Doing business in the Philippines is rewarding for many clients of Siguion Reyna, Montecillo and Ongsiako (SRMO). Among the country's oldest law firms with 113 years of experience in foreign investments, SRMO has recognised expertise in a wide range of areas such as banking, mining, manufacturing, telecommunications, infrastructure, real estate, power and business outsourcing. "We meet client expectations - that's the bottom line in the business world," says Cesar Manalaysay, managing partner. "Our primary objective is to make the complicated simple and deliver the results." Founded in 1901, the firm traces its roots to the beginning of the American colonial period with prominent American lawyers John Hausserman, who drafted the original city charter of Manila, and Charles Cohn. Thirty-five years later, it turned a page with the appointment of Alfonso Ponce Enrile as its first Filipino general partner. Soon after, the firm became entirely Filipino, with name partners Leonardo Siguion Reyna and Manuel Montecillo among the longest-serving and renowned legal practitioners of their time. Beyond its deeply relationship-oriented approach, the firm owes its longevity to a demonstrated integrity. "The best legal advice is balanced - what is realistic and doable, not what you want to hear," says Rolando Villonco, the firm's chairman. "We are here as counsellors, as your guide to advise you on what is the best under the circumstances." The Philippines' leading corporations - including dominant players PLDT, Meralco and Ayala - and some of the country's gentry form the firm's client base. Through these connections, SRMO has served many Fortune 500 companies. International clients include HSBC, Nestle, Unilever, Holcim, Lafarge, Sharp, Siemens, Fraport, Teleperformance, 24/7 Customer, Thomson, Atos, Hongkong Land and Tencent. It is also the Philippine affiliate of TAGLaw, an international alliance of law firms. With the country's industries ripe for investment, SRMO's solid experience is the lynchpin for success in the Philippines and the Asean where it is the emerging hub. Siguion Reyna, Montecillo and Ongsiako http://www.srmo-law.com
