MEMBERS

Roberto V. Sicangco, J.D., LL.M.

Atty. Sicangco was previously an Associate of a prestigious litigation firm in the Philippines. He obtained his Masters (LL.M.) Degree in Comparative Law (1997) from the University of San Diego, California, USA, with concentration in International Negotiations and Environmental Law. He completed his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), a consistent Dean’s Lister, alumni scholar and graduated Valedictorian of his class at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, Espana Manila. He likewise completed his undergraduate course – Bachelor of Science major in Biology at the same University in Espana Manila.

Atty. Sicangco specializes in litigation of various civil, criminal, family, corporate, labor, and administrative cases including alternative dispute resolution or arbitration, corporate transactions, negotiations, formation of joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure projects, intellectual property and trade laws. Moreover, Atty. Sicangco is a lawyer with broad and diversified experience. By academic training, Atty. Sicangco is a rare lawyer-biologist combination. His earliest training was in the field of construction, land development and infrastructure projects representing a large conglomerate of companies doing business in the Philippines. Upon the completion of his Masteral Degree, he worked as an Associate in a prestigious litigation firm in the Philippines where litigation practice is anchored on thoroughness in the review of facts and the marshalling of evidence, in the identification of the applicable doctrines of law and the effective presentation of facts and law.

Atty. Sicangco has successfully handled complex labor and corporate matters involving multimillion transactions. He has likewise been heavily involved in the development of Renewable Energy Resources in the Philippines particularly in the arena of Biomass resources and Solar energy. Having been extensively involved in the development of large scale pioneering Solar power development in the Philippines, he has placed in good use his knowledge in environmental law intertwined with his passion to preserve the environment for future generations.

He is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and formerly the Vice-president (1996-1997) of the Comparative Law Forum of the University of San Diego, California, USA. He is also one of the seven founding members of the Ordo Luminis Legis (an organization for academic excellence) of the University of Santo Tomas.

Rosemarie P. Medina-Sicangco, J.D.

Atty. Medina-Sicangco was previously an Associate of one of the largest and leading law firm in the Philippines. Being a consistent Dean’s Lister and law alumni scholar, she completed her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and graduated Cum Laude of her class at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, Espana, Manila. Atty. Medina-Sicangco was also awarded a Gold Medal for Academic Excellence by the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. Earlier, she completed her Bachelor of Science Major in Psychology at the University of Santo Tomas, Espana Manila where she completed her undergraduate course.

Atty. Medina-Sicangco is the corporate law specialist of the Firm. She commenced her professional career with the largest and leading law firm in the Philippines and thereafter represented various major multinational companies and pioneer conglomerates where she accumulated a wealth of experience in corporate and business law. Atty. Medina-Sicangco’s extensive experience in corporate law include legal services in the establishment of greenfield projects in power generation, petrochemicals, telecommunications, private placements and initial public offering, secondary offering, joint-venture formation, mergers and acquisitions, domestic and international project finance loan documentation, corporate restructuring and rehabilitation and corporate governance. Atty. Medina-Sicangco has related practice in labor, estate planning, taxation, litigation, intellectual property and family law.

As a corporate law practitioner she was involved in comprehensive and corporate restructuring of major joint venture companies and their respective affiliate companies, the acquisition and subsequent initial public offering of a Philippine aluminum company with the Philippine Stock Exchange, establishment and incorporation of major joint venture companies in the Philippines, project finance loan documentation of Philippine petrochemical joint venture project with major international banking and financial institutions, registration of foreign loan agreements with the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (formerly Central Bank of the Philippines), monitoring, compliance, corporate governance and enforcement of substantive and reportorial requirements of joint venture companies and other related projects.

