Juan Carlo “JC” Santos is an Associate of Fortun Narvasa & Salazar whose practice spans litigation, arbitration, corporate law, energy, environmental and natural resources law, intellectual property, data privacy, and regulatory compliance. He also serves as an Arbitrator of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.
JC obtained his Bachelor of Science in Legal Management from De La Salle University–Manila, where he graduated among the top students of his class and served as Chief Magistrate of the University Student Government Judiciary. He later earned his Juris Doctor degree from San Beda College Alabang, graduating within the top ten percent (10%) of his batch.
Throughout law school, JC distinguished himself not only academically but also as a student leader. He served two consecutive terms as President of the School of Law Government, representing a student body of more than one thousand law students and spearheading numerous academic, professional, and community initiatives. In recognition of his leadership and service, he received the Servus Servorum Dei Award and consecutive Dean’s Leadership Awards.
JC passed the 2022 Bar Examinations and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2023.
He joined Fortun Narvasa & Salazar in the same year. Since joining the Firm, JC has developed a diverse practice involving complex commercial disputes, construction arbitration, corporate transactions, regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation. He has been part of legal teams that secured favorable arbitral awards before the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission involving claims worth hundreds of millions of pesos and has represented clients in a wide range of civil, criminal, administrative, and corporate proceedings.
His experience includes conducting legal due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the energy sector; advising on environmental, mining, and regulatory matters; assisting in significant real estate acquisitions and property transactions; handling corporate reorganizations and compliance projects; and advising clients on family wealth planning structures, including trusts and trust corporations. He regularly appears before courts, arbitral tribunals, administrative agencies, and regulatory bodies.
Over the course of his practice, JC has earned a reputation for taking on complex and high-stakes matters under demanding timelines. He is frequently entrusted with engagements requiring the rapid mastery of intricate facts, careful legal analysis, and the development of practical solutions to challenging problems without losing sight of the client’s broader objectives.
