22 Nov Managing Legal Risks in Digital Transformation

Last November 21, 2019, Disini & Disini Law Office and Digital Freedom Network teamed up to stage Managing Legal Risks in Digital Transformation at Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City. This legal tech symposium focused on the concept of digital transformation, where public and private businesses transition from traditional processes to modern and digital alternatives. It is the first legal tech symposium staged by D&D and DFN of its kind. 

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Justo A Ortiz, Chairman of the Board of UnionBank of the Philippines. He inspired the audience with his vision of the transformative power of technology in the financial services sector, which his bank has increasingly adopted in practice. Dr. Richard Parcia, chief information officer of Concepcion Industrial Corporation, and Jojo Añonuevo, chief innovation officer of QuadX, shared similar insights derived from the experiences their own businesses. 

The day-long event featured multiple lectures and panel discussions on different aspects of digital transformation as applied to enterprises.  Atty. JJ Disini, managing partner of Disini & Disini Law Office, explained the legal foundations in the Philippines that have enabled the adoption of digital technologies and practices, as well as some of the unsettled legal issues on matters such as the recognition of electronic documents and digital signatures. The panel discussions touched on similar themes, weighing in on the technological innovations that have spurred disruption and growth while also raising new legal questions. The panels included discussions on managing IT contracts with Arup Maity, president and chief executive officer of BlastAsia Inc.; a discussion on cyber risks with Arpit Shrivastava, co-founder of GCSS Inc.; a panel on fintech joined by Bryan Makasiar and Atty. Siel Cotoco, assistant vice president for Strategy Fintech group and vice president for Legal-Fintech group of UnionBank of the Philippines respectively; a discussion on emerging media with Roland Ros, founder of KumuMedia Technologies, Ace Gapuz, chief executive officer of Blogapalooza, and Francis Simisim, founder and chief executive officer of Social Light; a session on artificial intelligence and privacy joined by Charibeth Cheng, co-founder and head of research of Senti Techlabs Inc., Allan Tan, chief executive officer and president of Ideyatech, and Hon. Ivy Patdu, deputy commissioner of the National Privacy Commission.  

One panel was devoted to public sector issues on digital transformation, with  Asec. Mary Jean Pacheco of the Department of Trade and Industry, Atty. Ira Paulo Pozon, Chief of Staff of the Anti-Red Tape Authority, and Atty. Frances Mendez of the Department of Information and Communications Technology discussing the initiatives of their respective offices. The final session featured a talk by Katrina Rausa Chan, director of QBO Innovation Hub, on tech