Joe Nathan P. Tenefrancia was named by Asian Legal Business as Managing Partner of the Year in its awarding ceremony held on 22 November 2019 at the Shangri-la Makati. Joe Nathan or Joey (as he is popularly known) has been CMT’s Managing Partner since its founding in 2013. He also heads CMT’s Telecommunications and Information & Communications Technology practice group. He is a litigator by training and is a key member of CMT’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department. With his background in mining engineering, in addition to being a lawyer, he is also a member of CMT’s Mining & Natural Resources Department.
Mr. Tenefrancia served as Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs (Presidential Management Staff) under the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines and was Chief Presidential Legal Counsel (with the rank of Cabinet Secretary) from January 2004 to August 2004. Thereafter, he was appointed Senior Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs, Office of the Executive Secretary (with the rank of Cabinet Secretary) under the Office of the President from September 2004 to December 2005.
Mr. Tenefrancia obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1990, where he was Chief Justice Fred Ruiz-Castro Scholar. He graduated class Salutatorian with a Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence. He was also Chancellor of the Order of the Purple Feather Honor Society and served as President of the U.P. College of Law Student Government (1989 to 1990). Mr. Tenefrancia also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from the University of the Philippines where he graduated in 1985.