SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan (SyCipLaw) marks its 80th anniversary in 2025. With eight decades of a robust and pioneering practice, SyCipLaw has become what its founder, Alexander SyCip, in a 1968 lecture on the role of law firms, had considered the goal of any serious legal partnership — to be an institutional law firm.
In a message sent to staff at the start of the year, SyCipLaw Managing Partner Hector M. de Leon, Jr. noted both the singular success of the Firm as well as the challenges of sustaining standards of excellence, saying “[i]t is crucial that we recommit ourselves to our core values: Integrity, Excellence, Solidarity, and Stewardship. Steadfast commitment to these values is important for the Firm’s continued success and will sustain us as we progress toward our 100th anniversary in 2045.”
Partner Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba, a member of SyCipLaw’s Responsible Business Committee, expanded on this theme in a recent talk to top-ranked students from leading law schools. Referring to, among others, the Firm’s many projects and cases in such areas as sustainable finance, technology for access, non-profits and social enterprises and renewable energy, she emphasized the need not just for excellence, but excellence with purpose.
To celebrate its anniversary, the Firm will host a series of events this year, including Balik Friday Club, an alumni homecoming for SyCipLaw lawyers, on July 11. The Firm already kicked off activities this February with a legal symposium co-organized with the National Filipino American Lawyers Association, that focused on timely critical topics such as U.S. Immigration Law.
On March 1, there will be an event (expARTe) at Gallery. Sort of., the art gallery of curator and SyCipLaw alumnus, Joseph Gonzales, and on March 14, a thanksgiving gathering (Pasasalamat@80) with guest speaker and SyCipLaw alumna, Ms. Cora Rosales, who retired in 2004 after holding several key administrative roles in the Firm.
In late March, a writing workshop (What’s Your SyCipLaw Story?: The Power of the Narrative) conducted by noted writers Atty. Nick Pichay and Dr. Joti Tabula, will be launched.
The Firm’s 80th Anniversary Committee will continue to send more information about SyCipLaw’s anniversary activities as the year progresses.
