About Philippines
The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, offering significant opportunities for both domestic and international businesses.
The Philippines has recently become part of the Europe Free Trade Association – Philippines Free Trade Agreement (2016), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (2020) and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity Agreement Relating to Supply Chain Resilience (2023), Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity Agreement Relating to a Clean Economy (2024), developments that are expected to further enhance trade, strengthen business opportunities and attract increased investments.
Our Philippines Practice supports clients across a broad range of legal matters, combining local market knowledge with regional expertise.
We advise on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and restructuring, trust structuring, and regulatory compliance. Our team is well-acquainted with sector-specific regulations, particularly in the financial services, energy, infrastructure, and technology industries.
On the dispute resolution front, our highly regarded practice represents both Philippine and international parties in international arbitrations under major institutional rules including the ICC and SIAC. We also regularly act for Philippine clients in enforcement and setting-aside applications before the Singapore Courts.
In addition to our in-house Philippine law capabilities, our practice is further strengthened by our partnership with the Philippine law firm, Gruba Caganda Advincula Melo & de la Fuente ("Gruba Law"), a member of WPG.
Gruba Law, a full-service firm, is widely recognised for its tax practice, as well as its expertise in banking and finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, litigation and dispute resolution.
Strengthened by deep expertise and unwavering commitment, we aim to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.
Gruba Law
Gruba Caganda Advincula Melo & de la Fuente (Gruba Law) is a full-service law firm with a strong standing reputation in representing and advising clients in general corporate and commercial matters, tax, banking, finance and capital markets, as well as foreign investments in the Philippines. The Firm focuses on commercial issues, such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate financing, real estate transactions, tax, commercial litigation and labour relations. They also perform business and corporate formation, secure tax incentives from government regulatory agencies, draft and negotiate lease agreements, and advise on regulatory concerns for various industries.
Our Collaborative Work
Some significant matters Gruba Law and WongPartnership have jointly worked on include having acted for the following:
- A full service bank in the Philippines with setting up a Singapore branch office to carry out wholesale banking in Singapore under a license granted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
- Menarini Asia-Pacific, part of the world's largest Italian biopharmaceutical company, on managing its IP portfolios throughout Asia.
- Brimwood Investments Limited in the acquisition of intellectual property rights and brand name relating to Japanese tableware.
- A BVI fund in an SIAC arbitration against a Philippines conglomerate over toll road concessions in South East Asia concerning claims in excess of US$1 billion.
- The liquidator of one of the largest steel manufacturers in South-east Asia in an SIAC arbitration commenced against the liquidator and the secured creditors of the steel manufacturer, for alleged breach of an asset purchase agreement (governed by Philippine law), involving claims of over US$600 million.
