The Energy Practice Group is the fastest growing practice area within the Firm. The Philippine electric power industry is undergoing total restructuring pursuant to a landmark legislation that seeks to dismantle the vertically integrated industry formerly dominated by the government-owned National Power Corporation (NPC). PJS LAW is at the forefront of emerging Energy Practice in the Philippines and has a firm grasp of the various regulatory and commercial issues affecting the industry. The Firm's current and previous involvement with the Philippine Government's efforts will help shape the near future and long-term viability of the Philippine Electric Power Industry.

•Serving as legal counsel to the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) and assisting in the organization of committees and providing advice in preparation for full commercial operations of the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) in December 2005.

• Currently serves as legal consultant to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in relation to its advisory services being rendered to the Department of Energy (DOE) for the development and promotion of private sector participation (PSP) in the Philippine Government’s Missionary Electrification program.

•Currently advising the Department of Energy (DOE) for the reorganization and enhancement of electric cooperatives by encouraging the participation of the private sector through investment management contracts.

•Currently acting as counsel to project companies in the development, construction and operation of cogeneration facilities using biomass, advising on issues in relation to foreign, local, private and public investments, drafting and execution of power supply and energy conversion agreements, and assist in government approvals and processing procedures.

•Currently advising in the establishment of ethanol distilleries throughout the Philippines that includes coordination with the sugar industry, oil companies and the government agencies for the establishment of off take contracts, policy framework and implementing rules and regulations.

•Acted as legal consultants to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities (PSALM) Corporation in connection with the privatization of the government owned National Power Company (NPC) estimated to generate between US$ 4 - 6 Billion in proceeds for the Philippine Government, particularly in the review of NPC's 35 power purchase agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) and assisted in its negotiations with various IPPs, including the contract amendments and financing of the 200MW Mindanao Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant Project.

• Acted as adviser to TRANSCO in the filing with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of the revised rules for the implementation of the open access transmission system (OATS Rules), and for PSALM in providing comments to various regulatory instruments, including the Competition Rules.