Philippine law firm VAL will open an office in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in September, founding and managing partner Ely Vasig has told Asia Business Law Journal.
The BGC office will house the firm’’s corporate law and special projects, and taxation practice groups. The lawyers in these practices will focus on corporate and commercial matters, M&A, investments, banking and finance, restructuring, technology and fintech, regulatory matters, tax advisory and controversy, cross-border transactions and other strategic business projects.
The office will be headed by partner Maria Pia Altea-Urgello, who co-heads the corporate law and special projects practice with partner Mary Aubbrey Leigh Lim. Partner Alexander Ner leads the taxation practice.
“For our corporate law, special projects and tax teams, BGC was the natural choice. A significant number of the businesses and institutional clients we advise are based in or regularly transact in BGC. Being there allows our lawyers to be physically closer to the decision-makers we serve and gives clients a convenient place to meet their counsel,” Vasig told ABLJ.
“BGC is also well-positioned for the government and regulatory work associated with these practices, including access to the relevant Taguig local government and tax authorities, while remaining readily accessible to the broader Makati-BGC business corridor.”
Vasig said the BGC office would initially host around 10 lawyers, but there were plans to expand the corporate law and special projects, and taxation practice groups in the future.
