Rita Linda V. Jimeno
Managing Partner
Rita Linda Jimeno is a distinguished legal professional and educator with a prolific career spanning over four decades in Corporate Law, Family Law, Civil Law, and Philippine Immigration. Her exceptional standing in the Philippine legal community is highlighted by her historic service as the second lady President of the Philippine Bar Association, a multiple-time Bar Examiner in Civil Law, and her shortlisting for the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. A deeply respected academic leader, she serves as the Co-Dean and a professor at the Centro Escolar University School of Law and Jurisprudence. Additionally, she shapes the judiciary as a Professorial Lecturer for the Philippine Judicial Academy of the Supreme Court and contributes to national governance as a Governor for the Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA).
Beyond the courtroom and classroom, Dean Jimeno is a trailblazer in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), serving as an accredited mediator and international arbitrator for prestigious bodies such as the ICC International Court of Arbitration and the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.. Her expertise has heavily influenced national legal policy, having served as a member of Supreme Court technical working groups that drafted rules on environmental procedure and whistleblowing, and as a Commissioner for the Constitutional Consultative Commission. Armed with a Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines and a Master of Laws from San Beda University, Dean Jimeno seamlessly blends her deep legal acumen with a background in mass communication—evident in her years as a prominent columnist and author — to provide clients at Jimeno Cope David and Associates with unparalleled counsel and advocacy.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Civil Law
Family Law
Philippine Immigration
Corporate Law
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Master of Laws
San Beda University, 2018
Juris Doctor
University of the Philippines, 1985
Bachelor of Mass Communication, Major in Broadcasting, minor in Journalism
University of the Philippines, 1973; College Scholar for 5 semesters
Masters in Business Administration (units earned)
De La Salle University Professional School, 1978
Short Term Scholar studying how speedy trial was being operationalized in the USA
USAID Washington DC, August 24, 2005 to September 1, 2005
Study Tour on the Swiss Federal System of Government
Institute of Federalism, Fribourg University, Switzerland, October - November 2008
Masterclass for International Arbitrators
ICC Institute of Arbitration held in Hong Kong, March 7-9, 2013
Intensive Trainings in Mediation
organized by the Philippine Judicial Academy/Supreme Court, conducted by three sets of trainors: Singaporean, Canadian and Australian trainors in 2000, 2002 and 2004, respectively
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Co - Dean, Centro Escolar University, School of Law and Jurisprudence
2011 to Present
Professorial Lecturer, Philippine Judicial Academy, Supreme Court of the Philippines, ADR Department; Lecturer in the Judicial Enhancement Program for the Judiciary (JCEP) and in the Orientation for Newly Appointed Judges (ONAJ)
2012 to Present
Professor, Centro Escolar University School of Law and Jurisprudence, Makati City [Subjects taught: Civil Law Review 1 and 2, Persons and Family Relations, Torts and Damages, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Succession]
2011 to Present
Arbitrator, Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI) and the ICC, International Court of Arbitration
Member, Bench Book Committee, Supreme Court of the Philippines: Author of the chapters on Special Civil Actions and Provisional Remedies
Mediator in the Philippine Court of Appeals; Lecturer in the Enhanced Refresher Course for Mediators and the Basic Mediation Courses.
Accredited by the Philippine Supreme Court in 2006
Lecturer in Mandatory Continuing Legal Education for Lawyers (MCLE) at the UP Institute for Administration of Justice, the Asian Center for Legal Excellence, ACCESS, and other MCLE providers
Executive Vice President, Centre for Restorative Justice in Asia
2003 to 2019
Governor and Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Reforms, Philippine Constitution Association
PHILCONSA 2008 to Present
Trustee, Sigma Alpha Sorority Alumnae Association, Inc.
2016 to Present
Chair, Environmental Law Committee, Philippine Bar Association
2006 to 2021; 2023 to Present
President, Philippine Bar Association
2004 to 2005 (the second lady president of the PBA)
Legal Counsel, Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI)
2006 to 2017
Consultant of the Rule of Law Effectiveness Project of the USAID which carried out various projects for the Philippine Judiciary
2004 to 2005
Rehabilitation Receiver, United BF Homeowners’ Association
2008 to 2010
1st Filipino Director of the Executive Council of the International Criminal Bar representing Asia
March 2003 to 2007
Secretary General, Charter Change Advocacy Commission
Feb. 2006 to Sept 2006
Commissioner, Constitutional Consultative Commission (ConCom) which proposed revisions to the 1987 Constitution
September 2005 to February 2006
Co-Chair, Committee on Judicial Reforms of the Constitutional Consultative Commission
2nd Vice President and Director, UP Alumni Association
2009 -2012
Director, UP Alumni Association
2006-2009
Director, LAWASIA, Philippines
2006 to 2009
Chief, Community Relations and Information Office, National Housing Authority
1975 to 1978
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Family law, including estate settlement, inheritance disputes, nullity of marriages, legal separation, adoption, VAWC, sexual harassment.
Other civil law matters such as contracts, land disputes, ejectment, or recovery of possession, recovery of ownership, torts and damages, collection of debts, etc.
Philippine Immigration Law and Corporate Law.
