Our Team
Atty. Benedicto M. Valerio Jr.
Atty. Benedicto M. Valerio Jr. is the founding and incumbent top executive of the firm. Attorney Valerio was formerly the General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary of International Exchange Bank [1996-2006] where he served as a key member in the executive management and handled an array of legal functions including legal documentation, corporate housekeeping, litigation, tax management, mergers and acquisition. Elected to the Board of East West Banking Corporation in 2012, he currently holds the position of Corporate Secretary.
Before joining International Exchange Bank’s top Management, Atty. Valerio gained experience and practice for a diverse set of legal services with firms including Bautista Picazo Cruz Buyco and Tan Law Offices (1987 to 1988); Balane Barican Cruz and Alampay Law Offices (1989 to 1992) and Alfonso M. Cruz Law Offices (1993 to 1995).
He graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University College of Law in 1987 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar on the same year. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from De la Salle University, Manila (1981) and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Ateneo de Manila University Professional Schools, having graduated in 2003 awarded with a Gold Medal for his academic excellence.
Atty. Florida L. Laureste-Brecia (On Leave)
Atty. Florida L. Laureste-Brecia graduated Cum Laude from the Palawan State University. Attorney Laureste-Brecia is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Before joining the Firm, she was an Associate Professor in the College of Business Administration of the Palawan State University. She is the firm’s expert in tax management and has extensive experience in labor relations.
Atty. Gerard Benedict G. Valerio
Atty. Gerard Benedict G. Valerio earned his Juris Doctor degree from San Beda College Alabang in 2023 and was admitted to the bar in the same year. Prior to law school, Atty. Gerard earned his Bachelor’s degree in Management Economics at the Ateneo De Manila University. He also earned minor degrees in Literature and Business Enterprise Development from the same university.
Atty. Jonathan P. Ong
Atty. Jonathan P. Ong joined the Firm in August 2019. He obtained his Bachelor of Science (Economics) degree from the U.P. School of Economics on April 2, 1989 and his Bachelor of Laws degree from the U.P. College of Law on April 24, 1993. He took the bar examinations in September 1993 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar on March 15, 1994.
He joined the law firm of Atty. Mario E. Ongkiko sometime in 1994. In June 1996 he became in-house counsel of the erstwhile International Exchange Bank until August 31, 2006. He then joined Maybank Philippines (MPI) as Head of Legal Services and Corporate Secretary in May 2007, a position which he held until July 19, 2019.
He was also the Corporate Secretary of the affiliates of MPI in the Philippines – Philmay Property, Inc. and Philmay Holdings, Inc. His practice areas are banking and general litigation
Atty. Raul I. Rafael
Atty. Raul I. Rafael graduated Magna Cum Laude (AB Economics) from Manuel L. Quezon University. He finished his Law Degree at San Beda College of Law in 1990 and passed the Bar in 1991 and thereafter engaged in private practice.
He was engaged as litigation lawyer and later Head of the Litigation Department of PSBank. He was also the retained counsel and corporate secretary of several financial institutions.
At present, he is a Conservator of a distressed insurance company appointed by the Insurance Commission.
Atty. Ma. Louise Marie Leuterio
Atty. Ma. Louise Marie Leuterio earned her Juris Doctor degree from San Beda College Alabang School of Law in 2024. She took the bar examinations that same year and was admitted to the Philippine Bar on January 24, 2025. Before pursuing law, she completed a Bachelor's degree in Legal Management at San Beda College Alabang, providing her with a solid foundation in legal studies and business administration.
Atty. Gillian Cassie C. Tan (Of Counsel)
Attorney Gillian Cassie C. Tan graduated with Honors from the Ateneo de Manila University College of Law in 2018 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2019. She obtained her Bachelor of Science (Management Information System) degree for the Ateneo De Manila University in 2014.