LAWYER Teodoro D. Regala, one of the leading figures in the country’s legal profession and a co-founder of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW), passed away on June 1. He was 85.

A statement by the firm cited Mr. Regala as having served as its managing partner from 1981 to 1985. Mr. Regala co-founded ACCRALAW together with Manuel G. Abello, Jose C. Concepcion, Avelino V. Cruz, and the late senator Edgardo J. Angara.

Mr. Regala, who was born on Dec. 27, 1933, has had “a long scope of accomplishments that span more than 50 years during which he earned the respect of his peers and the adoration of those whom he had worked closely with,” ACCRALAW said in its statement.

“He leaves behind a legacy of excellence in Philippine corporate law practice,” the statement also said. “His most recent accolades include recognition by Chambers Asia-Pacific and Chambers & Partners as one of the Senior Statesmen for Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions for 2018 and citation as one of the top 100 lawyers in the Philippines in Vantage Asia‚ The A List.”

The statement also cited Mr. Regala as having been “actively involved in several organizations such as the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, the UP Law Alumni Association, the Harvard Club of the Philippines, and the Union Church of Manila (UCM) Philippines Foundation, Inc.”

Mr. Regala earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953 and Master of Arts in Economics in 1954 at the University of Sydney. He also earned his Bachelor of Science in Jurisprudence and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of the Philippines in 1959.

Under a scholarship grant, Mr. Regala obtained a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University where he graduated in 1960. He also took special courses in Corporate Taxation and Securities Regulation at the New York University School of Law in 1961. Mr. Regala was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1962.

He is survived by his wife Carminda, children Karina, Teodoro, Jr., Risa, and Pia, and 13 grandchildren. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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