Partners of Excellence
Get to know our Pillars
The partners of Corporate Counsels, Philippines bring together decades of distinguished experience in corporate, commercial, finance, litigation, and investment law. With a shared commitment to excellence, integrity, and client-focused service, they provide strategic legal guidance to businesses ranging from emerging enterprises to leading local and multinational corporations.
Arthur R. Ponsaran
Mr. Ponsaran is a CPA-Lawyer with over 30 years experience in corporate law, taxation, banking, finance and investment banking. He started his professional career with one of the reputable and oldest law firms in the country, then became chief counsel to the country’s pioneer investment house where during his 10-year stint he accumulated a wealth of experience in business law.
Prior to setting up the law office, Mr. Ponsaran acted as chief counsel of a diversified investment-management company, counsel of a multinational company and senior executive of two investment banks. His involvements as a corporate law practitioner include setting up of various corporate entities, acquisition and corporate reorganization, initial public offering of a number of listed companies, setting up of an airline company, acquisition of a development bank, merger of two rural banks, debt restructuring of two major steel manufacturing companies, acquisition of two mid-stream petrochemical companies, formation of special purpose vehicle, and various joint venture projects.
Mr. Ponsaranobtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines; Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of the East and completed the MDP Program at the Asian Institute of Management. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of both the Philippine Bar and the New York Bar.
Founding Partner
Edcel G. Bolinao
Mr. Bolinao is a proud product of the Law Office. Early in his career, he was immediately exposed to different fields of law and this experience introduced him to the dynamic and ever-changing needs of the modern corporate world.
The Philippines being recognized as one of the fast growing economies in South East Asia, his recent corporate law practice includes corporate acquisition and reorganization, public listings, and estate planning.Further, mindful of the prejudice to business operations that is traditionally caused by a long and protracted litigation,
Mr. Bolinao has successfully counselled clients in arbitration, where disputes are settled within a predictable, if not certain, period of time by experts in various fields of industry.
Mr. Bolinao obtained his A.B. Philosophy and Human Resources Development Degrees from San Beda College, Manila City. Thereafter, he completed his Juris Doctor Degree from the Ateneo De Manila University School of Law. He wasadmitted to the Philippine Bar in 2005.
Managing Partner
Arsenio A. Alfiler, Jr.
Mr. Arsenio A. Alfiler, Jr. has considerable experience as acorporate lawyer and as in-house legal counsel. As legal counsel of financial institutions, he dealt with a variety of legal, administrative and related problems that deepened his professional competence in corporate law. He developed his expertise in legal work for financial services in his 26 years of experience in five financial institutions: Bancom Development Corporation (1977-1981), Union Bank of the Philippines (1982-1987), AsianBank Corporation and AB Capital and Investment Corporation (1987-2003) and a brief stint with Asiatrust Bank (January – July 15, 2004).
These financial institutions are banks and investment houses, which perform quasi-banking operations, provide trust services and are also engaged in securities trading. As a graduate of the Philippine Trust Institute, he acquired formal training in trust operations.
Mr. Alfiler completed his Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines in 1971 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar the following year.
Co-Managing Partner
Wilfred S. Babano
Mr. Wilfred (“Red”) S. Babano obtained his double degree in Applied Economics and Commerce major in Management of Financial Institutions from the College of Business and Economics of De La Salle University in 1996. He graduated from the Arellano University School of Law of in 2003.Red was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2004.
He started his practice as an associate in Corporate Counsels Philippines Law Offices in 2004 and eventually moved to Platinum Group Metals Corporation as Legal Counsel until 2013. Thereafter he served as Compliance Officer to Shell Philippines Exploration, BV.
He was partner in Babano & Cabasug Law Office prior to re-joining the Firm in 2019.
(Currently on Study-Leave)
Partner
Elegio D. Cabasug
Mr. Elegio (“Judd”) D. Cabasug obtained his double degree in Applied Economics and Commerce major in Legal Management from the College of Business and Economics of De La Salle University in 1995. He was the editor-‐in-‐chief of The LaSallian, DLSU’s official student publication,in his fourth year. He graduated from the School of Law of Arellano University in 2003.
