Trilingual commercial litigator educated in four countries, specializing in antitrust and data security issues.
Paula concentrates her practice on a broad range of litigation in the areas of antitrust, trademark, data security and privacy, e-discovery, white collar criminal defense and government investigations. She is also experienced in international arbitration proceedings and arbitral award enforcement as advocate and tribunal assistant. Prior to joining Phillips Lytle, she was a senior associate in the litigation group of the largest law firm in the Philippines.
In regards to her data privacy and cybersecurity work, Paula’s experience includes a table-top exercise on cyber attacks, cybersecurity and privacy. She advises on various legal aspects, such as data access agreements, privacy policies, cookie policies, website terms and conditions, acceptable use policies and compliance due diligence. Additionally, Paula has experience preparing productions in response to a subpoena from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and collaborating with the FTC in that capacity.
Paula obtained the ANSI-accredited Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) credential from the International Association of Privacy Professionals, highlighting her expertise in European data protection laws, standards and practices. She completed a data governance and protection course at the National University of Singapore, a national security course at the National Defense College of the Philippines and a technology and innovation course at Fulbright University Vietnam as a fellow of the U.S. Department of State’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative. In 2023, Paula served as an American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Technology Fellow.
Paula lectured on international law and dispute resolution in conferences in Vietnam and Thailand hosted by the Asian Development Bank Institute and the United Nations. She also discussed the Philippines’ cryptocurrency regulatory framework in the Blockchain Applications and Economics Forum.
Most Valuable Masters of Law Student, Michigan Journal of International Law, 2022
Top 10 Power Millennials of the Philippines for Youth Empowerment, Lifestyle Asia, 2018
30 Under 30 Game Changers of the Philippines, Lifestyle Asia, 2018
Awards & Certifications
Education & Admissions
Education
University of Michigan Law School, LL.M., 2022
University of the Philippines College of Law, J.D., 2015
McGill University, B.A., 2010
Admitted to Practice
New York
Philippines
U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
Certifications
Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) International Association of Privacy Professionals
Languages
Filipino
Visayan
Experience
Representative Matters
Represented a health insurance plan in investigations by the Federal Trade Commission and the New York Attorney General.
Represented a health insurance plan in antitrust post-class action litigation and opt-out litigation.
Conducted internal investigations for a Fortune 500 company.
Advised on data access agreements, privacy policies, cookie policies, website terms and conditions, acceptable use policies and compliance due diligence.
Represented two incumbent senators and one former governor in multiple corruption and white collar cases.
Represented a social news network in alleged violations of foreign equity restrictions in the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation and trial courts.
Represented a market research provider specializing in online panel data and technology-based research solutions in investigations by various government agencies and in the negotiation for reinstatement of tax and foreign investment incentives.
Served as arbitral assistant to a National Arbitration and Mediation (NAM) sole arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings between the world’s largest cruise ship operator and crew member.
Represented a petroleum company in international arbitration proceedings related to breach of contract in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Represented a global sports agency in cross-border enforcement of a Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS) arbitral award.
Moderator, “Celebrating Native Voices: A Conversation with Makalika Naholowa’a,” Phillips Lytle Webinar, November 2023
Co-Presenter, “A Reality Check on Current and Future Dispute Resolution Technology and Collaboration,” Association for Conflict Resolution of Greater New York, Conference at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution of George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia, October 2023
Presenter, “Inclusivity in eDiscovery and Tech: Embracing Opportunities at a Law Firm in a Foreign Country,” American Bar Association Women of Legal Tech, American Bar Association Women Rainmakers, September 2023
Presenter, “Robot Mediators, Avatars & AI,” 22nd Annual Conference, Association for Conflict Resolution – Greater New York (ACR-GNY), May 2023
Presenter, “Qualifying for and Taking the New York Bar,” Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Rizal-San Juan-Mandaluyong Chapter, April 2023
Activities & Professional Associations
Past Activities
Data Governance and Protection, National University of Singapore, January 2020
Michigan Journal of International Law, Associate Editor, 2021 -2022
National Security, National Defense College of the Philippines, Class Officer, April 2019
New York State Bar Association Trial Academy, 2024
Technology and Innovation, Fulbright University Vietnam, September 2022
Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI), Fellow
University of the Philippines College of Law, Law Debate and Moot Court Union, President
Professional Associations
American Bar Association
Section of Dispute Resolution
Technology in Alternative Dispute Resolution Fellow, 2023-2024, with a citation for Honorable Achievement
Asian American Bar Association of New York
ASEAN Law Association, Working Committee
ASEAN Law Institute, Working Committee
Bar Association of Erie County
Commercial Litigation and Bankruptcy Law Committee
Federal Practice Committee
Integrated Bar of the Philippines Makati Chapter, President’s Working Committee
New York State Bar Association
Women in Law Section
Young Lawyers Section
Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration, Member
Co-Author, “Navigating Clone Discovery in the United States: Understanding Relevance, Proportionality and Particularity, and the Latest Judicial Guidance,” Chambers Expert Focus Series, Chambers and Partners, September 2024
Co-Author, “EU Artificial Intelligence Act: What Is It and How Does It Compare to U.S. AI Law?” New York Law Journal, February 2024
Co-Author, “European Commission Adopts EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework: Developments That Could Impact Your Business,” Buffalo Business First, October 2023
Co-Author, “White Collar Corner: The Enforcement of New York State’s SHIELD Act,” The Daily Record, March 2023
Co-Author, “What Businesses Should Know About Data Protection and Enforcement in 2023,” Buffalo Business First, January 2023
Publications
Author, “International Arbitration: A Comparative Analysis of the Rules of the ICC, HKIAC, and SIAC,” Michigan Journal of International Law, October 2021
Author, “Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines,” Asia Business Law Journal, January 2020
Co-Author, “Philippine Chapter, The ASEAN FinTech Ecosystem Benchmarking Study,” University of Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, Asian Development Bank Institute, and Fintech Space, September 2019
Author, “Policy Brief, Building Food Security in Asia through International Agreements on Rice Reserves,” Asian Development Bank Institute, August 2018
Author, “Regulating Virtual Currency in the Philippines,” Asia Business Law Journal, March 2018
Author, “Jurisdictional and Evidentiary Issues in Prosecuting Internet-Facilitated Sex Trafficking,” Philippine Law Journal, University of the Philippines College of Law, December 2015
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