Lawyers

Julius Thomas A. Esquivias

Atty. Julius Thomas A. Esquivias ​obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Management from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2003. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 2007. He finished his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the Philippine School of Business Administration in 2016. He worked as corporate counsel as well as serving as Vice President for Finance and Human Resources at Phil-Jap Dreamshine Corporation from February 2008 until March 2009.

Mr. Esquivias also served as Consultant to the Senate of the Philippines from 2012 up to 2016. He sits as Member of the Board in a number of non-profit organizations and is a Director in various companies. He is also a licensed Real Estate Broker.

At present, he is the Co-Managing Partner at the Esquivias & Arbues Law Firm, contributing to the firm’s expertise in the areas of Taxation, Civil, Corporate, and general litigation.

He joined the Junior Chamber International in 2017 and is an active member of the JCI Manila chapter. He was raised as Master Mason in 2010 and is a Past Master of King Solomon Lodge No. 150. He will serve as Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines in the coming masonic year.

Christian M. Arbues

Atty. Christian M. Arbues ​obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree from the University of the Philippines, Diliman in 2002. In 2007, he obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the same University.

After graduation, he practiced corporation and litigation law before serving as corporate counsel and Vice President for Operations and Marketing at Phil-Jap Dreamshine Corporation. He likewise obtained his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the Philippine School of Business Administration in 2013. At present, he is a Co-Managing Partner at the Esquivias & Arbues Law Firm, contributing to the firm’s expertise in the areas of Taxation and general litigation.

He is a Board Member of the U.P. Scintilla Juris Alumni Association, Inc. He is also a Past Master of King Solomon Lodge No. 150 and served as Grand Chaplain under the Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.

Stella Pastores-Esquivias

Atty. Stella Pastores-Esquivias graduated with honors from the Ateneo de Manila University, where she earned her degree in Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Before graduating, she took her internship at the Senate of the Philippines in 2002. The following summer, she also took English, History and Culture at the Oxford English Centre in Oxord, UK. In 2008, she obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Philippines, finishing among the top in her batch. In the same year, Ms. Pastores-Esquivias took the bar and was immediately hired by Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco (CVCLaw), a full-service law firm, where she worked as associate and handled issues on litigation, corporate law, mining, energy, and intellectual property. In 2011, she joined the Esquivias & Arbues Law Firm. Ms. Pastores-Esquivias was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2009.

She passed the Real Estate Brokerage licensure examination in 2016. At present, she handles the firm’s corporate and commercial practice and civil litigation. She also manages the domestic affairs of the firm’s multinational clients. Ms. Pastores-Esquivias is also a Consulting-Director and heads the Inter-Corporate division of a Philippine Conglomerate.

Emerson S. Bañez

Atty. Emerson S. Bañez  (Of Counsel) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Research from the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication in 2002.  He received his law degree from the College of Law in 2008, and was admitted to the Philippine bar in April 2009. He received his LL.M from Kyushu University in 2016.

He worked as a programmer for one of the country’s largest broadcasting network, developing web-based and mobile applications. As a law student, he served as student assistant to Professor JJ Disini, one of the country’s leading authorities on cyberspace law. He was also a member of the editorial board of the Philippine Law Journal. Emerson was a lecturer in the UP College of Law before recently joining its regular faculty. And prior to joining the UP College of Law faculty, Emerson was a Solicitor in the OSG, where he worked directly under Solicitor General Florin Hilbay.   

Sixto S. Esquivias IV (Of Counsel)

Atty. Sixto S. Esquivias IV (Of counsel) obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree, major in Accountancy at the Far Eastern University and Bachelor of Laws at the Ateneo de Manila University. He had previously served the Bureau of Internal Revenue from 1977 to 2000. He started as Revenue Examiner 1 before being promoted to key positions including Revenue District Officer of West Makati, Head Revenue Executive Assistant of Assessment Service, Assistant Commissioner for Legal Service, culminating in his appointment as Deputy Commissioner for Legal and Enforcement Group in 1998. In 2001, he put up the Esquivias, Cruz, Conlu and Yabut law firm and became its Managing Partner for eight years.  During the same period, he served as consultant on tax reform statutes to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and National Economic Development Authority Director-General, Ralph Recto.  Around this time, he was also appointed National Treasurer of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.  After withdrawing from public service in 1999, Atty. Esquivias continued his membership in the academe by accepting professorial positions in both the University of the Philippines and Manila Law School.  In 2008, he was appointed as Commissioner of Internal Revenue, a position he held until November, 2009.

At present, he is the Managing Partner of the Esquivias, Conlu Vidanes & Yabut Law Offices.

Our firms are currently collaborating in a number of cases.