Our Firm
About Us
Operating from the heart of one of Asia’s fastest growing economies, we reach out to the world with our comprehensive range of legal services in both established and emergent practice areas, as well as our in-depth knowledge and extensive transactional experience in specialized fields such as energy, infrastructure, corporate/ mergers and acquisitions, banking, finance and capital markets, and conflict resolution.
David Emmanuel B. Puyat 1997-2010, Founding Partner
Our dynamic and diverse team of legal practitioners and professionals create a formidable workforce committed to upholding our core values of competence, integrity, relationship, commitment, and leadership in all aspects of operations. Guided by a deep sense of responsibility, accountability and a steadfast commitment to our shared values, we continuously innovate and create effective solutions that comply with the unique needs and specifications of each and every client.
Whether they are government agencies or private entities, industry leaders or up-and-coming game-changers, local players or foreign investors, our clients have grown to rely on us for more than just legal advice. Being exceptionally adept at the technical and financial nuances of focused industries, we are widely recognized as strategic partners that contribute value in any phase of the transaction — from the drawing board to the balance sheet.
We strive to learn at every turn. Members of our team are constantly exposed to working with prominent lawyers from leading international and local firms, top executives and managers form multi-national companies, frontrunners in government service, as well as consultants and specialists that represent a wide range of disciplines such as accounting, banking and finance, architecture, engineering, public policy reform and economies – greatly enriching our knowledge and understanding of specialized fields of practice.
PJS Law takes pride in being consistently ranked in the top tier by some of the world’s most influential legal and financial publications.
Guided by a deep sense of responsibility, accountability and a steadfast commitment to our shared values, we are – and will continue to be – partners joined in strength.
“Perhaps the PJS standard is very high, some would say too high. Perhaps. But if you are going to set a standard, why make it a comfortable one? You have to raise your personal bar. Do not be content with your personal achievements. The moon was deemed unreachable once upon a time. But now that it has been reached, landing on the moon is no longer a compelling objective.”
“You have to go further out. Going past the moon will be a bumpy ride. But that is the price of excellence. I hope to see you at the launch pad.”
History
It must be true what the sages wrote in the Tao Te Ching: The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long. Dave Puyat worked with so much zeal and passion to create what he envisioned as “something special, something great and something truly exceptional” in the legal profession that his career as a lawyer, while unfortunately short, could never be described as anything else but trailblazing.
Dave received his degree in Law from the University of the Philippines in 1995 and obtained the 4th highest ranking in the bar examinations that same year. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1996 and was barely a year into his legal practice when he left the prominence and security of a renowned law office to establish his own firm. In 1997, together with his colleagues Reggie and Roy, he co-founded Puyat Jacinto & Santos – the beginning of what is now PJS Law.
From its modest beginnings, PJS Law flourished into the realization of something Dave had always wanted: a professional environment that thrived on diligence, mutual trust, and unwavering commitment to the highest standards of quality in performance and service. “We don’t want to be the biggest,” as he had often said. “We just want to be the best.”
Dave continues to live in every partner, associate, paralegal and staff member of PJS Law as we honor and uphold the vision and core values of firm – the same fundamental principles we all share and aspire for. More than just a founding partner, Dave Puyat was and will always be our friend, mentor and guiding light.
And for us who are left to carry out his dream of revolutionizing the legal landscape through the tireless pursuit of excellence, innovation and professional ethics, Dave continues to rally and inspire with a call to distinction that faithfully endures.
Notable Awards & Recognition
Over the years, PJS Law has gained international recognition as one of the leading firms in it’s various practice area and has been consistently cited in AsiaLaw Profiles, Chambers and Partners Global, IFLR1000, and The Legal 500.
2023
Advocate of the Year, Virginia B. Viray
ALB Women in Law Awards
Band 1, Projects, Infrastructure & Energy
Chambers & Partners Global
Band 1, Projects, Infrastructure & Energy
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
Leading Individual, Ramil E. Bugayong
Legal 500
Leading Individual, Ramil E. Bugayong
Legal 500
Leading Individual, Regina Jacinto-Barrientos
Legal 500
Outstanding, Energy Sector
AsiaLaw Profiles
Highly Recommended, Infrastructure Sector
AsiaLaw Profiles
Highly Recommended, Corporate and M&A
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Ramil E. Bugayong
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Regina Jacinto-Barrientos
AsiaLaw Profiles
Notable Practitioner, Maria Raquel S. Chavez
AsiaLaw Profiles
Notable Practitioner, Rowena Fatima M. Salonga
AsiaLaw Profiles
Tier 1, Project Development
IFLR1000
Market Leader, Ramil E. Bugayong
IFLR1000
Highly Regarded, Regina Jacinto-Barrientos
IFLR1000
Highly Regarded, Maria Raquel S. Chavez
IFLR1000
Highly Regarded, Virginia B. Viray
IFLR1000
2022
Band 1, Projects, Infrastructure & Energy
Chambers & Partners Global
Band 1, Projects, Infrastructure & Energy
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
Tier 1, Projects and Energy
Legal 500
Leading Individual, Ramil E. Bugayong
Legal 500
Leading Individual, Regina Jacinto-Barrientos
Legal 500
Outstanding, Energy Sector
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Ramil E. Bugayong
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Rachelle Diaz-Tan
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Regina Jacinto-Barrientos
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Roy Enrico C. Santos
AsiaLaw Profiles
Notable Practitioner, Maria Raquel S. Chavez
AsiaLaw Profiles
Notable Practitioner, Rowena Fatima M. Salonga
AsiaLaw Profiles
Tier 1, Project Development
IFLR1000
Market Leader, Ramil E. Bugayong
IFLR1000
Highly Regarded, Regina Jacinto-Barrientos
IFLR1000
Highly Regarded, Maria Raquel S. Chavez
IFLR1000
Highly Regarded, Virginia B. Viray
IFLR1000
Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers
Asia Business Law Journal
2021
Band 1, Projects, Infrastructure & Energy
Chambers & Partners Global
Band 1, Projects, Infrastructure & Energy
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
Tier 1, Projects and Energy
Legal 500
Leading Individual, Ramil E. Bugayong
Legal 500
Leading Individual, Regina Jacinto-Barrientos
Legal 500
Outstanding, Energy Sector
AsiaLaw Profiles
Outstanding, Construction
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Ramil E. Bugayong
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Rachelle Diaz-Tan
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Regina Jacinto-Barrientos
AsiaLaw Profiles
Distinguished Practitioner, Roy Enrico C. Santos
AsiaLaw Profiles
Notable Practitioner, Maria Raquel S. Chavez
AsiaLaw Profiles
Notable Practitioner, Rowena Fatima M. Salonga
AsiaLaw Profiles
2020
Band 1, Projects, Infrastructure & Energy
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
Tier 1, Projects and Energy
Legal 500
Outstanding, Energy Sector
AsiaLaw Profiles
Outstanding, Construction
AsiaLaw Profiles