SAKURA Law Office (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Managing Attorney: Kenshiro Michishita) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Strategic Business Alliance Agreement with DivinaLaw, a leading full-service law firm based in Makati City and Cebu City, Republic of the Philippines (Managing Partner: Nilo T. Divina), effective April 17, 2026.

Through this alliance, both firms will establish an integrated and highly practical cross-border legal service platform centered on Japan and the Philippines, extending across the ASEAN region and neighboring Asian jurisdictions, in order to meet the increasingly sophisticated demands of international business, investment, and dispute resolution.

Background and Purpose of the Alliance

In recent years, the Philippines has emerged as one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing economies within ASEAN, attracting substantial foreign investment across key sectors including manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, IT-BPO, and finance. Japanese companies have significantly expanded their presence in the Philippine market, while Philippine enterprises have increasingly sought opportunities for investment and expansion into Japan.
In this evolving landscape, effective legal support requires not only a deep understanding of statutory frameworks, but also practical insight into regulatory enforcement, administrative processes, and local business customs. The need for sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional legal coordination has never been greater.
Against this backdrop, SAKURA Law Office and DivinaLaw have agreed to form a long-term and sustainable strategic partnership by combining their respective professional expertise, human resources, international networks, and extensive practical experience. The objective of this alliance is to deliver legal services of the highest international standard while ensuring strong local execution and responsiveness.

Scope of Cooperation

Under this alliance, the two firms will collaborate closely across a broad range of practice areas. In the field of cross-border investment and market entry, the firms will jointly support Japanese companies entering the Philippine market, including corporate structuring, licensing, regulatory compliance, and investment planning, as well as Philippine companies seeking to expand into Japan. In international transactions and M&A, the firms will provide comprehensive support covering due diligence, transaction structuring, contract negotiation, and risk management for complex, multi-jurisdictional deals.
In financial regulation, FinTech, and digital assets, both firms will deliver coordinated legal services addressing cryptocurrency, digital payments, tokenization, AML/CFT compliance, and regulatory frameworks under both Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regulations and Japanese financial laws. In corporate governance and regulatory compliance, the firms will advise on IPOs, internal control systems, directors’ duties, ESG compliance, sustainability disclosures, and human capital management in alignment with global standards.
In dispute resolution, the firms will establish a joint framework for handling arbitration, litigation, and mediation, including the preparation of evidence, development of enforcement strategies, and cross-border asset protection.
In addition, the alliance will extend to infrastructure and real estate projects, labor and immigration matters, public interest legal work including human rights and environmental issues, and the development of legal frameworks for expansion into third countries within ASEAN, South Asia, and the Middle East.

About DivinaLaw

Founded in 2006 by Atty. Nilo T. Divina, DivinaLaw has grown from a boutique firm into one of the largest and most respected full-service law firms in the Philippines, now with more than 100 lawyers. The firm is widely recognized for its dynamic lawyering approach—prompt, proactive, and results-oriented—and has built a strong reputation in corporate law, particularly in mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and high-value transactions.
DivinaLaw’s practice spans the full spectrum of Philippine law, including corporate and commercial law, banking and finance, energy, infrastructure, taxation, intellectual property, labor and employment, immigration, administrative law, maritime law, and dispute resolution across civil, criminal, and arbitration proceedings.
Its clients include leading companies across banking, finance, manufacturing, energy, healthcare, real estate, and technology sectors, both domestically and internationally.
DivinaLaw is the exclusive Philippine member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide (LAW) and LEGALINK, two highly regarded global networks of independent law firms spanning major commercial centers across the world, significantly enhancing its international reach.
The firm is also the first and only law firm in the Philippines and Asia admitted to the Law Firm Pro Bono Project of the Pro Bono Institute, demonstrating its strong commitment to access to justice and public service.
In recognition of its excellence, DivinaLaw and its lawyers have received numerous international accolades, including ALB Employer of Choice 2025, multiple “Law Firm of the Year” awards across various practice areas, and repeated recognition of its partners among the top lawyers in the Philippines by international legal publications.
Managing Partner Nilo T. Divina is widely regarded as one of the leading legal professionals in the Philippines and continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s strategic direction and international standing.

Future Outlook

Through this alliance, SAKURA Law Office significantly enhances its capability to provide sophisticated legal services in the Philippines and across the ASEAN region.
Moving forward, both firms will leverage this partnership as a foundation for building a broader multi-jurisdictional legal network extending into South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, thereby establishing a comprehensive platform for cross-border legal services.
SAKURA Law Office remains committed to delivering excellence grounded in both practical expertise and principled legal values, supporting the growth of its clients while contributing to the advancement of the rule of law in the international community.

Contact Information

SAKURA Law Office
Ark Hills South Tower 4F
1-4-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
Managing Attorney: Kenshiro Michishita　
Website：https://sakura-lawyers.jp

DivinaLaw
8th Floor Pacific Star Building
Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue corner Makati Avenue
Makati City 1200, Philippines
TEL: (632) 8822-0808
Website：https://www.divinalaw.com/