Atty. Mary Christine S.C. Florete, JD, MCIArb, GICD is a highly distinguished legal professional specializing in commercial and construction arbitration, corporate governance, and dispute resolution involving commercial and labor matters. With over eight years of post-qualification experience, she has consistently delivered exceptional results for clients across industries such as real estate, hospitality, retail, petroleum, and construction—particularly in high-value and high-risk disputes. Her dual strength in arbitration and litigation makes her a versatile and strategic advocate for businesses navigating complex legal challenges.

Atty. Florete is the Founder and Managing Partner of Florete Law, a boutique law firm recognized for its focus on strategic, business-driven legal solutions. Her core practice areas include commercial arbitration, construction arbitration, intra-corporate controversies, business valuation, fraud detection and prevention, employment disputes, criminal prosecution and defense, corporate housekeeping, data privacy, anti-money laundering, and internal controls implementation. Under her leadership, the firm has emerged as a trusted legal partner for enterprises across the Philippines and Southeast Asia, offering end-to-end support from proactive risk management to effective dispute resolution.

In addition to her role as lead counsel, Atty. Florete also serves as Head of the Audit Committee for several private corporations, where she is responsible for overseeing internal controls, risk assessment, and financial compliance involving international brand names and exclusive trademarks. Her advisory work in this area is rooted in practical experience—identifying systemic vulnerabilities, developing anti-fraud frameworks, and ensuring sound governance practices in multi-sectoral businesses. Her background in business administration enhances her ability to align legal advice with commercial outcomes, offering clients solutions that protect both their legal position and financial performance.

Atty. Florete is actively engaged in the international arbitration community. She is a Tribunal Secretary and File Counsel at the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI), an Accredited Arbitrator at the Philippine International Center for Conflict Resolution (PICCR), and an Accredited Tribunal Secretary at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)—one of the world’s top five arbitration institutions. These roles position her at the forefront of complex, cross-border dispute resolution.

Her global arbitration credentials include earning the MCIArb designation from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London), a prestigious title held by only a select number of Filipino practitioners. She is also a member of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF), a global organization promoting the use of Dispute Boards in resolving disputes in infrastructure and development projects funded by multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Atty. Florete’s commitment to ethical excellence is further reflected in her membership with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), where she supports high-integrity practices in governance and compliance.

Atty. Florete likewise received training from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Law Academy on Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and Institutional Arbitration.

She has received training on Dispute Board Administration and Pratice, and Dispute Board Chairmanship and Practice from internationally recognized thought-leaders. Dispute Board (DB) training plays a crucial role in the effective functioning of DBs within construction projects, which in turn significantly impacts the management and resolution of disputes.

A dedicated legal educator and thought leader, Atty. Florete teaches Arbitration Law and Commercial Dispute Resolution at West Visayas State University College of Law. She is also an MCLE Lecturer with Access MCLE Online, regularly delivering lectures on arbitration law, enforcement of arbitral awards, and corporate risk management. Her academic contributions include co-authoring the widely-circulated article, “Playing Patch-Up: Intra-Corporate Arbitration Under the Philippines’ Revised Corporation Code,” published by the Kluwer Arbitration Blog in 2023.

Her professional memberships include the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Institute of Corporate Directors (GICD), Society of Construction Law Philippines, Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PIArb), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). She currently serves as Assistant Vice President of PIArb’s Western Visayas Chapter and Co-Chair of Young PIArb, where she leads capacity-building programs for aspiring arbitration practitioners.

Atty. Florete holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Iloilo College of Law (2015) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from St. Paul University Iloilo (2009). She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2016.

Atty. Florete is known not only for her legal expertise but also for her integrity, precision, and relentless drive for results. Whether serving as legal counsel, arbitrator, tribunal secretary, or governance advisor, she remains focused on a singular mission: to simplify legal complexities, minimize delays, and deliver effective solutions that protect the client’s business, reputation, and bottom line.