Denis B. Habawel (DBH) heads the Litigation and Arbitration Group, where he brings more than 35 years of solid experience in litigating civil, commercial, and criminal cases.

Prior to joining Libra Law, DBH served as managing partner (2005 to 2010) and head of litigation (2003 to 2012) of then Ponce Enrile, Cayetano, Bautista, and Reyes Law Offices (PECABAR), which was founded by former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and the late former Senator Renato Cayetano.

DBH has handled a wide range of disputes for some of the country’s leading companies, involving intra-corporate relations, land ownership, commercial contracts, construction, insolvency, torts, trademark infringement, and unfair competition. He has also represented leading political figures in all stages of criminal proceedings.

DBH is one of the few lawyers in the Philippines who has developed an expertise in telecommunications law. He represented telecommunications companies before the NTC and helped organize the Telecommunications and Broadcasters Attorneys of the Philippines. He is also a member of the Intellectual Properties Association of the Philippines.

Heeding the call of public service, DBH was elected in 2013 as Governor of the Province of Ifugao. As a hands-on Chief Executive of the province, he acquired deeper knowledge in government procurement, local appropriations, local development planning and implementation. After his term, he was appointed Chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

DBH is also a leader of the Philippine Bar, having served as Governor of the IBP Northern Luzon Region (2011 to 2013) and President of the IBP Ifugao Chapter for two terms.

He obtained his Bachelor of Laws (1981) from the University of the Philippines College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics (1977) at the De La Salle University.