PunoLaw is proud to announce the admission of Deborah S. Acosta-Cajustin and Joseph Vincent B. Alvaera as Senior Partners, effective January 1, 2024.
Debbie is a multi-skilled lawyer with 17 years of experience in tax and corporate law. She routinely advises public and private companies on various taxation issues, including individual and corporate taxation, tax structuring and tax planning, estate planning and cross-border tax planning. She also represents clients in tax litigation, both involving national and local government taxes.
Debbie’s tax law experience well complements the firm’s expertise in advising clients in corporate and commercial projects. She has extensive experience in loan negotiations, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and stock and asset purchases for various clients involved in energy, retail, real estate and mining.
Debbie obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 2006 and placed second overall in the 2006 Bar Examinations. She also has a Master of Laws degree from San Beda University in December 2022. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accountancy degree from UP in 2001 and graduated cum laude. She is also a Certified Public Accountant. Debbie also teaches Taxation Law, Corporation Law and Credit Transactions at the San Beda College Alabang School of Law.
Joseph’s commercial litigation, tax litigation, and arbitration experience spans nearly 16 years of oral and written advocacy before the trial and appellate courts, and various administrative agencies such as the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission. He has also participated in international commercial arbitration and authored pleadings and various submissions for clients involved in litigation before the Supreme Court.
With key specialization in power and energy, Joseph has acted as lead attorney in litigation and arbitration matters involving power industry participants, such as securing interim reliefs with courts in connection with alternative dispute resolution; obtaining injunctive relief against a local government unit for illegal claims of real property taxes on power assets; and defending interests of power generation companies against various stakeholder claims.
Joseph’s litigation and arbitration experience enhances the firm’s wholistic approach to advising its clients in the power and energy industry. He routinely advises clients on multi-faceted issues involving legal rights and remedies relating to the electric power industry. He also handles regulatory and compliance matters related to the development and operation of power generation companies in the Philippines.
Joseph obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in 2007 and his Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Management from De La Salle University in 2003. He is a certified File Counsel and trained arbitrator by the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.
