Philippines: SyCipLaw Admits Three New Partners

SyCipLaw is pleased to announce the admission of Emmar Benjoe B. Panahon, Roshni V. Balani, and Mark Xavier D. Oyales to the partnership.

Emmar Benjoe B. Panahon is a labor law specialist, with extensive experience in labor litigation and handing of employment and labor concerns issues such as labor inspections and compliance, overseas employment, employment contracts, certification elections, collective bargaining, and other union matters. He also regularly provides professional advice to clients on a wide range of employment-related topics including labor standards compliance, disciplinary proceedings, legitimate contracting, expatriate employment, and occupational safety and health standards compliance. In addition, he handles general corporate services, and acts as corporate secretary for several corporations.

Mr. Panahon obtained his undergraduate degree from Ateneo de Manila University and his Juris Doctor degree (Dean's Medal for Academic Excellence) from the University of the Philippines College of Law. He was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2011. He is a member of the firm's Employment & Immigration Department and Corporate Services Department.

Roshni V. Balani is a commercial lawyer, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and investments, with extensive experience in a number of sectors, principally energy, infrastructure, banking, technology and healthcare. She also has been involved in transactions involving public-private partnerships and government.

Ms. Balani is also a competition law specialist with significant experience in handling merger notifications with the Philippine Competition Commission (including several in-depth Phase 2 reviews).

Ms. Balani obtained her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree (second honors) from the Ateneo School of Law. She was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2014. She is a member of the firm's Special Projects and Banking, Finance and Securities groups.

Mark Xavier D. Oyales is a commercial lawyer and a tax specialist. Mr. Oyales' significant transactional work covers mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, project and corporate finance, and public-private partnership (PPP) transactions.

Mr. Oyales has deep expertise in the retail and real estate sectors, being involved in various acquisitions and joint ventures in these areas. He complements his M&A and investments work with considerable financing experience, having advised both borrowers and lenders on bilateral facilities, loan syndications, aviation finance, and project financing. He also collaborates with the firm's litigation team in various arbitration proceedings and Supreme Court cases involving PPP contracts.

Mr. Oyales graduated from the University of the Philippines with a B.S. Biology degree (cum laude) and a Juris Doctor degree (cum laude and awardee of the Dean's Medal for Academic Excellence). He was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2014 (2nd place). He is a member of the firm's Special Projects group, Banking, Finance and Securities group and Tax Department. He also teaches corporate law at the University of the Philippines.