Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra Appoints Energy Law Leader

Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra has appointed Jose Ma. Emmanuel “Kiril” Caral as Senior Counsel and Head of the firm’s Energy Practice Group. With over three decades of legal and executive leadership in the energy and petroleum sectors, his appointment strengthens the firm’s position in Energy Law.

Caral brings a distinguished track record in regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, dispute resolution and supporting multi-billion-dollar investments. He has held senior leadership roles, including Managing Director, Head of Legal and Chief Administrative Officer of Prime Energy Resources Development (formerly Shell Philippines Exploration or SPEX), Head of Legal of the Shell companies in the Philippines, and Senior Legal Counsel for Singapore-based Shell Exploration and Production Asia Pacific, supporting business development and operations in Indonesia, Australia, Brunei, Malaysia and India.

He has successfully led high-stakes corporate transitions, international arbitration and public-private partnerships, with deep expertise in corporate governance, ESG, legal risk management and stakeholder relations.

A British Chevening Scholar, Caral earned his Master of Laws with Distinction from the University of Edinburgh. He also holds a Juris Doctor and an AB in Economics from Ateneo de Manila University, where he received the Departmental Award for Economics. Currently, Caral serves as Senior Adviser to Prime Energy, and as Chairman & President of the Malampaya Foundation. He is an active member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) and the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA).

“I am honored to join Gorriceta at this pivotal stage of growth. The energy sector is undergoing a significant transformation, and I look forward to building a practice that combines legal excellence with strategic foresight—helping clients succeed in an evolving and dynamic energy landscape,” said Caral.

Mark S. Gorriceta, Chairman & Managing Partner of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, commented, “As Gorriceta continues to expand its industry-focused practice areas, Kiril’s leadership, experience and strategic insight bring immense value to our Energy Practice. His appointment reinforces our ability to provide high-impact legal counsel to clients navigating complex energy and infrastructure challenges.”