Practice Experience
For over twenty years, Maria Cristina Villanueva has had the privilege of working extensively with local and international lawyers regarding the financing, development and operation of major infrastructure, energy and water projects in the Philippines, involving local and international shareholders and commercial banks, multilateral agencies, export credit agencies and institutional investors. She assists clients from the inception of the project (including bidding, when applicable) until its commercial operation, providing counsel on both legal and commercial issues, risk allocation and mitigation, preparing and/or reviewing key project and financing agreements, negotiating with key stakeholders, including representatives of the Philippine Government, and even advising on dispute resolution strategies. Ms. Villanueva’s deep involvement in the projects she is handling has allowed her to identify and propose solutions to problem areas in existing regulations and processes, as well as handle and resolve difficult questions of law, including complex regulatory issues. She serves as corporate secretary and director in various Philippine corporations.
Ms. Villanueva is a member of the Philippine Bar and the Quezon City Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
Education
Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY, U.S.A., Master of Laws, 1998
Ateneo de Manila University, School of Law, Philippines, Juris Doctor, with honors, Evelio Javier Leadership Gold Medal awardee, 1993
Ateneo de Manila University, College of Arts and Sciences, Philippines, Bachelor of Science in Management, Major in Legal Management, 1989
Licenses & Certifications
Certificate of Completion – Infrastructure in a Market Economy Executive Education, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA, U.S.A., May 2019
Certified Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Foundation, APMG International, October 2019
Professional Affiliations
Integrated Bar of the Philippines
World Association of PPP Units and Professionals, Member
Publications
“A Battle Not Won: Forging the Filipino World War II Veterans Claims for Benefits Against the United States of America” – 38 Ateneo Law Journal, 219, December 1993
Practice Areas
Aviation
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Banking
Construction
Corporate and M&A
Corporate Recovery
Environment
Infrastructure & Water
Intellectual Property
Project Finance & PPPS
Securitization
Tax
TMT
Bar Admission
Philippine Bar
Languages Spoken
Fluent in English and Filipino