Top firms face immense pressure to retain top attorneys, particularly new associates. Many of these law firms would be wise to initiate programs and examine data on why lawyers leave their firms.

One of the Philippines' top-tier law firms, Martinez Vergara Gonzalez Sociedad, takes pride in establishing itself as a highly-respected and leading law firm in the country that provides a full range of excellent legal services in the areas of Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Projects & Energy, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labour and Employment, and Immigration.

At the 15th anniversary celebration of the MVGS held at the Manila Polo Club recently, Senior partner and head of the Firm's Dispute Resolution Practice Group, lawyer Eduardo "Dindo" A. Martinez, said, "Fifteen years is a milestone for MVGS. When I look back to the day we started, we were laughing at each other's dreams. But later, I realized that we were headed in that direction year after year [with the law firm]. We realized our dreams."

Indeed, the law firm achieved essential milestones in its 15-year history when it partnered with the Drew Network Asia, a network of premium legal firms, on 1 October 2021, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

The DNA alliance includes some of the most influential and well-established South East Asian law firms, namely Drew & Napier LLC from Singapore, Makarim & Taira S. from Indonesia, and Shearn Delamore & Co. from Malaysia.

In addition, Martinez was again recognized this year as one of The Philippines' Top 100 Lawyers 2021 (The A-List) by the Asia Business Law Journal for the second time in a row.

BANKING AND FINANCE

Banking and finance is the firm's core and steady area of expertise, and the firm acts as retained counsel for many leading local and foreign banks and financial institutions in the country. Particular interest areas in banking operations, particularly regulatory compliance, are the firm's strong suit.

The firm and its partners have participated in numerous loan syndications, project finance transactions, debt restructuring, and legal advisory on related debt relief strategies across industries, acting for financial institutions, borrowers, and project proponents.

CAPITAL MARKETS

The firm's team of securities practitioners has handled a broad spectrum of securities-related issues ranging from initial public offerings, follow-on and rights offer, tender offers, reverse takeovers of publicly listed firms, and issuances of global depositary receipts, as well as private equity.

The firm works closely with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the regulatory authority tasked with implementing the Securities Regulation Code, and the Philippine Stock Exchange, a private organization, afforded Self-Regulatory status.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

M&A is a core practice area of MVGS. Of particular significance is the instrumental role of the firm's Partners in the consolidation of the banking and financial sector, as their participation in acquisitions involves both equity purchases and asset sales in businesses in various sectors.
For its M&A deals, the firm is closely involved in all transaction stages, from initial structuring and due diligence review, the merger or acquisition documentation, and related agreements securing the relevant regulatory approvals to transition.

PROJECTS & ENERGY

The projects and energy practice of the firm has grown in the last few years and has complemented its banking and finance practice. These two practice areas have significantly participated in the growing Philippine economy, specifically in public and private infrastructure projects.

REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION

The firm regularly represents individual and institutional clients in various real estate transactions, working across its other vital practice areas to provide advice on a wide range of matters — from simple property transfers, leasing, and mortgaging to more complicated transactions involving structuring of acquisitions and divestments, infrastructure development and financing, and taxation issues.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
(LITIGATION AND ADR)

The firm handles a full range of dispute resolution and mediation cases, covering criminal, civil, and administrative litigation, and includes appellate practice and advocacy.

MVGS has a strong arbitration team headed by Shirley Alinea, who is concurrently a trustee of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. and an accredited arbitrator of the PDRCI, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The firm handles IP requirements of its domestic and international clients, including registration of trademarks, copyrights, and patents, legal advisory on contractual concerns, and prosecution and defense of intellectual property infringement actions.

MVGS is a member of the Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines, the leading organization of Intellectual Property Law practitioners in the Philippines.

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

The firm's Labor law practice includes advisory services on various labor issues, authoring Employment Manuals, and serving as counsel in negotiations for Collective Bargaining Agreements.

The firm advises and assists in implementing hiring programs, training, retrenchment, redundancy, closure of companies, and employee movements. The firm also handles labor litigation, arbitration, conciliation, and mediation.

TAXATION

The key objectives of the Firm's Taxation Practice Group are: to provide a business-friendly, practical and cost-effective approach to clients' tax concerns, whether it be for their businesses, family, or personal needs, and to provide excellent taxation administration and litigation services, encompassing the range of tax remedies.

ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION

Merger review has since become a new normal in Philippine M&As with the enactment of the Philippine Competition Act, its implementing regulations, and other issuances of the Philippine Competition Commission.

The firm represents clients before the PCC in pre-notification consultations, filing of Notification Forms, and submission and compliance with Requests for Information by the PCC under Phase 1 and 2 reviews. The firm is also among the first practitioners to appear before the adjudication proceedings of the PCC.

BUSINESS FORMATION AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT

MVGS assists in forming corporate vehicles, including domestic corporations, local branches of foreign companies, representative offices, and regional operating headquarters.

This specialized practice involves advising local and foreign investors on legal and regulatory requirements for setting up and maintaining their businesses in the Philippines. It also covers a broad range of legal services, including corporate services and legal advisory on business taxation, corporate reorganization, and dissolution.

RESTRUCTURING AND INSOLVENCY

Corporate and debt restructuring are also significant areas of expertise. Debt restructuring projects include legal advisory on related debt relief strategies.

For Corporate Restructuring, deals handled by the firm include mergers and acquisitions involving both equity purchase and asset sale in various businesses, due diligence review, corporate reorganization or structuring advisory, documentation of implementing agreements, securing the relevant regulatory approvals, and counseling on transition issues, among others.