Currently, Atty. Medina-Sicangco, acts as legal counsel to various petroleum/oil companies onshore and offshore, local and foreign corporations, partnerships, branch, representative offices, individuals and consultancy groups and other joint venture projects. Atty. Medina-Sicangco acted as counsel to major petrochemical joint venture companies among British, Japanese, Malaysian and local investor groups including related affiliate and representative companies of said joint venture groups in the Philippines. She was also the legal counsel of the leading Philippine aluminum company, various power projects and related joint venture undertakings of local companies. Moreover, as a former associate lawyer of the leading law firm in the Philippines, she provided legal support, including corporate and litigation services, to the firm’s numerous and varied clientele.

She is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Philippine Bar Association, the Federacion Internacional de Abogadas, Maritime Law of the Philippines, Inter-Pacific Bar Association, Ordo Luminis Legis and a Certified Patent Lawyer (Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines).

Francisco G. Varela, LL.B.

Atty. Francisco G. Varela obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos. He was a member of the Barrister’s Club during his law school days. He is likewise an Economics Degree holder from the University of San Agustin having successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts Major in Economics therein. Atty. Varela specializes in labor and corporate law. He has successfully handled various labor and litigation cases as well as corporate transactions and negotiations involving sensitive and complex issues. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in year 2000.

Ma. Hortense Elaiza P. Varela, J.D.

Atty. Ma. Hortense Elaiza P. Varela studied in the Ateneo De Manila Law School where she was a recurring Dean’s Lister. She graduated from the law school with a certificate in International Law in 2016. In 2012, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and Class Valedictorian. She is now part of the Corporate, Litigation and Intellectual Property divisions of the Firm.

Shinar Ley R. Betoya, J.D.

Atty. Shinar Ley R. Betoya was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2022 after obtaining her Juris Doctor degree from De La Salle University – Manila in 2021. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the same university where she graduated Cum Laude in 2016. She also passed the board examinations for Psychometricians in 2017 during her first year of law school.

Ramon D. Villanueva Jr., J.D.

Atty. Ramon D. Villanueva Jr. was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2023 after obtaining his Juris Doctor degree from Central Philippine University in 2022. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from West Visayas State University La-Paz, where he excelled academically from 2014 to 2018. Eventually, he graduated Cum Laude in 2018 and Top 2 of his class.

Atty. Sicangco was previously an Associate of a prestigious litigation firm in the Philippines. He obtained his Masters (LL.M.) Degree in Comparative Law (1997) from the University of San Diego, California, USA, with concentration in International Negotiations and Environmental Law. He completed his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), a consistent Dean’s Lister, alumni scholar and graduated Valedictorian of his class (1994) at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, Espana Manila. In 1989, he completed his undergraduate course – Bachelor of Science major in Biology at the same University in Espana Manila.

Atty. Sicangco specializes in litigation of various civil, criminal, family, corporate, labor, and administrative cases including alternative dispute resolution or arbitration, corporate transactions, negotiations, formation of joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure projects, intellectual property and trade laws. Moreover, Atty. Sicangco is a lawyer with broad and diversified experience. By academic training, Atty. Sicangco is a rare lawyer-biologist combination. His earliest training was in the field of construction, land development and infrastructure projects representing a large conglomorate of companies doing business in the Philippines. Upon the completion of his Masteral Degree, he worked as an Associate in a prestigious litigation firm in the Philippines where litigation practice is anchored on thoroughness in the review of facts and the marshalling of evidence, in the identification of the applicable doctrines of law and the effective presentation of facts and law.

Atty. Sicangco has successfully handled complex labor and corporate matters involving multimillion transactions. He has likewise been heavily involved in the development of Renewable Energy Resources in the Philippines particularly in the arena of Biomass resources and Solar energy. Having been extensively involved in the development of large scale pioneering Solar power development in the Philippines, he has placed in good use his knowledge in environmental law intertwined with his passion to preserve the environment for future generations.

He is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and formerly the Vice-president (1996-1997) of the Comparative Law Forum of the University of San Diego, California, USA. He is also one of the seven founding members of the Ordo Luminis Legis (an organization for academic excellence) of the University of Santo Tomas.

