Meet The Team

Katrina Ortiz is a corporate lawyer specializing in fintech regulation, digital assets, banking, capital markets, and cross-border transactions. She has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, regulatory due diligence, and advising clients on compliance with SEC and BSP requirements across the financial services, emerging technology, and energy sectors. Her practice includes advising on applications before the SEC’s PhiliFintech Innovation Office under its regulatory strategic sandbox framework, BSP Electronic Money Issuer licensing, BSP Operator of Payment System applications, acquisition of entities holding Virtual Asset Service Provider licenses, and the licensing and regulatory compliance of lending companies and other SEC- and BSP-regulated entities.

She regularly assists clients with corporate restructuring, acquisition structuring, and navigating the regulatory landscape for fintech and digital finance in the Philippines. Atty. Ortiz holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Sua Mundir is a Philippine-qualified lawyer specializing in corporate law, FinTech and intellectual property (IP). A graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law with honors, he has developed a robust legal practice advising local and international clients on market entry, compliance, and strategic partnerships across the FinTech and BPO sectors. Prior to joining Arden, he was a junior associate at one of the Philippines’ leading law firms, where he gained deep experience in M&A due diligence, IP enforcement and regulatory compliance. At Arden, Sua has led key engagements with SEC and BSP.

Thea Siscar is a Philippine-qualified lawyer and Legal Associate at Arden Consult, where she advises local and international clients on corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, and transactional matters across fintech, iGaming, immigration, and labor. A Juris Doctor graduate of the University of the Philippines, Thea represented the country in international moot court competitions — winning the international championship at the 2023 Monroe E. Price Competition and reaching the finals at the Stetson Environmental and Asia Cup competitions in 2022.

Diego is a Commercial Manager at Arden Consult, where he guides international gaming and fintech companies through Philippine market entry—from shaping entry strategy and operational setup to developing the financial models and budgets that underpin their launch. Through this work, he has built a practical, ground-level understanding of what it takes to enter and scale in the region.

He began his career at Accenture Strategy as a Management Consulting Analyst, focusing on supply chain and operations strategy as well as technology implementations.

Diego holds a BS in Management Engineering from Ateneo de Manila University. He combines consulting rigor with hands-on commercial experience, helping global companies navigate regulation, localization, and growth in Southeast Asia.

Patricia De Guzman is a strategic communications and PR practitioner currently serving as Head of Communications at Arden Consult, where she oversees content strategy, media relations, and crisis communications for a regulatory advisory firm in iGaming, fintech, and crypto. A UP Diliman broadcast communication graduate with 12 years of cross-sector experience, she has built and executed communications programs for various international cooperation and development organizations across governance reform, public financial management, public health, and biotech research.​

Her work is informed by ongoing graduate research at UP Diliman, where she is completing a Master of Arts in Psychology specializing in social-political psychology, applying frameworks on moral decision-making and social behavior change to questions of stakeholder trust, narrative framing, and reputational risk.

Trixie leads statutory compliance across the firm’s finance and tax advisory work for a portfolio of gaming regulatory and advisory clients. She works closely with the legal team on the corporate documentation each engagement requires.

Prior to joining Arden Consult, Trixie began her career at one of the Big Four accounting firms. She went on to hold finance leadership roles across local and multinational companies, including global payroll and compliance platforms, which sharpened her focus on statutory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Trixie is a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from De La Salle University and is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor degree, also at De La Salle University.

Ericka Espadero is a Legal & Corporate Specialist at Arden Consult, advising international clients in the gaming, technology, and telecommunications sectors on Philippine regulatory compliance and market entry. She supports licensing, corporate structuring, and regulatory engagements, helping businesses navigate the legal requirements for operating in the Philippines. Prior to joining Arden Consult, she served as a Senior Paralegal at a litigation law firm, handling corporate, commercial, and civil matters.

Ericka is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor degree at Jose Rizal University College of Law and is a Licensed Professional Teacher with expertise in legal research, corporate governance, and regulatory advisory.