Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Philippine Business Law 2026: A Practitioners' Guide to Foreign Ownership, Corporate Structuring, Finance/Securities, Employment, Immigration, Land, Tax, Incentives, IP, Competition/Merger Control, Data Privacy and Compliance

Published by a LexisNexis Commercial expert

Practice notes

Updated in January 2026

Introduction

The Philippines has continued to deliver solid, resilient economic outcomes, keeping its place among Southeast Asia’s faster-growing economies. From 2010 to 2019, average annual GDP growth was around 6.4%, a clear step up from the 4.5% average recorded between 2000 and 2009. Despite global headwinds from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, the country showed durability; GDP growth recovered to 5.6% in 2023, the fastest in Southeast Asia. Credit assessments remain positive too: as of June 2024, Fitch Ratings affirmed the Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating at ‘BBB’ with a stable outlook, indicating robust medium-term growth prospects.

This guide highlights key matters a new business will need to understand and address before starting operations in the Philippines. It is not exhaustive, and specific Philippine legal advice should always be obtained prior to setting up and running a business in the country.

The business environment

Government

The Philippines is both a democratic and republican state by virtue of...

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Mark Gorriceta

Managing Partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra

Mark S. Gorriceta is the Managing Partner and Head of the Corporate, Banking and Finance, and Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) Groups of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra – a multi- awarded and full service Philippine law firm established in 2015 with offices in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.He represents domestic conglomerates in their digitization efforts as well as the Philippines’ top technology companies – both local and global entities – and further renders his expertise in corporate structuring, tax, banking & finance, capital markets, equity financing, and in navigating complex cross-border commercial transactions.With over 20 years of experience in private practice, Mark has developed an extensive expertise in complex corporate transactions, commercial contracts and regulatory matters in a range of areas that impact businesses – whether for start-ups or for Top 1000 companies in the Philippines. He is a leading lawyer in the...

Kristine Torres

Partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra

Kristine T. Torres is a Partner of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, and Head of Project Finance and ESG. She is also a key Partner of the Corporate and Technology Media and Telecommunications practice groups of the Firm. Kristine specializes in corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions, technology media & telecommunications, capital markets, banking, finance, securities law, project finance and ESG. She led a number of complex and significant mergers and acquisitions of highly regulated companies, involving private and/or publicly-listed companies, and capital markets transactions, and regularly advises clients on the entry of foreign investments to the Philippines, establishment of domestic corporation and other corporate vehicles, application for primary and secondary licenses with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Insurance Commission and other government agencies, cross-border and commercial transactions, joint ventures, corporate structuring, securities offerings, legal and...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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