He was a founding member of AUSL’s Forensics Society and competed in the 2003 World’s Universities Debating Championships held in South Africa.Judd was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2004. He started his practice as an associate in BS Magnaye and Associates in
2004 and eventually moved to Multinational Investment Bancorporation as Legal Counsel and Compliance Officer until 2014. He was partner in Babano& Cabasug Law Office prior to joining the Firm as Partner in 2019.
Partner
Francis Angelo T. Valenton
Mr. Valentongraduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in A.B. Journalism. He received his Juris Doctor from the Arellano University School of Law and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2022.
Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a writer for SD Publications of Vibal Group, Inc., a publication company which specializes in publishing educational materials for readers of various ages and inclinations. During law school, Mr. Valenton conducted his legal apprenticeship in the Office of the City Legal Officer of City of Manila where he was tasked in assisting lawyers in handling administrative cases and other administrative matters.
Mr. Valenton handles litigation proceedings involving criminal, civil, labor, and administrative disputes before trial and appellate courts, quasi-judicial bodies, and other agencies. He also assists applications and other submissions with the Securities and Exchange Commission and provides legal advisory, documentation and representation services to client corporations in the field of banking, mining, food, and finance.
Associate
THE ASSOCIATES / ASSISTANTS
Karen Mae S. Abarra
Ms. Abarra graduated from San Beda College – Manila with a Bachelor of Science in Legal Management in 2014. She completed her legal education at the San Beda College-Alabang, where she received her Juris Doctor Degree in 2020. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2022.
Since joining the Firm, Ms. Abarra has been involved in litigation work, representing individuals and juridical entities in cases relating to civil, labor, and family law. She also handledforeclosure, expropriation, and recovery of possession cases. She prepares pleadings and other filings before judicial and bodies. Aside from court appearances, she also provides legal opinionsand contract review.
In the corporate law area, she assists the Firm’s clients in ensuring compliance with corporate governance and reportorial requirements of government regulatory agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Associate
Dorothy Jean M. Aclan
Ms. Aclan graduated from San Beda College- Manila with Bachelor of Science in Legal Management in 2014. She completed her legal education and received her Juris Doctor Degree at the San Beda College-Alabang. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2022.
Prior to joining the firm, she worked as a paralegal at Mayo Law Office which specializes in legal services to people and businesses. She also worked as an Associate Lawyer at M.R. Dimaano Law Office in Batangas, a law firm which specializes in civil and criminal cases. In law school, she was a core member of San Beda College-Manila Centralized Bar Operations, an organization composed of student volunteers charged with task of providing academics and logistical support to bar candidates.
Ms. Aclan handles litigation proceedings involving criminal, civil, and family disputes and special proceedings before trial and appellate courts, quasi-judicial bodies, and other agencies. She also provides legal assistance to corporate concerns such as applications, submissions, and compliance to concerned government agencies.
Associate
Christine P. Valenzuela
Ms. Valenzuela obtained her Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science from Far Eastern University - Manila. She completed her legal education at the San Beda College-Alabang, where she received her Juris Doctor Degree in 2020. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2023.
Ms. Valenzuela handles litigation matters involving prosecution and defense of civil, criminal, labor as well as administrative cases. Her litigation work includes commercial contracts disputes and corporate practice.
In addition, Ms. Valenzuela is the current Executive Director of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP), an organization of all locally elected Vice-Governors in the country, where she has been assisting the Vice Governors and various government agencies in crafting policies and in providing innovative solutions to a spectrum of legal issues. She also has extensive experience and direct involvement in government policy-making and program implementation.
Associate
Kristine A. Monterde
Ms. Monterde earned her Degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Legal Management in New Era University, Quezon City. She then pursued her study of law in the same University and finished her Juris Doctor Degree last 2019.
In 2021, Mrs. Monterde joined the Firm as Legal Assistant and assisted in administrative and corporate matters for internal and affiliate corporate affairs. She assists partners and associates by providing legal research, and drafting of pleadings, memorandum and other legal documents. She also does contract review, and assistance with respect to applications before different government agencies and offices like Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Registry of Deeds.
Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Monterde worked as a Paralegal with the Department of Transportation under the Railway sector where she gained valuable experience and set of skills relative to government infrastructure projects and public-private partnership arrangements.
