Villaraza & Angangco is pleased to announce the promotion of Atty. Joseph Anthony P. Lopez of the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department to Senior Partner.
Atty. Lopez was recognized as one of Asia’s “40 Under 40” for 2019 by the Asian Legal Business. In 2020 to present, he was named a “Next Generation Partner” in Dispute Resolution by the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific and “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific in the fields of Dispute Resolution, Commercial & Transactions and Government & Regulatory. He was also included in the inaugural 2022 Southeast Asia Arbitration Powerlist by the Legal 500.
Atty. Lopez’s litigation expertise includes civil & commercial law, including intra-corporate disputes, banking & finance, securities fraud, corporate rehabilitation & insolvency, tourism & leisure, tax, telecommunications & information communication technology litigation, competition law, and estate settlement.
Atty. Lopez has successfully handled multi-billion peso litigations. Among the historic cases he has handled are a suit which prevented the collection of the largest tax claim worth almost US$1 Billion; the largest mass tort claim in Philippine history involving over 35,000 claimants; and the first dispute in the country against the Philippine Competition Commission involving a deal worth US$1.38 Billion. Atty. Lopez is also handling a case involving the largest financial default in Philippine history worth more than US$1.5 Billion.
Atty. Lopez previously served as legal counsel for one of the largest universal banks in the country, and oversaw multiple foreign arbitrations involving syndicated loans.
Atty. Lopez is also currently the Treasurer and previously served as Director of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Makati Chapter.
Atty. Lopez was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2007 and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University where he graduated with Honors and was awarded the Silver Medal for Best Thesis. Atty. Lopez was the Team Captain and Best Oralist of the 2005 Philippine Team to the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition held in Washington, D.C. and was the Prime Minister of the St. Thomas More Debate Society. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Engineering from the same university.
Congratulations on the well-deserved promotion!
