SyCipLaw announces the extension of the term of Partner John Christian Joy A. Regalado as Head of the Firm’s Davao branch and the appointment of Partner Emmar Benjoe B. Panahon as Head of the Firm’s Subic Branch, both effective February 1, 2026.
John is a member of the Firm’s Litigation department and has extensive experience in arbitral proceedings, product liability, consumer protection, and tax disputes. He has been consistently recognized by The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner and Recommended Lawyer, and by Benchmark Litigation as a Future Star for Commercial and Transactions and International Arbitration. He currently serves as the Regional Representative for South Asia to the International Chamber of Commerce’s Young Arbitration and ADR Forum for the 2024-2026 mandate. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a trustee of the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators.
Benjoe specializes in labor and employment law, and advises clients on a broad range of employment-related matters. He also handles general corporate services and acts as a corporate secretary for several corporations. He has contributed to various articles on employment law and has participated in a podcast on employment litigation in the Philippines. Since 2024, he has been consistently recognized by The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner and Recommended Lawyer for Labor and Employment. He succeeds Partner Russel L. Rodriguez, who served as the Subic Branch Head for more than a decade.
The contact details of all the Firm’s branches can be viewed here.