Atty. Medina-Sicangco was previously an Associate of one of the largest and leading law firm in the Philippines. Being a consistent Dean’s Lister and law alumni scholar, she completed her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and graduated Cum Laude of her class (1993) at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, Espana, Manila. Atty. Medina-Sicangco was also awarded a Gold Medal for Academic Excellence (1993) by the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. Earlier, she completed her Bachelor of Science Major in Psychology (1989) at the University of Santo Tomas, Espana Manila where she completed her undergraduate course.

Atty. Medina-Sicangco is the corporate law specialist of the Firm. She commenced her professional career with the largest and leading law firm in the Philippines and thereafter represented various major multinational companies and pioneer conglomerates where she accumulated a wealth of experience in corporate and business law. Atty. Medina-Sicangco’s extensive experience in corporate law include legal services in the establishment of greenfield projects in power generation, petrochemicals, telecommunications, private placements and initial public offering, secondary offering, joint-venture formation, mergers and acquisitions, domestic and international project finance loan documentation, corporate restructuring and rehabilitation and corporate governance. Atty. Medina-Sicangco has related practice in labor, estate planning, taxation, litigation, intellectual property and family law.

As a corporate law practitioner she was involved in comprehensive and corporate restructuring of major joint venture companies and their respective affiliate companies, the acquisition and subsequent initial public offering of a Philippine aluminum company with the Philippine Stock Exchange, establishment and incorporation of major joint venture companies in the Philippines, project finance loan documentation of Philippine petrochemical joint venture project with major international banking and financial institutions, registration of foreign loan agreements with the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (formerly Central Bank of the Philippines), monitoring, compliance, corporate governance and enforcement of substantive and reportorial requirements of joint venture companies and other related projects.

Currently, Atty. Medina-Sicangco, acts as legal counsel to various petroleum/oil companies onshore and offshore, local and foreign corporations, partnerships, branch, representative offices, individuals and consultancy groups and other joint venture projects. Atty. Medina-Sicangco acted as counsel to major petrochemical joint venture companies among British, Japanese, Malaysian and local investor groups including related affiliate and representative companies of said joint venture groups in the Philippines. She was also the legal counsel of the leading Philippine aluminum company, various power projects and related joint venture undertakings of local companies. Moreover, as a former associate lawyer of the leading law firm in the Philippines, she provided legal support, including corporate and litigation services, to the firm’s numerous and varied clientele.

She is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Philippine Bar Association, the Federacion Internacional de Abogadas, Maritime Law of the Philippines, Inter-Pacific Bar Association, Ordo Luminis Legis and a Certified Patent Lawyer (Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines).

Atty. Francisco G. Varela obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos. He was a member of the Barrister’s Club during his law school days. He is likewise an Economics Degree holder from the University of San Agustin having successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts Major in Economics therein. Atty. Varela specializes in labor and corporate law. He has successfully handled various labor and litigation cases as well as corporate transactions and negotiations involving sensitive and complex issues. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in year 2000.

Atty. Ma. Hortense Elaiza P. Varela studied in the Ateneo De Manila Law School where she was a consistent Dean’s Lister. She graduated from the law school with a certificate in International Law in 2016. In 2012, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and Class Valedictorian. She is now part of the Corporate, Litigation and Intellectual Property divisions of the Firm.

Atty. Shinar Ley R. Betoya was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2022 after obtaining her Juris Doctor degree from De La Salle University – Manila in 2021. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the same university where she graduated Cum Laude in 2016. She also passed the board examinations for Psychometricians in 2017 during her first year of law school.

Atty. Ramon D. Villanueva Jr. was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2023 after obtaining his Juris Doctor degree from Central Philippine University in 2022. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from West Visayas State University La-Paz, where he excelled academically from 2014 to 2018. Eventually, he graduated Cum Laude in 2018 and Top 2 of his class.