier law Firm in the Philippines. It has progressed into a full-service law Firm offering premium and efficient legal services in various fields of practice to clients, both domestic and foreign, representing a broad range of industries. To complement its prominent litigation practice, the Firm has emerged as a leader in the areas of energy, securities law, taxation law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate rehabilitation, project finance, mining and recently, in a trailblazing move, the Social License Practice, the first and only one of its kind in the country.
To cope with this expansion, the Firm has intensified its recruitment of lawyers and has, as a result, attracted top associates and the top graduates of the most prestigious law schools in the country. The number of lawyers working for the Firm has increased from less than 20 in 2004 to nearly 50 today, making it one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country.
The Firm's partners are young but highly-experienced and innovative lawyers who are acknowledged as experts and emerging leaders in their respective fields. A number of the partners of the Firm have received further education from universities and training facilities outside the Philippines or from international seminars and conventions. Following the lead of its founding partner, most lawyers (including senior partner Mr. Regis V. Puno, who served as Undersecretary of the Department of Justice from 1998 to 2001) also have extensive experience in government service, having previously occupied advanced positions in government agencies and departments. They have been able to maintain excellent relations with the Philippine government, and this aids the Firm in competently advising its clients on the existing regulatory framework applicable to their respective businesses, as well as on the local political climate.
Other senior partners, particularly Mr. Ricardo V. Puno, Jr., Mr. Roderico V. Puno, Mr. Julito R. Sarmiento and Mr. John Maynard G. Atotubo, were previously involved in private corporate practice as General Counsels of leading Philippine companies in broadcast and print media, power generation and the mining industry, respectively. Their experience in the actual operations of these companies has allowed the Firm to provide a sophisticated commercial, social and practical perspective in advising its clients in the mass media, telecommunications, energy, mining and insurance industries, and other related businesses that is immensely value-adding.
The Firm's development and growth remains a continuing endeavor for its partners and lawyers.