“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” This quote by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg aptly describes Germaine as a person, as a leader, and as a lawyer. Passionate, dedicated, and influential, Germaine is a force inside and outside the courtroom. Her innate ability to direct and inspire others enabled her to assume various leadership roles throughout her career, and more importantly, gain the trust of her peers and superiors. Germaine’s drive to deliver excellent results without sacrificing integrity is evident in how she deftly handles every case, no matter the complexity. Her proactive and assertive demeanor gives her the foresight to address her client’s needs even before the need arises.  

Germaine began her career in a medium-sized law firm where she specialized in immigration and corporate practice. She then transitioned to litigation by joining the top litigation and arbitration firm in the country. Her skills and abilities in litigation quickly propelled her to senior associate level where she was entrusted to represent various domestic and multinational companies in different industries such as finance, water, power, and telecommunications.  Her expertise likewise positioned her to handle million-dollar lawsuits and international arbitration cases involving water utility companies. 

To further hone her litigation skills, Germaine moved to the government, directly reporting to the Solicitor General of the Philippines. Her proficiency in constitutional, international, and commercial litigation quickly won the confidence of the Solicitor General, where she handled several oral arguments won by the office before the Supreme Court. During her tenure, she was appointed State Solicitor, a post equivalent in rank to a municipal trial court judge, by no less than the President of the Philippines. She also represented and advised high-ranking government officials from anti-money laundering, energy, transportation, finance, and competition sectors. Her length of service in government afforded Germaine a wider perspective on the intricate balance between government regulation and private sector activities which is highly advantageous when handling difficult cases.  

She then expanded her range to corporate and commercial law by joining the legal team of a multinational fast-moving consumer goods brand where she dispensed strategic and practical advice as well as legal solutions to local and foreign business partners. 

Germaine’s vast experience and knowledge have indeed made her an invaluable and trustworthy ally to her clients and peers alike.  

Highlights:

• Counsel for a world-leading tobacco product manufacturer and distributor in its effort to introduce innovative heated tobacco products to the Philippine market. 
• Lead counsel for the Anti-Money Laundering Council in a forfeiture case against a former high-ranking government official involving the construction of a billion-peso building in a key city in Metro Manila. 
• Lead counsel of the Bureau of Customs against a large Philippine cigarette manufacturer for counterfeit and/or smuggled cigarettes. 
• Represented the Republic of the Philippines in oral arguments before the Supreme Court involving a novel case whether a foundling can be considered as a natural-born citizen of the Philippines. 
• Represented the Republic of the Philippines and successfully defended the President’s proclamation of martial law in Mindanao and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus due to ISIS-linked rebellion.  
• Represented families of victims in administrative and criminal cases against police officers relating to the 2010 elections. 
• Represented an international bank in its creditors’ claim in a rehabilitation proceeding involving millions of pesos 
• Represented a water utility company in an arbitration proceeding concerning its rate rebasing process.