Atty. Antonio Rafael B. Ongkeko, Jr. is one of the founding partners of the Firm. Before establishing the practice, he was a Senior Associate at Villaraza & Angangco, a leading law firm in the Philippines. His exceptional ability to strategize and deeply understand client needs led to his early promotion to Senior Associate. Throughout his tenure, he was recognized several times as a top performer among all associates, further solidifying his reputation as a standout lawyer.

Mr. Ongkeko’s practice spans civil, criminal, and commercial litigation, as well as construction and commercial arbitration. At one point, he was the sole Senior Associate in the Litigation Department of Villaraza & Angangco, a situation that would have overwhelmed most. Instead, he saw it as a golden opportunity to expand his practice, taking on a diverse range of high-stakes cases across multiple legal fields. This experience gave him unmatched exposure to complex disputes, allowing him to sharpen both his tactical instincts and strategic legal thinking at an accelerated pace. By thriving under pressure, he set himself apart from his peers, developing a breadth of experience and adaptability that continues to define his practice.

Mr. Ongkeko’s unmatched grit and his ability to craft winning strategies and navigate complex legal disputes and matters earned him the trust of both clients and partners, allowing him to take on a leadership role in handling high-stakes cases and big ticket transactions. 

Because of this, he was entrusted with representing industry leaders and high-net-worth individuals in some of the most controversial and high-profile cases in the Philippines. His experience includes providing invaluable contribution to legal strategy for the corporate rehabilitation of a company with liabilities exceeding USD 1.5 billion, managing the estate proceedings of one of the wealthiest business tycoons in the country, handling a public interest case involving a private firm providing water and wastewater services in Metro Manila, and defending key officers of a major bank involved in the PHP 81 billion Bangladesh Bank Heist. He also served as the lead associate in the prosecution of an influential group for a multi-million embezzlement case.

Mr. Ongkeko is also heavily involved in anti-graft and corruption litigation, where he has successfully defended prominent government officials in cases before the Sandiganbayan, as well as in high-value anti-money laundering cases. Additionally, he has successfully handled multi-billion peso arbitration cases involving companies in the gaming industry and the construction industry, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable litigator and strategist.

Mr. Ongkeko was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2018. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Philippines in 2017. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from the same university.