Senior Partner
Since 1995, Atty. Maria Cristina Villanueva has been advising clients on the financing, development, and operation of energy projects as well as other major infrastructure projects in the Philippines, such as toll roads, railways, and water public-private partnerships (PPPs), involving local and international shareholders and commercial banks, multilateral agencies, export credit agencies, and institutional investors.
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
Maria Cristina Magdalena F. Villanueva
Practice Experience
Atty. Villanueva assists clients from the inception of the project, including bidding, when applicable, and construction 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, and negotiating with key stakeholders, including representatives of the Philippine Government. She also advises clients on dispute resolution strategies and has successfully handled several arbitrations in construction and PPP.
As a former national consultant of the PPP Center of the Philippines, Atty. Villanueva has given lectures on the Philippine water sector and PPPs to local government units, water districts, and national government agencies. She has also acted as PPP legal specialist in connection with the preparation of feasibility studies for several PPP projects of the national government.
Practice Areas
Aviation, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Banking, Construction, Corporate and M&A, Corporate Recovery, Environment, Infrastructure and Water, Intellectual Property, Project Finance and Public & Private Partnerships (PPPs), Securitization, Tax, Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT)
Personal Affiliations
- Integrated Bar of the Philippines
- World Association of PPP Units and Professionals, Member
Bar Admission
Philippine Bar
Languages Spoken
Fluent in English and Filipino