It takes an extraordinary person to deftly navigate the mercurial waters of labor and employment, litigation and dispute resolution, and energy law. It requires a quick wit, depth of knowledge, experience, and persistence to address a client’s needs and swim confidently against the tide if need be. These exceptional qualities are inherent in Filray and have made him a sought-after counsel of leading multinational companies and established domestic corporations.   

Filray’s aptitude in law and deep investment in every relationship continue to win the trust of clients from various industries.  

His sterling track record in his practice of labor and employment makes him a formidable ally in labor matters. He is an expert in all facets of Labor and Employment Laws including handling employment contracts review, labor standards compliance, due diligence reviews for mergers and acquisitions, establishment of companies, contracting arrangements, collective bargaining negotiations, strikes, mediation and conciliation, termination procedure, illegal dismissal and labor standards litigation, retrenchment, redundancy, and downsizing of operations. 

His wealth of experience in handling and winning complex and high-profile cases punctuates how he thrives even in the most intense courtroom battles and circumstances. Under his belt are victories in prosecuting individuals and defending clients involving a wide range of cases, including heinous crimes such as murder and plunder. He has acted as counsel for high–ranking government officials, including Senators, Mayors, Governors, President of a Government Owned and Controlled Corporation, and members of the cabinet. 

Apart from steering courtroom hearings or handling labor disputes, Filray is also a prominent figure in power supply biddings and negotiations. He is a notable counsel in the Philippine energy practice and has been instrumental in finalizing multibillion-peso contracts that affect millions of Filipinos. He is currently the lead external legal counsel of the Third-Party Bids and Awards Committee of the largest distribution utility in the country. 

After office hours, Filray shares his expertise and know-how by mentoring his students in the Ateneo Law School, where he established a reputation as one of the country’s leading professors in labor and employment laws.  

Highlights:

• Lead counsel for a global joint venture between the largest Southeast Asian food, beverage, and packaging company and a leading Japanese pioneer glass and plastic packaging corporation in unwarranted employment claims against it involving hundreds of third-party workers as complainants, which affected the contracting arrangements of thousands of individuals. 
• Lead counsel for one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world in its labor cases in the Philippines, including in collective bargaining negotiation and strikes proceedings. 
• Retained labor and employment advisor for the leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. 
• Trusted advisor of foreign corporations which established their companies in the Philippines. 
• Retained counsel in labor and employment of one of the country’s largest publicly listed investment management and holding company, which is involved in the business of toll roads, energy, water, logistics, real estate, healthcare, among others. 
• Acted as a member of the management panel of a multi-national company in its collective bargaining negotiations with a labor union. 
• Lead counsel in representing one of the largest manufacturing companies in the Philippines in proceedings involving union strikes.  
• Notable defense counsel in a highly publicized murder trial of a US serviceman involving the death of a Filipino transgender.  
• Notable tactician and defense attorney for a popular Philippine Senator in his unprecedented plunder trial.  
• Notable attorney for a major player in the power industry in the country in the oral arguments before the Supreme Court involving a dispute of transcendental importance. 
• Lead attorney of the leading producer and distributor of sauces and condiments in the Philippines in several of its criminal, civil, and administrative cases in the country. 
• Lead counsel of a former high-ranking government official in a much-publicized multi-billion controversy before various fora. 
• Lead counsel of the one of the largest employers in the Philippines in its criminal cases against former employees. 
• Lead counsel for the largest distribution utility in the country in its power supply bidding requirements involving multibillion-peso contracts. 
• Lead counsel for a world-leading tobacco product manufacturer and distributor in its effort to introduce innovative heated tobacco products to the Philippine market.