KRISTINE CAMILLE Y. UMALI-GARCIA

Practice Areas Labor and Corporate Law Admission to the Bar Admitted, 2014 Education University of the Philippines Professional Activities and Memberships Integrated Bar of the Philippines Kristine Camille Y. Umali-Garcia is a partner in Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako Law Offices. She specializes in Labor and Corporate Law. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in May 2014 and joined the law firm in January 2016. Prior to joining the firm, she worked as an Associate at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan. Ms. Umali handles employment and labor matters, including assistance on day-to-day employment-related concerns, review of employment agreements and other labor-related documents, and handling termination and union disputes before the Philippine courts and labor tribunals, including the National Labor Relations Commission, National Conciliation Mediation Board, and the Department of Labor and Employment. She is part of the management panel of telecommunications, manufacturing, and milling companies, and assisted in collective bargaining negotiations with rank-and-file, supervisory, and sales unions. Ms. Umali’s clientele for labor matters includes prominent local and multinational companies in telecommunications, manufacturing, business process outsourcing, banking and finance, advertising and marketing, aviation, agriculture, and logistics industries. Ms. Umali also handles a broad range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities offerings, project financing, and corporate housekeeping. She lead due diligence teams for various transactions, with particular emphasis on corporate information, regulatory framework, material agreements, and labor issues. She assisted and advised companies on various corporate matters, including doing business in the Philippines, dissolution, corporate rehabilitation, data privacy, anti-dummy, anti-bribery, and competition law. Her clientele for corporate matters includes local and foreign companies in the property and real estate development, advertising and marketing, telecommunications, aviation, banking, and business process outsourcing industries.

BRODERICK C. ARCILLA

Practice Areas Litigation Labor Law Admission to the Bar Admitted, 2012 Education Ateneo de Manila University Professional Activities and Memberships Member, IBP Quezon City Chapter  Mr. Broderick C. Arcilla is a Partner in Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako. He joined the firm in November 2013. Ms./Mr. Arcilla’s practice includes dispute resolution, labor, and corporate housekeeping. He has extensive experience in civil and criminal litigation and intra-corporate disputes, appearing before the Sandiganbayan, various First Level Courts, Offices of City Prosecutors, and other quasi-judicial bodies. He also specializes in medical malpractice cases. His notable cases include being part of the successful team which defended a Fortune 500 Company in a construction arbitration matter before the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission. He also acted as Private Prosecutor working with State Prosecutors in multiple cases of Serious Illegal Detention, Grave Coercion, Rape, and Perjury involving well-known individuals. He was also part of the successful defense team representing high ranking officials of the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police in civil and criminal cases filed by militant groups. He was likewise part of the team able to obtain a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction against the Blue Ribbon Committee of the Senate of the Philippines regarding an inquiry in aid of legislation over the DOH budget utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mr. Arcilla has also handled various labor matters, including certification elections, and also engages in corporate housekeeping as Corporate Secretary and Director of several corporations. Before joining the firm, he was an associate at Medialdea Ata Bello Guevarra and Suarez right after passing the bar. In his free time he loves to listen to rock music, watch concerts, and travel. He is a lifelong Manchester United fan.

GREGORIO R. BILOG IV

Practice Areas Litigation and Dispute Resolution Labor Law Commercial and Corporate Law Admission to the Bar Admitted, 2020 Education Ateneo de Manila University (A.B. Economics) Ateneo de Manila Law School (Juris Doctor, Second Honors) Professional Activities and Memberships Member, IBP Makati Chapter Atty. Gregorio R. Bilog IV is a Partner in Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako. He joined the firm in 2020. Atty. Bilog’s practice includes litigation and dispute resolution, labor law, and commercial law. In litigation and dispute resolution, Atty. Bilog handles both criminal and civil cases for various clients. He has extensive experience in writing pleadings and has appeared before courts and tribunals in Metro Manila, Luzon, and Visayas. Atty. Bilog has litigated numerous cases before First Level Courts, Appellate Courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. In labor law, Atty. Bilog has considerable experience in handling compliance with requirements of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – including internal reorganization and compliance with legal requirements for labor relations of various local and international companies. Atty. Bilog also has extensive experience in handling, litigating, and settling cases filed with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), both at the arbitration and commissions levels. In commercial and corporate law, Atty. Bilog has experience in mergers, acquisitions, and divestments in both local and multi-jurisdictional transactions. This includes the conduct of due diligence, preparation of transaction documents, and transaction negotiations. As part of this practice, Atty. Bilog handles corporate housekeeping matters for clients, including corporate reorganization and restructuring, amendments of key documents, and compliance with other requirements.

