Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra is a top-tier law firm, internationally recognized for its expertise in Corporate and Commercial Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Banking and Finance, Taxation, and Data Privacy. As a full-service law firm, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra has gained international recognition in various practice areas. The firm is known for providing innovative, industry-leading legal solutions tailored to the needs of its clients, positioning it as a benchmark in the legal sector.

Considered the fastest-growing law firm in the Philippines, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra has nearly 50 professionals and a total team of 100 people. Additionally, it is constantly expanding, increasing its presence in the legal field. Thanks to its associated firm Yusarn Audrey, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra has a presence in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Marco S. Gorriceta

Managing Partner and head of the Corporate, Banking and Finance, and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) groups at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra. Marco represents national conglomerates in their digitalization efforts, as well as leading technology companies in the Philippines, both local and global. His expertise includes corporate structuring, taxation, banking and finance, capital markets, equity financing, and complex cross-border commercial transactions.

With over 20 years of experience in private practice, Marco has developed extensive expertise in complex corporate transactions, commercial contracts, and regulatory matters. He is recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the Philippines in Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Securities Law. He has been distinguished as one of the top 100 lawyers in the Philippines by the Asia Business Law Journal for four consecutive years (2020-2023). Marco is also a pioneer in the field of digital assets law, fintech, blockchain, e-commerce, data privacy, and artificial intelligence. He currently serves as legal advisor to the most influential technology and online companies in the Philippines and has been ranked number 1 in the field of technology and fintech in the country. Marco graduated with honors in Law from Ateneo de Manila University and holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the same university. Additionally, he has completed certification courses in Finance at the Asian Institute of Management and Harvard University, as well as masterclasses on Blockchain and Smart Contracts in Singapore and Hong Kong. He is currently a faculty member at the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business, where he teaches Mergers and Acquisitions. He is also a professor in the Regulatory Innovation and Fintech Program at Mapua University in collaboration with the University of Cambridge.

Lucas Niccolo M. Cauton III

Senior Partner and head of the firm's Intellectual Property Group. Lucas has extensive experience in corporate law, intellectual property, mining, transportation, labor, litigation, real estate, tourism, and environmental law. He has actively participated in boards of tourism developments and medical institutions in the Philippines.

With a distinguished career in litigation, Lucas has handled civil, criminal, tax, corporate, and labor disputes. Before joining the firm, he worked at Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas (PECABAR) and Santiago & Santiago Law Offices, and later established his own firm, Cauton & Africa. A member of the Philippine Bar since 2005, Lucas holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from Ateneo de Manila University.

Francisco A. Africa

Senior Partner and leader of the firm's Litigation and Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Groups. Francisco, known as Kiko, has extensive experience in data privacy, cybersecurity, labor law, litigation, mining, transportation, and real estate. His career includes civil, criminal, tax, corporate, and labor litigation, as well as regulatory compliance work in transportation law.

Before joining the firm, Kiko worked at Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas (PECABAR) and Santiago & Santiago Law Offices, and later established his own firm, Cauton & Africa. A member of the Philippine Bar since 2005, Kiko holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Asia and the Pacific and a Juris Doctor from Ateneo de Manila University.

Additionally, Kiko was a member of the Rotary Club of Paranaque East, the Singapore International Foundation-National University of Singapore, and a trustee of the Ateneo de Manila Law Alumni Association, Inc.

• Corporate and Business Services: Providing legal services to address a wide range of issues arising from the creation of businesses, obtaining permits and licenses, attracting foreign investment, establishing corporate vehicles and joint ventures, corporate restructuring and reorganization, dissolution, and regulatory compliance. Through our subsidiary Gorriceta Support Services Inc., we offer corporate secretarial and business support services.
• Setting Up in the Philippines: Advising companies on selecting the most cost-effective business structure and assisting with the entire registration process to comply with current Philippine laws.
• Financial and Transactional Advisory: Helping explore financing options, maintain liquidity, manage cash flow, mitigate risks, and develop exit plans in case of cessation of business operations.
• Bookkeeping: Offering accounting services including document collection, transaction recording, financial reporting, and document custody.
• Tax Compliance: Assisting with the preparation and filing of tax returns, tax payments, and compliance with tax obligations under existing laws.
• Corporate Secretariat: Ensuring corporate compliance, managing board meetings, maintaining corporate records, drafting resolutions, and other corporate secretarial services.
• Cybersecurity: Providing effective approaches to identify, prevent, and mitigate cybersecurity risks, as well as protecting and ensuring data privacy. Also advising on compliance with privacy laws and managing data breaches.
• ESOP and ESOP Solutions: Designing and managing Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP) through our partner platform Svested, offering practical solutions for structuring transactions and managing CapTables in a digitized manner.
• Corporate Law
• Commercial Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Technology, Media and Telecommunications
• Banking and Finance
• Taxation
• Data Privacy