Beginnings

The decision to organize the Firm originated in the minds of Edgardo J. Angara and Manuel G. Abello who had known each other since their student days at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law. The status quo in the practice of law, which was then dominated by the big law firms, presented an opportunity to any forward-looking and enterprising group of lawyers. It would seem that only multinational corporations could then avail of the full range of legal services offered by big law firms. And yet the emerging Filipino entrepreneurial class also needed such services. There was, therefore, a vacuum that had not been properly filled.

The next step was to convince others--their classmates and peers who were already comfortably situated--to share their vision and daring. The first to join them in establishing the Firm was Teodoro D. Regala, and later, Jose C. Concepcion, US-trained former University of the Philippines College of Law classmates, who were then with the Sycip, Salazar Law Offices. To this all-UP Law alumni group was added an alumnus of the San Beda College of Law, Avelino V. Cruz, Mr. Angara's classmate at the University of Michigan Law School who had practiced law with the Pelaez Jalandoni and Jamir Law Firm and was then in the Executive Management of Mobil Oil Philippines.

These five gentlemen forged a partnership which has endured and evolved into the institution that it is now.

ACCRALAW opened its doors to clients with modest offices at the 7th Floor of the Philippine Bank of Commerce Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati City on May 1, 1972 under the Firm name “Angara Abello Regala & Cruz”, which was changed to its present Firm name of “Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz” in November 1972, when Jose Concepcion officially joined.