M&A Law Firm of the Year – the Philippines
Date June 15, 2014
Author Atty. Mark O. Vergara M and A Law Firm of the Year – the Philippines
MARTINEZ VERGARA GONZALEZ & SERRANO
The Philippine economy has experienced exceptional growth in the past few years. Leading law firm Martinez Vergara Gonzalez & Serrano (MVGS) has shared that journey. MVGS was formed in 2006 through the dynamic mix of young experts in the legal profession. The young team has since then managed to bring MVGS to the forefront of a growing legal environment previously dominated by large and older law firms.
The journey of MVGS to its position as a leading and tiered commercial law firm in the Philippines is attributed to its ability to adopt fresh, innovative and creative ways of addressing client concerns. This critical attitude manifests in the Firm’s successful projects as MVGS prides itself with a client roster that includes the Philippines’ biggest conglomerates and major players across various industries.
The Firm boasts of a much sought-after practice in M&A, projects & energy, capital markets and corporate finance. In the capital markets, the Firm has advised on the first two initial public offerings at the Philippine Stock Exchange for 2014, with a third offering just completing regulatory approvals.
The Firm is at the helm of the private sector’s participation in the Philippine Government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program, a cornerstone of the Aquino Administration’s development agenda. Since December 2011, of the seven PPP projects awarded, the Firm advised on three – the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the School Infrastructure Project of the DepEd, and the Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, with combined local and foreign investments of about US$1.2 billion.
In the area of project finance, the Firm has in the past two years advised on financing projects with combined value of US$1.75 billion to fund a broad spectrum of industries, including power generation, water utilities, renewable energy, toll roads, airports and other infrastructure projects.
MVGS is delighted and appreciates its recognition as M&A Law Firm of the Year. The award recognizes the Firm’s significant role in the consolidation of the Philippine banking industry. MVGS is privileged to advise the Philippines’ largest bank, BDO Unibank, Inc. in its decade-long M&A deals, including its merger with Equitable-PCI Bank, and acquisitions of American Express Bank, GE Money Bank and Citibank Savings Inc.
MVGS believes in providing value to its clients and this means asking the right questions, giving timely and responsive solutions, and facilitating seamless execution through adequate preparation. MVGS promotes a team culture, offering an environment for constant training, mutual learning and feedback. Shared experience and expertise prepare its junior members to complement senior lawyers.
The Firm will bring this culture to the coming ASEAN Integration in 2015. The Partners believe that this will be the Firm’s biggest challenge but also its biggest opportunity. The challenge is for MVGS to remain competitive in order to advise both local and foreign clients in entering the global market.