Associate
Tomas F. Tuason IV
Mr. Tuason has broad experience in securities law and enforcement. He served as legal counsel and eventually became Head, Compliance and Surveillance Department of the then newly- unified Philippine Stock Exchange. In said capacity he was involved in pioneering and policy-setting activities during the formative stage of the restructured and rationalized national securities exchange.
Mr. Tuason subsequently became Country Manager of the Philippine subsidiary of the Securities Database Group of a Canadian financial services company and a leading international vendor of propriety information. As such, Mr. Tuason managed the information research activities of the Philippine entity covering new equity and debt issues, mergers and other corporate transaction data, IPO’s, long-term loans and project financing of companies in the Asian region.
Mr. Tuason obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree at the Ateneo de Manila University and is a member of the Philippine Bar since 1976.
Office Counsel
THE ASSOCIATES / ASSISTANTS
Arianne Q. Bonavente
Ms. Bonavente obtained her law degree from the San Beda College Manila in 2015 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2016. She received her Bachelor of Artsdegree in Philosophy from the University of the Philippines, where she graduated Cum Laude. Her fields of practice are Corporate Law, Labor Law and Litigation.
Office Counsel
Josel T. Olano, CPA, MBA
Ms. Josel T. Olano is a graduate of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (Iloilo City Campus). She passed the then Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Board Examination in May 2002. She took further studies to get the Masters in Business Administration with the International Academy of Management and Economics and Supplementals in Education from the West Negros College (Currently STI West Negros University) and passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers.
Ms. Olano’s experience include work in different private companies, school and NGO as Finance Analyst, Branch Accountant, Budget Office, Finance Manager and similar positions. In October 2020, during the Covid Pandemic, Ms. Olano decided to work as professional accountant and consultant to do accounting works, bookkeeping, taxation and other related services to different individual taxpayers and small companies. She works on the monthly, quarterly and annual tax returns of various clients, preparing their Financial Statements for the Annual Reporting to BIR and SEC. Among other services rendered by Ms. Olano is Estate Taxation, Business Registrations and Closures, Registration and monthly reporting with BIR, SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig.
Consultant
Amando J. Ponsaran, Jr.
Mr.Ponsaran heads the Corporate Services group. He is a pioneer in the Firm with 15 years’ experience in Corporate Services, including incorporation, company registration, setting-up ofdomestic entities and assisting foreign entities in obtaining license to do business in the Philippines whether as a Branch, Representative Office, or Regional Office.
Aside from primary registration, Mr. Ponsaran handles secondary registration such as securing secondary licenses for financial institutions, insurance broker/agent, recruitment, permit to sell securities, registration of investments with the BangkoSentralng Pilipinas, registration with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, the Board of Investment and HLURB. He provides support services in corporate acquisition, restructuring and re-organization, merger and consolidation (his recent involvement being the consolidation of a Thrift Bank).
He also provides support for securities registration and listing, corporate due diligence and handles registration work with Registry of Deeds. Mr.Ponsaran is a graduate of the University of San Agustin- Major in Finance/Marketing and studied law in Arellano Law School and thereafter in Philippine Christian University.
Senior Manager–Corporate Services
CORPORATE SERVICES
The Corporate Services Group of the Firm, incoordination with Philippine Corporate Nominees, Inc. and CCP Company Services, Inc., offers specialized legal corporate services (SEC incorporation,registration with BIR, BOI, PEZA, etc.), corporate secretarial and nominee services and related services specially for start-up business entities,including small and medium size enterprises.
The Group consists of a team of Paralegals headed by Senior Manager Amando J. Ponsaran Jr.
PARALEGALS
Lovelito P. Dela Cruz Senior Para-legal
Viner L. Eriso Para-legal
Renante C. Vigo Para-legal
Samuel P. Cañeca Para-legal
ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF
Charmaine Francesca R. San Andres Office Manager
Mariel Ann Sepina Buenaventura Administrative Assistant
Roberto L. Remolacio, Jr. LAN Administrator
Rosehele V. Tampucao Legal Assistant II
Carla Sammille L. Cañeca Recepcionist / Legal Assistant
Awin S. Andalecio Driver
How can our Decades of Experience help you?
Do you have a corporate legal concern? Set an appointment with us and we'll take it from there
Call us:
+63 2 8687 - 7536
E-mail us:
info@ccplaw.com.ph