DHAN MORRIS M. SAMSON

Practice Areas Employment Law Dispute Resolution Appellate Practice Mr. Dhan Morris Samson is a Partner of the Firm, generally practicing litigation and dispute resolution. He specializes in employment disputes, land and property law, telecommunications, administrative regulation, and commercial arbitration. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Samson began his legal career with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in 2014. As an Associate Solicitor, he represented the interests of the Republic in a diversity of cases such as: appellate criminal cases, land registration and reversion, family law, citizenship and naturalization, mining and environmental cases, arbitration, and administrative regulation. In 2015, Mr. Samson joined the legal team of Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion as a Senior Court Attorney. As Justice Brion’s law clerk, Mr. Samson made his humble contributions to Philippie jurisprudence as he participated in crafting legal arguments and deconstructing previously accepted doctrines in landmark cases. Mr. Samson joined the Firm in 2017 after Justice Brion retired from the bench. Mr. Samson is an accredited arbitrator of the Philippine International Center for Conflict Resolution (PICCR). Mr. Samson was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2014. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 2013 from the Ateneo de Manila University where he also graduated with honors.

RAEGAN L. CAPUNO

Practice Areas Taxation Litigation Corporate and Commercial Law Admission to the Bar Admitted, 2016, Philippines, 12th Place Education San Sebastian College-Recoletos Manila (LLB; Consistent Dean’s Lister) First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanties (BS Accountancy; Class Valedictorian and Magna Cum Laude) Professional Activities and Memberships Member, IBP Makati Member, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Member, Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) Awards and Publications Finalist, Young Lawyer of the Year by the Asian Legal Business Philippine Law Awards 2022 Taxation Law Vol. I, 2020 ed., published by Rex Bookstore Taxation Law Vol. II, 2020 ed., published by Rex Bookstore Mr. Raegan L. Capuno is a Partner in Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako. He joined the firm in 2016, the year he was admitted to the bar. Raegan’s areas of practice are taxation, litigation, and corporate and commercial law.  In the field of taxation, Raegan handles tax assessments involving national and local taxes before the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs, and various local government units, and tax litigation cases before the trial courts, Court of Tax Appeals, and the Supreme Court. He also handles tax refund claims, tax amnesty applications, tax treaty relief applications by foreign clients, settlement of estates, and trust and estate planning. He routinely renders tax advisory and compliance services to a wide array of clients in the manufacturing, retail, real estate, aviation, services, and petroleum industries among others.   Raegan also handles civil, criminal, and administrative litigations before various administrative agencies, trial courts, and appellate courts. In the field of corporate and commercial law, Raegan handles intra-corporate disputes, corporate rehabilitation, anti-dummy law cases, public bidding cases, SEC, BOI and PEZA registration and compliance, and drafts and reviews commercial contracts, documents, and service agreements. Raegan is Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience and training in financial statement audit, internal control reviews, PAS/PFRS compliance, and agreed-upon procedure engagements. He was a former auditor at Isla Lipana & Co. (PWC Philippines). He has a strong background in the academe as Registrar, Chair of Accountancy Program, and professor of financial accounting, management accounting and services, taxation, auditing, and financial management since 2008. Raegan authored two books in Taxation Law and is a pre-bar lecturer in Recoletos Law Center, Academicus Bar Review Inc., PUP Bar Review Center, and Powerhaus Bar Review. He is a faculty member at San Sebastian College-Recoletos Manila and Universidad de Manila teaching Taxation Law. He is also a CPA reviewer and lecturer in Management Advisory Services, Taxation, and Regulatory Framework for Business Transactions, and lecturer in Criminal Procedure for Criminologists Licensure Examination. 

