Atty. Hansel Joseph Michael Tillmann
Managing Partner
hansel.tillmann@tillmannlaw.ph
Mr. Hansel Joseph Michael Tillmann is a lawyer by profession. He graduated with honors from De La Salle University with a degree in Political Science and subsequently pursued his Bachelor of Laws from San Beda College of Law where he graduated in 2002. He served as the elected vice-president of the Student Government during his pre-law years and thereafter as elected president of the Student Government during his time in law school.
Mr. Tillmann worked as Political Affairs Officer in the Philippine Senate where he is in charge of various tasks relating to the appointment of the country’s government officials. He thereafter interned in one of the well-known trial law firms in the Philippines as a paralegal. After passing the 2002 bar exams he joined Pandiphil-Del Rosario and Del Rosario Law Offices and was a Senior Lawyer thereat until he left to pursue his own practice in July of 2010. During his stay in said firm, Mr. Tillmann was entrusted as the handling lawyer of cases designated as priority “must-win” cases. He was also a key player in some multi-million dollar cases in the Cayman Islands and United States of America where he collaborated with his foreign counterparts and provided them with pertinent information regarding Philippine Laws and its interplay with foreign laws.
For almost two decades of maritime law practice, Mr. Tillmann has already handled hundreds of cases. Among the cases which he represented is the landmark case of Bandila Shipping, Inc. vs. Marcos Abalos (G.R. No. 17710, 2 February 2010) where the Supreme Court denied a claim for full disability benefits and damages on the ground that cholecystolithiasis/gallstone is not listed as an occupational disease under the Amended POEA Contract. The Supreme Court likewise ruled that the Amended POEA Contract is a binding agreement between a Filipino seafarer and his foreign employer and as such due importance and respect should be accorded to the said contract.
He also represented vessel’s interest in the case of Roslinda vs Medline Phils. Inc. and Grecomar Shipping Agency (UDK14164, 10 June 2009) where the Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals in ruling that the heirs of a seafarer who died after the expiration of his contract of employment is not entitled to death benefits. It was further ruled that an illness must be listed as an occupational disease for the same to be compensable. Finally, the importance of the post employment medical examination for seafarers claiming benefits under the Amended POEA Contract was re-affirmed and emphasized in the aforesaid decision.
The familiarity in the field of maritime law of Mr. Tillmann and his constant presence in the maritime community in the Philippines gave way for him to interact and hold dialogues with the Secretary and Undersecretaries of the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Agency) and the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) as well as the Labor Arbiters and Commissioners of the NLRC to address the grievances of Clubs, Vessel Owners and Manning Agencies. His expertise in Philippine Maritime Laws and the POEA Contract gives him the credibility to lobby for P & I Clubs and vessels’ interest. He advocated that the Letter of Guarantee/Undertaking should be treated as sufficient collateral for an Appeal and said advocacy was eventually approved by the NLRC to the benefit of P & I Clubs and ship owners. He is also currently and actively lobbying that the immediately executory nature of the decisions of the Commission as embodied in the NLRC Rules and Regulations be relaxed as this causes undue injustice to Clubs, Vessel Owners and Manning Agencies who still have the remedy of a Petition for Certiorari with the Court of Appeals.
From the time Atty. Tillmann practiced law until today, he has been dedicated exclusively in the practice of maritime law. His range of expertise and experience in said field is exceptional and without question one of the longest among his counterparts.