About the Firm

Riguera & Riguera Law Office was established in 1995 in Las Pinas City, Philippines, by Manuel Riguera and Hazel Rebadulla Riguera. The firm has built a sterling reputation among the premier law firms in South Metro Manila, Philippines, and counts prestigious domestic corporations and subsidiaries of multinational corporations among its clients. It is accredited by the United States Embassy and the British Embassy and has considerable experience and expertise in representing foreign nationals before the courts, administrative agencies, and bureau of immigration.

 

MANUEL R. RIGUERA

Mr. Riguera graduated in 1991 at the upper third of his class at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, in Makati City, Philippines. In law school, he was a Dean’s Lister and the Articles Editor of the Ateneo Law Journal. He obtained his commerce degree from San Beda College, Manila, in 1986.

Upon his admission to the bar in 1992, he worked as a law clerk for Justice (later Chief Justice) Hilario G. Davide, Jr. of the Philippine Supreme Court. In 1995, he became counsel of Insular Savings Bank (now Citibank Savings Bank) and in 1997 he was hired as counsel for Philippine Commercial Capital, Inc., one of the top five investment banks in the Philippines. He joined the firm in 1998 bringing with him a wealth of experience in corporate and civil litigation and negotiation. His areas of practice and expertise are in civil and commercial litigation, criminal law, real estate and property law, banking and securities law, environmental law, and appellate advocacy.

Mr. Riguera is a professor of law at the Far Eastern University and the University of the East where he lectures on remedial law review which includes civil and criminal procedure, special proceedings, and evidence. He also lectures at bar review seminars and before lawyers in continuing legal education seminars. His articles have been published in the Far Eastern University Law Journal. His book, Primer-Reviewer on Remedial Law, was published by Central Lawbooks in 2009. He was appointed by the Supreme Court to the five-man panel of remedial law experts which undertook a postmortem review of the multiple-choice questions in the 2011 remedial law bar examination.

 

HAZEL E. REBADULLA RIGUERA

Is the managing partner of the firm. Ms. Rebadulla Riguera graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Eastern Philippines, with a degree in Economics. She obtained her law degree from the San Beda College of Law in Manila, Philippines, and was admitted to the bar in 1994. She is experienced and well-versed in real estate and property law, immigration law, environmental law, and family and adoption law. She also has considerable experience dealing with government agencies, including the Bureau of Immigration, Securities and Exchange Commission, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. She is a licensed real estate broker.

 

KENNETH BRIAN D. BALTERO

 
Mr. Baltero graduated with a degree in law from the Central Philippine University College of Law in Iloilo City and was admitted to the bar in 2014.  He obtained his A.B. Political Science degree from the West Visayas State University where he was the Chairman of the Political Science Students’ Organization.  He has worked in the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Public Attorney’s Office, both in Iloilo City, and later in legal process outsourcing companies before joining the firm.  His areas of practice are in civil and criminal litigation, estate and probate law, intellectual property law, and labor law.  He is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Cavite Chapter.  
 

 

KAREN FANCUBILLA LAURITO

 
Ms. Laurito obtained her law degree from the Far Eastern University Institute of Law and was admitted to the bar in 2015. She is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Cavite Chapter. She graduated with a degree in Political Science from De La Salle University–Dasmariñas where she represented her class in the Political Science Student Council. She is also a permanent member of the Political Science Constitutional Commission. Ms. Laurito was previously employed at Tanggol Kalikasan, Inc. where she had an opportunity to work with different government agencies regarding policy advocacy on environmental protection and environmental program implementation.    Her areas of practice include civil and criminal litigation, taxation, environmental law, and land and natural resources law.