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Lecturer, Mandatory Continuing Legal Education for Lawyers (MCLE)
Columnist on Family Law, Good Housekeeping Magazine
2009 to 2017
Author, Provisional Remedies and Special Civil Actions, Bench book for the Trial Courts
Published by the Philippine Judicial Academy in 2011 and re-published with updates in 2023
Author of several legal papers published in various Law Journals, among which are:
- The Philippine Justice and Penal System: The Daunting Road to Restorative Justice, The Lawyers Review, Vol XIX Sept. 30, 2005
- Rule 65: Posing Impediments to a Streamlined Judicial System, The Bedan Review, San Beda Alabang Law Journal, March 2013
- Provisional Remedies, Benchbook for Trial Courts, 2011, with yearly updating
- Special Civil Actions, Benchbook for Trial Courts, 2011, with yearly updating
- More than 632 column articles published in the Manila Standard Today since July 2005 up to October 2017
- About 728 column articles published in the People’s Journal since 1998 to 2005
- About 96 column articles written for Good Housekeeping Magazine since 2009 to 2017
- Numerous articles written as Faculty Adviser, Red Chronicles, San Beda College Alabang Newsletter
- Literary poems and essays published in the Graphic Magazine and Sunday Times Magazine as well as Banyuhay, a publication of the UP Kapisanang Pilipino (from 1969 to 1972)
Columnist, The Manila Standard Today
July 2005 to October 2017
Columnist, People’s Journal
1998 to 2004
Lecturer in Journalism, Liberal Arts and Communication, De La Salle University
1977 to 1979
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
Philippine Bar Association
International Criminal Bar
Member, Technical Panel for Legal Education, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
2008 to 2010
Member, Supreme Court’s Sub-Committee on Rule Revisions which amended Rule 65 and related rules of the Philippine Rules of Court to cut delay in proceedings
2005
Member, Technical Working Group of the Supreme Court which drafted the Rules of Procedure in Environmental Cases
2008 to 2009
Member, Technical Working Group which drafted the Rule on Whistle blowing in the Supreme Court
2008
Member, Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI)
2019 to Present
1st Filipino Director of the Executive Council of the International Criminal Bar, representing Asia
March 2003 to 2007, The Hague, Netherlands
President, Philippine Bar Association
2004 to 2005 (the second lady president of the PBA)
President, United Way Philippines, a socio-civic organization
2005 to 2007
2nd Vice President and Director, UP Alumni Association
2009 -2012
Director, UP Alumni Association
2006-2009
Director, LAWASIA, Philippines
2006 to 2009
Trustee and Member, UP Sigma Alpha Sorority Alumnae Association
2016 to 2018
Executive Director, Centre for Restorative Justice in Asia
2000 to 2018
President, Abogado Para Sa Bayan Foundation, Inc.
1999 to 2012
Partner, Juris Praesidium Secundum (a Mandatory Continuing Legal Education service provider)
2011 to 2019
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Among top 15% of graduates in UP, Bachelor of Laws
Bar Examiner in Civil Law 2010 and 2015 Bar Examinations
Shortlisted for the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
2016 and 2017
Graduated with honors in High School and Elementary (La Consolacion College, Caloocan City [formerly St. Joseph Academy],
1969
Recipient of a Certificate of Gratitude to a Manila Bay-Ani, given by the International Council for Environmental Law, the DENR, the Normandy Chair for Peace and the Institute for Governance Sustainable Development, Washington DC
given on 14 June 2022 Manila
Recipient of the 1st Glory Distinguished Alumni Award conferred by the UP College of Mass Communication
November 10, 2017 at the UP Ang Bahay ng Alumni, Diliman, QC
2016 Outstanding Alumna for Public Service conferred by the UP Alumni Association
June 25, 2016 in UP Diliman
Sarihay Media Award for Best Commentary/Editorial conferred by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment
August 26, 2016
Presidential Medal of Merit for contributions in Constitutional Reforms conferred by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
December 16, 2005 at Malacanang Palace, Manila
Distinguished Leadership Award conferred
September 23, 2005 by the Philippine Bar Association
Certificate of Recognition conferred by the UP College of Law
January 20, 2009 for Championing Environmental Rights
Impact Award for Legal Service conferred by Up Close and Personal Annual Impact Awards
27 March 2010
Finalist, Lasallian Scholarum Awards for best articles on children
Sept. 3, 2013 De La Salle University Office for Strategic Communications
Outstanding Alumna in the field of LAW conferred
Feb.18, 2006 by the La Consolacion College
Most Outstanding Alumna Award
March 11, 2000 granted by the La Consolacion College
Outstanding Performance Awards conferred by the Philippine Bar Association for nine consecutive years
1999 to 2007
Outstanding Philconsan conferred by the Philippine Constitution Association on Constitution Day 2013
Most Outstanding Sigma Alphan
October 2014
Special Appreciation Award conferred by the Philippine Bar Association
April 17, 1998 for her hosting and production of Saklolo Abogado television show in IBC 13
Plaque of Commendation for Outstanding Service conferred by the National Housing Authority
June 30, 1977 — Ms. Jimeno was the first recipient of such an Award from the NHA
College Scholar for 5 Semesters
(1970-1973) University of the Philippines
