Michael Ureta Email & Phone Number

Mandaluyong, National Capital Region, Philippines

Makati City

Practice areas: family & civil laws, criminal, labor & immigration, election & administrative laws. Also concurrently:- CORPORATE SECRETARY. Global Restaurant Concepts, Inc. (GRCI) [Philippine Franchisee of "California Pizza Kitchen(CPK)," "P.F. Chang's China Bistro," "IHOP," & "Applebee's Grill & Bar" chain of restaurants]- CORPORATE SECRETARY. Prive Dining & Entertainment, Inc. [Owners of “The Establishment” at the Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City]

Partner, Trial & Litigation (family & civil laws, criminal, labor & immigration, election & administrative laws). Also, and concurrently, DIRECTOR: Mitsui-Soko (Philippines), Inc., Casico Holdings, & Btcino Philippines, Inc. (from 2005-2008).

As GENERAL COUNSEL, QSPAN Technologies Philippines, Inc. (a mobile banking solutions provider), handles the review & preparation of various contracts & memoranda of agreement; incorporation and registration of the Company and the litigation/cases (criminal, civil, labor & administrative, etc.) including preparation of pleadings & representing the company in judicial and quasi-judicial/administrative proceedings (hearings & negotiations); Research, preparation, review of legal opinions/advice; oversees, manages, monitors cases handled by in-house counsel or those referred to external counsel; promote awareness and ensure maintenance of Company’s compliance with relevant laws, rules & regulations affecting or applicable to Company and its businesses.

Acts as liason between the Office of the Vice President (OVP) & the Task Force components from/with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Overseas & Employment Administration (POEA) and Criminal Investigation & Detection Group (CIDG)-Philippine National Police (PNP) as well as the victims of illegal recruitment & human trafficking; is legal counsel & renders legal advice & representation to/for the OVP & the CIDG-PNP in matters involving illegal recruitment; provides reports and recommendations to the OVP on illegal recruitment/human trafficking issues and concerns; appears for and in behalf of victims of illegal recruitment before the DOJ, POEA and NLRC, whenever required.

As Program/Activity Manager (Anti-Corruption & Judicial Reform) for the Rule of Law Effectiveness [R.O.L.E.] Project of USAID (engaged by Management Systems International & Checchi Consulting, Inc. [as the Contractors for the United States Agency for International Development]): manages/supervises all activities identified in the R.O.L.E. Workplan that are specifically related to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Sandiganbayan (the Philippines Special Anti-Graft Court); identify/propose short term technical consultants to undertake the identified activities; review the work submitted by technical consultants to ensure effective implementation of activities; submit accurate reports to USAID on outcome of activities; provide technical advise to Activity Managers for the Court of Tax Appeals, Court of Appeals, Department of Justice in the conduct of training, seminars/workshops.

As a Managing Partner, handled the day-to-day administration and operations of an ongoing business concern consisting of a full service Law Firm that employs fifteen legal and non-legal staff and servicing some 200 corporate and individual retainer clients; Also Head of Trial & Litigation, directly supervises seven associate lawyers and approves all legal theories/strategies and any and all written work relative thereto including demand letters and all other correspondences with legal implications as well as all pleadings of the Firm in all areas of litigation.

While an Associate of the Balane Tamase Alampay Law Office, he was a member of four (4) man team of lead Philippine legal consultants for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) sponsored project to propose/draft a revised Charter of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (PDIC) [Now, Republic Act No. 9302]; also handled these notable cases: Manzano vs. COMELEC (citizenship issue of Vice Mayor Edu Manzano) & City of Taguig vs. City of Makati (boundary disputes over the area formerly used as the military base Fort Bonifacio).

Juris Doctor, Law

Activities and Societies: Senior Noble Fellow (1987-1988). Upsilon Sigma Phi (Member. Since 1984).Date Graduated: 23 April 1993.

Bachelor Of Arts, History

Activities and Societies: Senior Noble Fellow (1987-1988). Upsilon Sigma Phi (Member. Since 1984). Member. U.P. Days with the Lord..

High School Diploma

Recipient LEADERSHIP & Academic Distinction Medals

Elementary

Accelerated in Academics. Angelicum School. 1979.