EDEN CATHERINE B. MOPIA-BRIONES

Practice Areas Corporate Labor Civil Litigation Admission to the Bar 2014, 4th Place Education University of the Philippines (BA English Studies, Cum Laude; Juris Doctor, Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence) Professional Activities and Memberships Member, IBP Makati Chapter  Ms. Eden Catherine B. Mopia-Briones is a Partner in Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako. She joined the firm in 2016.  Ms. Mopia-Briones’ practice includes Corporate, Labor, and Civil Litigation. In the Corporate practice, Ms. Mopia-Briones has extensive experience in a broad range of regulatory and compliance matters, including but not limited to, reportorial requirements and applications before the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine Competition Commission, National Privacy Commission, and other regulatory agencies. She has a solid background in commercial and business transactions, particularly in the conduct of due diligence, drafting of transaction documents, and contract review. As part of her practice, Ms. Mopia-Briones acts as the corporate secretary of several companies, including domestic subsidiaries of foreign corporations. She also handles corporate housekeeping matters for branch offices of foreign corporations. She likewise has considerable experience in labor matters, including the preparation of advisory opinions, representation in illegal dismissal cases and claims for unpaid salaries and benefits, and implementation of retrenchment programs and dismissals due to closure of business operations.  Ms. Mopia-Briones has also handled civil litigation, including proceedings for the settlement of estate.

EILYN E. MEDINA-GARCIA

Practice Areas Litigation Arbitration and mediation Labor Intellectual property rights Admission to the Bar Admitted, 2015 Education University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (Graduated Top Three) (JD), Best in Public International Law, Dean’s Lister University of the Philippines (Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga) – BA Psychology, Cum Laude Professional Activities and Memberships Member, IBP Pampanga Chapter  Lex Aequitas Sorority Awards and Publications ·The Bedan Review, AY 2012-2013  Ms. Medina-Garcia is a partner in Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako. She joined the firm in 2015.  Her major practice areas are Labor, Intellectual Property, Immigration, Arbitration, Civil and Criminal Law. She specializes in trademark and labor litigation, and practices Philippine Immigration Law as well. As part of her trademark practice, she handles several opposition and cancellation cases. She also assists clients in filing and maintaining their trademark registrations in the Philippines. Some of her various international clients include Zott Se & Co. KG, Oatly AB, Stefano Ricci S.P.A, and Bumble Holding Limited.  As for labor litigation, Ms. Medina-Garcia handles illegal dismissal and other labor cases starting from the filing of request for assistance with DOLE-SEnA to the Supreme Court. She also assists clients with their labor-related queries including the drafting of their code of conduct. Her Immigration practice includes handling of various work permits and employment visa applications for expatriates. She has likewise assisted clients in their application for Filipino citizen retention and reacquiring of Filipino citizenship (dual citizenship). She also has considerable experience in handling arbitration, civil, and criminal cases. She used to be a faculty member of Our Lady of Fatima University in Pampanga, and taught criminal law.

MARCO JOSE MARIA V. MABANTA

Practice Areas Litigation and Dispute Resolution Settlements and Alternative Modes of Dispute Resolution Labor Law Corporate Law Education Ateneo de Manila School of Law De La Salle University Atty. Marco Jose Maria V. Mabanta joined the firm in 2014 and specializes in Corporate Law, Estate Settlement, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Settlements and Alternative Modes of Dispute Resolution. Atty. Mabanta was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2013. He received his Juris Doctor Degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in 2012. Prior to law school, he took up Development Studies in De La Salle University where he graduated in 2008.

