B&M Global Services Manila

We’re honored to be recognized once again as one of HR Asia Best Companies to Work For in Asia in 2025—marking our fifth consecutive win. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to cultivating a workplace where people feel valued, empowered, and inspired. This year, we’re especially proud to have received two distinguished special awards: the Tech Empowerment Award for leveraging technology to enhance employee productivity and engagement, and the Sustainable Workplace Award for promoting environmental stewardship and fostering a culture of sustainability.

In a celebration of excellence, growth, and empowered leadership, the Great Speakers are Made (GSM) Toastmasters Club was awarded the President’s Distinguished Award, the highest honor in the Toastmasters Distinguished Club Program (DCP). With 198 clubs nationwide, this distinction places GSM Toastmasters in an elite circle of organizations recognized for consistently delivering transformative learning experiences. But beyond the prestige, the award is a reflection of the club’s vibrant culture of growth and its role in enabling Firm success through empowered people. Through speech projects, leadership roles, and peer evaluations, GSM Toastmasters – which is one of several employee interest groups within GSM – cultivates confidence, clarity, and collaboration, beyond just soft skills but strategic capabilities elevate service and amplify impact.

GSM is proud to support the return of the Youth Experiential Learning Labs (www.YExLS.com) to the Philippines this June. Volunteers helped Angela Vigil, Baker McKenzie Pro Bono Partner and Executive Director of Global Pro Bono, and Brian Blalock, Senior Directing Attorney at Youth Law Center in California, USA, facilitate the program for non-profits and corporate partners keen to build better solutions for young people navigating the challenges of foster care, juvenile justice, and homelessness systems. Through YExLS, participants better understand what young people experience by walking “in their shoes.”

Thank you to Baker McKenzie's Global Director of Operations David Denman for his recent visit! In a town hall meeting, David congratulated GSM on its milestone 25th year of operation, “When I champion [business service] centers and what you do here, it’s because I truly recognize what it is that you are doing as being best in class." David has been overseeing the optimization of capabilities and operations of the center since 2021. His business meetings in Manila also included an industry briefing with Christine Monica Bata, Kit Sison, and other members of Global In-House Center Council Philippines, which represents 90 in-house centers for primarily Fortune 500 companies operating in the country.

GSM’s month-long commemoration of International Women’s Day was highlighted by a symposium on "Accelerating Change, Empowering Women Towards a Transformative Future" last March 12. Organized by BakerWomen-Glow, the event featured Marie Grace "May" Nitorreda, Chief Operating Officer of Quisumbing Torres; Reiza Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines; and Nina Lim-Yuson, National President of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. CARE Philippines is a global humanitarian organization that integrates gender and gender-based violence programs into its humanitarian response and development work. The Girl Scouts of the Philippines provides opportunities for girls to maximize their potential and become responsible, productive members of society. The 2025 IWD theme, #AccelerateAction, emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration across various sectors and groups to promote shared ownership in empowering women and allies. The speakers highlighted the need for individuals to take control of their empowerment, challenge the status quo, and create inclusive spaces for everyone. The symposium served as an inspiring testament to the ongoing efforts of women and allies in building communities that break gender stereotypes. Following the symposium, leaders from GSM and Quisumbing Torres conducted mentoring sessions. The engaging discussions underscored the significant power and commitment women possess in building financial independence, advancing holistic well-being, championing inclusive leadership, and cultivating confidence to empower themselves. BakerWomen-GloW also partnered with Pawssion Project - a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abused, abandoned, and neglected animals- to raise funds for the supplies and medical check-ups of rescued dogs and cats at Pawssion Project’s animal shelters in Bulacan and Bacolod. Supporting this advocacy not only positively impacts animal welfare but also empowers women founders, like Malou Perez, the founder of Pawssion Project. GSM joins the international community in challenging societal norms and creating inclusive spaces to foster the power of collective action in driving transformative change. Happy International Women's Month!

GSM Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence in 2025! Twenty-five years ago, Baker McKenzie established what would become B&M Global Services Manila (GSM). In doing so, the “original global law firm” pioneered one of the first offshore business service centers in Manila, setting a new standard for the legal industry. Initially conceived as an innovative experiment to support the transcription needs of Baker McKenzie lawyers in Hong Kong and Sydney, GSM quickly demonstrated its value. Over the years, it expanded its services to include technology, finance, administrative operations, business development and marketing, human resources, and knowledge management. Today, GSM supports Baker McKenzie’s 74 offices across 44 countries, playing a crucial role in the firm’s ongoing success. To celebrate its proud legacy and its diverse, talented people, GSM unveiled the theme for its anniversary commemoration, “Creating Value. Amplifying Impact,” during a town hall meeting. The event also previewed several activities planned for the year-long celebration. In introducing the theme, Executive Director Lorie Barredo highlighted how GSM has continuously delivered value through quality services and process improvements. She encouraged all employees to remain future-focused, embrace new technologies, and leverage best practices globally to develop innovative solutions that will enhance operational excellence and help ensure Baker McKenzie’s success for many more years to come. #GSM25

The office’s festively decorated halls were filled with the sound of children’s laughter and merriment one recent Saturday morning as GSM employees hosted a Christmas Party for guests from the Duyan Center. Called “Cradle of Joy,” the event was both merry and meaningful to the volunteers and children and highlighted the importance of giving back to the community. Duyan (which means 'cradle') is a program of the Project Red Ribbon that provides care and support to children living with HIV in the Philippines. GSM has been supporting the program as part of its CSR program's Community Building thrust through the provision of donations – both in cash and in kind – over the years. GSM also hosted a similar Christmas party for the center's beneficiaries and guardians just before the pandemic. #GSMServes

Yesterday, GSM proudly participated in a regional livestream hosted by Baker McKenzie, titled “Building Awareness and Practical Strategies for Supporting Neurodivergent Family and Friends,” as part of the December 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebration. This engaging one-hour webinar focused on Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), offering valuable insights and practical strategies to create a supportive environment for neurodivergent individuals. Neurodivergence refers to the diverse ways in which brains can develop and function. In the second part of the program, one of our dedicated GSM Disability Inclusion Community (DISC) members shared her personal journey of raising a neurodivergent child. She highlighted the challenges parents face in accessing timely, affordable, and effective medical and rehabilitative support. Her story, which included her son's remarkable progress with appropriate medical intervention, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about disabilities that are not immediately visible and the need to continuously advocate for strengthened diversity and inclusion.