DivinaLaw marked its 20th anniversary with a memorable celebration, drawing a distinguished guest list of business tycoons, senior government officials, and prominent personalities in recognition of two decades of legal practice and institutional growth.
Founded in 2006 in Makati by Managing Partner Atty. Nilo T. Divina with Congressman Edwin Uy, the firm began as a six lawyer practice. In his toast, Atty. Divina reflected on the firm’s beginnings and the vision that shaped its growth.
“I left a stable, well-paying job to start a law firm in a very saturated profession… There was no grand office then. No extensive roster of clients. No certainty of success. Only a vision—to build a law firm anchored on a simple philosophy: client satisfaction will be our burning passion,” he said.
The firm has since grown into a full-service practice with over 100 lawyers, with several listed among the Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers by Asia Business Law Journal.
Atty. Divina further expressed gratitude to the clients, partners, associates, staff, friends, and supporters who have made this growth possible.
“We stand here today because you believed in us—when we were starting, when we were growing, and even when we were tested,” he shared.
Those he acknowledged were well represented among the esteemed attendees, including the firm’s first four pioneer clients: Equicom Group Chairman Antonio Go; BDO Unibank Chair and SM Investments Vice Chair Teresita Sy-Coson; Century Properties Group Executive Chairman Amb. Jose E.B. Antonio; and Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp. Chairman and CEO Benjamin Yao.
Also in attendance were other distinguished leaders from the business community, including Aboitiz Equity Ventures CEO Sabin Aboitiz; Aboitiz InfraCapital President Eduardo V. Aboitiz Jr.; San Miguel Corporation Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang, represented by his daughter Cecille Ang; PhilStar President and CEO Miguel Belmonte; Equicom Manila Holdings Vice Chairman Rene Buenaventura; Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. (PAGSS) Chairman Jefferson Cheng and its President and CEO Janette Cordero; Puregold Price Club and Cosco Capital’s Lucio Co and Susan Co; Herco Trading Inc. President Wilfred Co, Citadel Shipping Service, Inc. Chairman Ricardo C. Delgado; Security Bank, Equicom Health Services, Inc., and Medilink Network, Inc. Director Esther Wileen Go; JG Summit CEO Lance Gokongwei; Rizal Park Hotel Owner Simon Lee Paz; Megawide Chair and CEO Edgar Saavedra; Ever Bilena Cosmetics Chairman and CEO Dioceldo Sy; Fasclad, Inc. CEO Miguel Tan; Asian Terminals Chairman Eusebio Tanco; Hyopan Land Philippines (W Group Inc.) CEO Francis L. Wee and CFO Norman Wee; Philippine Stock Exchange Director Vivian Yuchengco, among others.
Government officials and lawmakers joined the celebration, including Senate President Tito Sotto, Senators Mark Villar and Loren Legarda and Jinggoy Estrada; former Secretary Francisco Duque III; Congressman Lorna Silverio; Congressman Victor Yap; Governor Christian Yap; and Mayor Susan Yap-Sulit, alongside other leaders from various sectors. Vic Sotto and his spouse Pauleen, James “Bimby” Aquino Yap Jr., as well as content creator and socialite Small Laude and businessman Philip Laude, were also present.
The evening also featured stellar musical performances by Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, OPM icon Ogie Alcasid, and 80’s hit-making Norwegian band Fra Lippo Lippi. The globally acclaimed shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra also took the stage with a live interpretation of DivinaLaw’s history.
Beyond the entertainment, the program opened with a Holy Mass led by Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, Rector Magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas, in keeping with Atty. Divina’s strong faith-centered convictions.
“Indeed, with God and hard work, nothing is impossible. But without Him, no amount of hard work can make anything possible,” Atty. Divina emphasized in his message.
With two local branches in Makati and Cebu, Atty. Divina shared the firm’s next step: expansion into global financial hubs such as Japan, China, New York, and Dubai.
“The legal profession is evolving. Technology is reshaping how we practice. Clients demand faster, sharper, more sophisticated solutions. And we are ready. We will continue to grow. We will continue to innovate. We will continue to serve—with the same commitment, integrity, and brand of dynamic lawyering that brought us here,” Atty. Divina said.
As it enters its third decade, DivinaLaw reaffirmed its commitment to sustained growth, innovation, and service, building on its foundation as one of the Philippines’ leading law firms.
The momentous event signals the start of a year-long anniversary celebration, featuring a legal forum and golf invitational for clients, alongside a nationwide rollout of Dulog Legal, DivinaLaw’s free legal aid clinic.
