PRACTICE AREAS

Civil, Criminal and Corporate Litigation, Special Projects, Labor Law and Human Resource Management, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Family Law, International Trade, Cyber Crimes, Public & Private International Law, Public Policy & Legislation, Congressional Hearings, Government Procurement, Government Contracts, Public-Private Partnerships, Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT) Schemes, Corporate Rehabilitation, Corporate Take-overs, and Mergers & Acquisitions

EDUCATION

He obtained his Master of Laws degree major in International and Comparative Business Law (with Distinction) from the London Metropolitan University, U.K. He also completed a Single Masters Course (MSc) in International Trade Law from the University College London, U.K. as a Chevening Scholar of the British Council.
In 2001, he took up a Masters in Public Management degree from the Ateneo School of Government. In 2002, he completed a post-graduate executive program in Leadership and Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

In 2000, he received his Bachelor of Laws degree (3rd honors) from the University of Santo Tomas as a full scholar. He passed the Bar exams given in the same year, with a general weighted average of 86.05%. In 1996, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree major in Legal Management (cum laude) from the same University as a Rector's scholar.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Atty. Dela Cruz is currently the Managing Partner of the PONCE ENRILE REYES & MANALASTAS(PECABAR) Law Office based in Makati City. He currently heads the Practice Development Group,Taxation, Labor, Immigration, Intellectual Property, Information Technology, Public Contract and Public-Private Partnerships.

He is also currently the Executive Director and Chief Legal Counsel of the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) Philippines. AVID members include: Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc., CATS Motors, Jaguar Cars, Inc., The Covenant Car Company, Inc., PGA Cars, Inc., Scandinavian Motors Corp., Focus Ventures, Inc., United Asia Automotive Group, Inc., and British United Automobiles, Inc.

He has handled the legal concerns of leading companies in the Philippines by providing them with commercial and legal input into contract drafting and negotiations and standard business documentation. He assisted the requirements of the Firm’s clients in Human Resource Management, administrative disciplinary proceedings, labor cases, compensation and benefits, drafting and negotiating joint development agreements, consulting agreements, concession agreements etc.

He is a persuasive individual possessing excellent oral and written communication skills, strong negotiation skills, as well as Information Technology and intellectual property management experience. He has good networking skills with pertinent government regulatory agencies, and has extensive experience in government procurement, contracts, and local government affairs. Currentl, He is the National General Secretary General of the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) of the Philippines. He is also an elected Board Member of the Province of the Bulacan.

He has a history of successfully reducing legal expenses of clients with the creative use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and risk management measures. In 2007, he was elected Regional Representative for South East Asia of the Young International Arbitrators Group (YIAG) of the London Chamber of International Arbitrators (LCIA).

He has demonstrated experience in managing litigation matters in hundreds of cases he handled for clients of the Firm. He is known to be resourceful with the ability to assess all issues to adequately protect clients and complete projects producing professional results while adhering to rigid deadlines.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

He is a regular MCLE lecturer of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), where he is invited to speak all over the country on Public & Private International Law, Transnational Business Transactions, Intellectual Property, Cyber Crimes and Electronic Evidence, Local Government, Procurement & Government Contracts, and Libel Laws.

He is a Bar Reviewer and lecturer at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, the Far Eastern University & De La Salle University JD-MBA program, and the Bulacan State University College of Law.

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