Professional Background

 

Atty. Joseph Anthony P. Lopez is the Head of the Firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department. He became a partner at the age of 32, the youngest ever in the history of the Firm. Atty. Lopez was recognized as one of Asia’s “40 Under 40” for 2019 by the Asian Legal Business. In 2020, he was named a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation in the fields of Dispute Resolution, Commercial & Transactions and Government & Regulatory. His litigation expertise includes civil & commercial law, including intra-corporate disputes, banking & finance, securities fraud, corporate rehabilitation & insolvency, tourism & leisure, tax, family law, telecommunications & information communication technology litigation and competition law.

 

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. He is currently 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, where he led a legal team in foreign arbitrations involving syndicated loans. 

 

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. He 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.

 

Atty. Lopez has a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Engineering from the Ateneo de Manila University.