Lindley Dela Cruz Santillan
Mr. Santillan has been a private law practitioner since his admission to the Philippine Bar in 2003. He currently serves as a consultant to both the Houses of Congress of the Philippines and the Chairperson of the Paniqui Water District Board of Directors.
As a consultant in the Senate and the House of Representatives for more than a decade now, Mr. Santillan has handled different levels of legislative work involving many departments and agencies of the government. On the other hand, as chairperson of a local water district board of directors, he held the position of chairperson of the Central Luzon Association of Water Districts and served as one of the governors of the Board of Governors of the Philippine Association of Water Districts. At present, he serves as the legal counsel of the National Association of Water Districts.
Mr. Santillan is highly proficient in public-sector undertakings. He is trained in the formulation of legal frameworks for government projects and adept at public-private undertakings or partnerships. He provides legal and technical counsel to national lawmakers and heads of agencies and is extensively trained in public policy concerning public-private partnerships, the environment and natural resources, law enforcement, trade and commerce, economic affairs, public appropriations, and water sector development.
Mr. Santillan likewise taught obligations and contracts at the John Gokongwei School of Management of the Ateneo de Manila University and was a faculty member of the Tarlac State University School of Law.
Mr. Santillan holds a Political Science degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the Ateneo de Manila University. As a student, he served as a councilor in the University Student Council and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council of UP Diliman. Mr. Santillan speaks and writes English, Filipino, and the Ilocano dialect.
.
Reginald Toledo Beltran
Mr. Beltran has had extensive experience as an associate of leading law firms and as an in-house legal manager. Mr. Beltran was in his own private practice for several years before joining the Firm.
Mr. Beltran is highly proficient in civil and criminal litigation, appellate practice, real estate law, labor law, energy law, securities, banking, contract law, healthcare law, and estates and succession. Mr. Beltran has acted as corporate secretary of various companies; advised top management on key policy and business-related matters; participated in commercial and international arbitration; acted as legal counsel to boards of directors; and led lawyers in due diligence exercises.
Mr. Beltran has handled various legal matters involving golf, beach, and country clubs; spa resorts; leading commercial banks; electric distribution utilities; foreign exchange dealers; hospital and healthcare institutions; publishing companies; and real estate companies. Mr. Beltran has represented clients before different tribunals, including the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Mr. Beltran provided counsel to private parties in various high-profile cases.
Mr. Beltran holds degrees in History (cum laude) and Law from the University of the Philippines. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in April 1998.
Roman Santos Esguerra
Prior to co-founding BES Law, Mr. Esguerra immersed himself in the different fields of legal practice, specializing in Criminal, Civil, Corporate, Commercial, Labor and Employment, and Intellectual Property Laws, as well as Appellate Practice.
Aside from being a litigator and a troubleshooter, Mr. Esguerra is known for providing his clients with apt and practical business solutions. He values a “hands on” approach to handling his tasks and is an advocate of risk prevention and risk management.
Over the years, Mr. Esguerra diversified his practice and gained relevant experience by serving as a legal consultant in the House of Representatives and for various private companies. As part of his contribution to the Academe, he taught law at the Centro Escolar University School of Law and Jurisprudence and the Universidad De Manila (UDM). He also held the position of Secretary of the Board of Regents at UDM from 2020 to 2022.
Mr. Esguerra obtained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Ateneo de Manila School of Law in 2008. He received a degree in AB Philosophy from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2004. Mr. Esguerra was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2009.
Kris Bernadette T. Sta. Maria-Ong
Ms. Sta. Maria joined the firm in 2015, and her current practice focuses on Civil, Business and Labor and Employment Law. She also has extensive experience in other fields such as Criminal Law, Land Registration, Business Taxation, Persons and Family Relations Law, Intellectual Property law, and Appellate Practice.
As a practitioner, Ms. Sta. Maria had the opportunity to represent various corporations and business entities before the National Labor Relations Commission, Regional Trial Courts, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Social Security System, the Department of Labor and Employment, and various local government units. She has also defended clients in the Sandiganbayan and appellate courts. She is currently a legal consultant for the Philippine Congress and a Labor Consultant for various business enterprises.
Ms. Sta. Maria attended the Ateneo de Manila School of Law and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2012. She received a degree in BS Legal Management from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2007.
Aeron Aldrich Bunviaje Halos
Mr. Halos specializes in litigation practice, handling civil, criminal, labor, tax, and land acquisition cases.
He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 2015 and passed the bar examinations administered the same year. He also obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines in 2009.
As counsel in the Supreme Court case of Republic of the Philippines v. Pasig Rizal Co., Inc., Mr. Halos successfully argued for the overturning of the then-prevailing jurisprudence on private land ownership. The landmark case effected a substantial change in the laws governing land registration in the Philippines.
Mr. Halos has been appointed by the Partners to serve as the Managing Partner of BES Law.