JONALYN G. PORQUEZ-SAMPIANO

Practice Areas Litigation Arbitration and mediation Labor Intellectual property rights Admission to the Bar Admitted, 2013 Education San Beda College Alabang, School of Law (Juris Doctor; Valedictorian; recipient of the Judge Agustin P. Montesa Award for The Most Outstanding Law Graduate for the Class of 2013; The Bedan Review, Editor-in-Chief, AY 2012-2013; SBCA Bar Operations, Academic Head, AY 2012-2013; Dean’s Lister (First Semester, S.Y. 2009-2010; First Semester, S.Y. 2010-2011; Second Semester, S.Y. 2010-2011; First Semester, S.Y. 2011-2012; Second Semester, S.Y. 2011-2012; First Semester, S.Y. 2012-2013; and Second Semester, S.Y. 2012-2013) [JD] University of the Philippines, Diliman (BS Biology) Professional Activities and Memberships Member, IBP PLLM Chapter  Member, Philippines Bar Association Adjunct Faculty in San Beda College Alabang School of Law (2014 to present) Awards and Publications The Bedan Review, AY 2012-2013  Mrs. Jonalyn G. Porquez-Sampiano is a partner  in Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako. She joined the firm in 2014. Mrs. Sampiano’s practice includes litigation, arbitration and mediation, labor, and intellectual property rights.  Mrs. Sampiano’s experience in litigation vary from civil, criminal and administrative litigation, estate proceedings, family court cases, arbitration and mediation.  The litigation practice includes rendering legal advice; providing risk assessment and risk management; attending hearings; negotiating with parties; and managing relevant stakeholders. She has appeared in cases before the regular trial courts, the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc., the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission, the Insurance Commission, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, the Social Security System, and Professional Regulation Commission. In her labor practice, Mrs. Sampiano has handled labor litigation involving cases filed with the NLRC, POEA and NCMB, and labor matters such as DOLE inspection proceedings, collective bargaining negotiations, union strikes and lockouts, and employee disability claims. She has likewise rendered numerous legal advice on the management and mitigation of risks arising from execution of business development plans and operational changes with employee-relations impact.  As part of the Intellectual Property practice, Mrs. Sampiano has handled the processing and issuance of patent certificates for inventions, utility models, and industrial designs. She has also assisted clients in the filing, maintenance and protection of their trademark, including the filing of Declarations of Actual Use and pursuing or defending their claims in infringement cases. Mrs. Sampiano also has experience in aviation law, including attending and prosecuting cases filed before the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). She has likewise assisted clients in filing with the CAB fare rates and adjustments and applications for authority to operate aircrafts. Her experience in aviation law likewise involves investigating, on behalf of foreign clients, insurance claims and rendering advice on claim liability.  Mrs. Sampiano has also handled corporate matters (specifically due diligence and corporate housekeeping), and civil and criminal litigation (including corporate rehabilitation).” For a brief period, Mrs. Sampiano joined A. Magsaysay Inc., where she served as Legal Manager and internal counsel for Magsaysay Maritime Corporation handling employments disputes, contracts, disability claims, and government compliance and registration. She also held the position of internal counsel for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Magsaysay Multipurpose Cooperative, and People Serve Multipurpose Cooperative.

FRANCES GRACE ALLYANA E. ORBETA-NOLASCO

Practice Areas Corporate and Tax Education Admitted to the Bar, 2013, Philippines Certified Public Accountant, 2008, Philippines Erasmus University Rotterdam (LL.M. European Master in Law and Economics) Hamburg University (LL.M. European Master in Law and Economics) Aix-Marseille University (Master Droit Economie Gestion, mention Economie du Droit, spécialité Business Law and Economics) University of the Philippines (Juris Doctor) University of San Carlos (B.S. Accountancy) Professional Activities and Memberships Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, RSM Chapter Member, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants Member, UP Women Lawyers’ Circle Director, Crossfuze Pacific Corporation Awards and Publications Tax on corporate transactions in Philippines: overview, Thomson Reuters Tax on corporate lending and bond issues in Philippines: overview, Thomson Reuters Philippine Chapter of Getting the Deal Through (Tax Controversy), 2016 Ms. Orbeta-Nolasco is a Partner in the firm’s Corporate and Tax practice. She joined the firm in 2013. In the Corporate practice, Ms. Orbeta-Nolasco has extensive experience in domestic and cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, equity investments, and divestments in a broad range of industries. She also regularly advises clients on general corporate matters. Among her recent transactions, Ms. Orbeta-Nolasco handled the financing deal for a landmark P42 billion (US$771 million) acquisition of telecom towers by an international operator. As part of the Tax practice, Ms. Orbeta-Nolasco regularly advises clients on taxation of local and cross-border transactions and assists them in achieving tax-efficient international corporate and deal structures. She also handles tax controversies and has successfully represented clients in tax assessment protests, including a judicial protest of a P4.47 billion (US$82.3 million) internal revenue tax assessment.