DivinaLaw celebrates 20th anniversary with Philippines luminaries

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MANILA, Philippines — DivinaLaw marked its 20th anniversary with a memorable celebration.

Founded in 2006 in Makati by Managing Partner Atty. Nilo 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 Aboitiz Jr.; San Miguel Corp. chairman and CEO Ramon Ang, represented by his daughter Cecille Ang; The STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte; Equicom Manila Holdings vice chairman Rene Buenaventura; Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. 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 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 Wee and CFO Norman Wee; Philippine Stock Exchange director Vivian Yuchengco.

Government officials and lawmakers who joined the celebration include Senate president Tito Sotto; Senators Mark Villar, Loren Legarda, and Jinggoy Estrada; former health secretary Francisco Duque III; Securities and Exchange Commission chair Francis Lim; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Elmore Capule and general counsel Roberto Figueroa; Rep. James Ang Jr., Lorna Silverio and 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 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.