Top 10 General Counsel in Philippines

Froilan Castelo, General Counsel, Globe Telecom
Froilan Castelo: The ‘Guardian’ Safeguarding Globe Telecom’s Business Interests from Any Legal Complication

In today’s dynamic and hypercompetitive market, we're witnessing thousands of business partnerships, collaborations and agreements being forged worldwide on a daily basis. While this has spurred research and innovation across industries, it has also resulted in an increased number of corporate disputes, litigations and arbitrations. Thus, it is safe to say that while having a unique business idea and strong operational strategies does make one profitable, it is the general counsel who acts as the true guardians of the organization. This is even more true in a country like the Philippines which has been undergoing serious transformation lately and is positioned as one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia.

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Top 10 General Counsel in Philippines - 2025

The General Counsels in the Philippines is an important contributor to organizations as they navigate an evolving and complex legal and regulatory environment. The General Counsel acts as both a legal advisor and a risk advisor to ensure adherence to local law, international standards, and corporate governance practices while facilitating business growth. The Philippines has become an essential jurisdiction for General Counsel to build investor confidence, deal with regulatory challenges and implement sustainable practices across various sectors.

General Counsels have a significant role in contributing to the market's stability by anticipating potential legal risks, providing advice on mergers and acquisitions, protecting distinctive intellectual property, and developing corporate policies that ensure ethical behavior and compliance with statutes. Their thoughtful views allow the business to function independently and efficiently while reducing exposure to litigation and regulatory penalties, which will be critically important to bolster the credibility and resilience of the Philippine business ecosystem. Leadership is a major characteristic of the General Counsel, who connects management of legal teams with influencing organizational culture and strategic decision-making. In any industry, including banking and insurance, technology, and manufacturing, their views operate in shaping corporate strategies, ensuring compliance with laws, and fostering innovation within a lawful framework.

Moving forward, the position of General Counsel in the Philippines is going to increase in scope from a conventional legal leadership position to a strategic, business-centric role. As digital industries continue to flourish, cross-border investments increase, and regulatory environments become more intricate, General Counsels will frequently act as principal agents for business transformation, compliance excellence, and sustainable growth while further solidifying their role as vital leaders in the Philippine corporate ecosystem.

CEO Insights Asia in this issue presents a list of ‘Top 10 General Counsel in Philippines - 2025' who have leveraged their extensive industry expertise and experience in offering effective skills to the market. The following list has been prepared after being closely scrutinized by a distinguished panel of judges including CXOs, analysts and our editorial board. We recognize their valuable contribution to the ever expanding and competitive market and their ability to sustain themselves and emerge as top contestants through their reliable knowledge.

Top 10 General Counsel in Philippines - 2025

Company Management	Company Name	Company Description
Annalisa Carlota, General Counsel - Philippines	ACEN	With experience in contract negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and public-private sector projects, she provides strategic legal counsel that aligns with business objectives and mitigates risk
Carlo Roman, General Counsel	Billease	He provides strategic legal guidance on contracts, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory matters, and risk management, ensuring legal integrity while supporting business growth and operational efficiency
Catherine Espiritu, General Counsel	Mad Monkey	She provides strategic legal guidance on contracts, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory matters, and risk management, supporting business growth while ensuring legal and regulatory adherence
Edgar Ryan San Juan, General Counsel, Legal Group Head & Corporate Secretary	Federal Land	A legal professional with experience in contract negotiations (with local and foreign entities), mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and participation in public bidding and publicprivate sector projects
Edgar Tordesillas, General Counsel	Sun Life of Canada (Philippines)	He specializes in contract negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and regulatory matters, providing strategic legal guidance to support business growth and risk management
Froilan Castelo, General Counsel	Globe Telecom	With over 34 years of experience, he is a respected law professional renowned across the Philippine telco-legal fraternity
Geraldine Meneses-Terrible, General Counsel - South East Asia	JLL	She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, contracts, regulatory matters, and risk management, providing strategic legal guidance to support business operations and growth
Krisma Indira Ria Guyala, General Counsel	Nestle Philippines	She specializes in advising on contracts, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, risk management, and corporate operations, providing strategic legal support
Maureen Ong, Global General Counsel	Emapta Global	A corporate lawyer with nearly two decades of experience, including over 16 years in the BPO industry, possessing expertise in contracts, legal operations, and corporate governance
Paul Salanga, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel	Maharlika Investment Corporation	A corporate and capital markets lawyer with over 25 years of experience in corporate law, M&A, project financing, banking, securities, and wealth management advisory

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