Lawyer Kristine Ferrer serves as one of defense counsel of Vice President Sara Duterte as she faces the Senate impeachment court on allegations of misusing confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and grave threats.
Ferrer, like several other members of the defense such as lead counsel Sheila Sison, is a partner lawyer of the Fortun, Narvasa and Salazar (FNS) Law Firm.
Since the trial began, Ferrer has so far led the defense’s cross-examination on two of the prosecution’s witnesses, particularly state auditor Xylene Mae del Campo and Office of the Vice President assistant chief-of-staff Lemuel Ortonio, as the court tackles Article I or Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds..
She is so far most known in the context of the trial for taking on private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan, known as a giant in the field of law, in one of its proceedings.
According to the FNS website, Ferrer earned her degree in Bachelor in Accountancy at the Ateneo de Davao University and was admitted to the Bar in 2011.
In 2009, her team during her law school years emerged as champion in the First National Debate on International Humanitarian Law, where she was awarded Best Debater of the Tournament. She was also a finalist in the first season of the ANC’s CVC (Villaraza Cruz Marcelo and Angangco firm) Law Debates in 2008.
She is also certified negotiator, as she has obtained her Certification in Negotiation Mastery from Harvard Business School Online.
Ferrer now has around 15 years of legal practice as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Lawyer, first beginning her career as a tax lawyer at Sycip Gorres Velayo and Co., before joining the firm.
Her practice areas revolve mostly around arbitration corporate and commercial practice and corporate rehabilitation, litigation and dispute resolution, as well as taxation.
The FNS also said that the lawyer possesses ‘extensive experience’ in handling matters before the Bureau of Internal Revenue BIR) and the Court of Tax Appeals.
Listed as one of her notable achievements was leading the team that facilitated what was widely regarded as the largest tax compromise settlement in the country, the P25 billion tax compromise settlement between Mighty Corporation and the BIR.
The FNS also regards Ferrer as an ‘outstanding litigator who has successfully represented clients in civil, criminal, commercial, and intra-corporate disputes, including those regarded as high-profile cases.’
Apart from being a lawyer, Ferrer serves as a lecturer in Taxation Law and Special Proceedings at the Ateneo de Davao University College of Law.