Ruben T DEL ROSARIO

Introduction

Ruben T Del Rosario stands as a distinguished leader in maritime litigation with a comprehensive expertise that spans dry and wet work, personal injury, labour, insurance, multimodal transport and arbitration. As managing partner of Del Rosario & Del Rosario, Del Rosario has been instrumental in securing the firm’s reputation as the best maritime law practice in the Philippines which is recognised by winning yearly accolades.

Under his stewardship, Del Rosario Law and its affiliate, Del Rosario Pandiphil, have become trusted representatives for practically all protection and indemnity clubs, marine insurers, and a diverse array of shipping companies. His extensive experience includes handling most of the major maritime casualties both domestically and internationally, particularly those involving Filipino seafarers. Del Rosario has been called on to give expert testimony in a number of cases abroad involving Filipino crew.

Del Rosario’s influence extends beyond his litigation practice. He played a pivotal role as a member of the tripartite committee that drafted the original 2000 Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Overseas Employment Contract and has significantly contributed to maritime legal literature. His widely acclaimed “Primer on the POEA Standard Employment Contract” has been updated over twelve times from 2000 to 2022. His “Philippine Shipping Update” newsletter which has been regularly published since 1999, has been a crucial resource for the shipping industry on all significant maritime developments. For more than twenty-five years, it has garnered a readership of approximately 3,500. He is also a long time member of the board of editors of the prestigious Maritime Risk International.

Del Rosario has long been recognised as a leading authority in maritime and admiralty law. Del Rosario has been named among AsiaLaw’s top 100 lawyers in the Philippines from 2018 to 2023. He has been consistently named in Asia Business Law Journal’s top 100 lawyers in the Philippines and other various legal organisations. He is an accredited maritime arbitrator and founder of the Philippine Maritime Voluntary Arbitrators Association. He has been president of various maritime, legal and civic organisations. His leadership in various maritime, legal, and civic organisations, coupled with his academic background—including degrees from the Ateneo de Manila University, the University of Michigan, and De La Salle University—reflects his profound impact on the field. Del Rosario’s role as a lecturer at international conferences underscores his dedication to educating and shaping the future of maritime law both in the Philippines and globally.

Del Rosario has a law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and a master in business administration from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. He has a bachelor’s degree in social science and finance from De La Salle University. He has attended various shipping courses, including those at the University of Southampton, UK.