When most lawyers imagine their career paths, they see themselves in courtrooms, drafting contracts, or advising clients on high-stakes deals. But for Carlos Ocampo, founding partner of what is now Ocampo, Manalo, Valdez, and Lim Law, the defining moment of his career happened far outside the courtroom—inside the high-pressure, complex world of aviation.
At just 30 years old, Ocampo was invited to help build a new airline from the ground up. The company was Air Philippines, which would later become known as PAL Express. For a young lawyer who had been specializing in corporate and transportation law, the opportunity was as daunting as it was irresistible.
“When I joined, there was nothing. No planes, no pilots, no license, no franchise—just a nice office and some people,” Ocampo recalled in an interview with Financial Adviser PH. “I remember walking in and thinking, ‘Wow, this is going to be rough.’ But to a 30-year-old, the idea of helping build an airline from the ground up was an irresistible challenge. I said, ‘Alright, let’s do it.’”
Learning to Build From Zero
Ocampo’s legal background gave him an edge in navigating the regulatory and compliance challenges of the aviation sector. But the project demanded more than legal expertise—it required operational leadership, strategy, and relentless problem-solving.
“As head of the legal department, I had to assemble a team, secure franchises, and ensure regulatory compliance—all while learning the ropes of an industry notorious for its complexity,” he told Financial Adviser PH. “Through God’s will, we succeeded. We got the franchise, we were operating. And suddenly I was part of the management committee, the youngest member at that time. That was my first taste of corporate life—building something that actually flew, literally and figuratively.”
This experience of creating something from scratch would later prove invaluable when he set out to build his own law firm.
Risk-Taking as a Defining Trait
Looking back, Ocampo admitted that he had no certainty of success when he agreed to take on the aviation challenge. What drove him was faith in the process and confidence that he could grow into the role.
“To a 30-year-old, the idea of helping build an airline from the ground up was an irresistible challenge,” he said. “That chapter gave me confidence. If I could help build an airline from nothing, why not build something of my own?”
That insight became a turning point. It taught him that risk-taking is not just about gambling with the unknown—it’s about trusting your ability to adapt, learn, and deliver when the stakes are high.
From Aviation Back to Law
After two and a half years, Ocampo stepped away from the airline once operations were stable. “I felt my job there was done,” he explained. But he carried with him lessons that would later define his approach to entrepreneurship.
Soon after, he co-founded what would eventually become one of the country’s respected commercial law firms. The airline experience gave him not just confidence but also a framework for building organizations with discipline and corporate governance.
Lessons for Lawyers and Entrepreneurs
For Ocampo, the journey from airline management back to law wasn’t about abandoning one career for another—it was about integrating two worlds. His exposure to corporate operations shaped the way he would later run his firm, not just as a collection of lawyers, but as a professional enterprise with shared revenues, corporate governance, and strong systems.
“Through God’s will, we succeeded,” he said of his airline years. “That chapter gave me confidence.” That same confidence became the foundation for scaling his firm from a 30-square-meter office with two lawyers to a thousand-square-meter institution with 60 people—about 30 lawyers and 30 non-lawyers—serving 250 clients.
Key Takeaways for Professionals
Carlos Ocampo’s story, as told to Financial Adviser PH, underscores three powerful lessons for lawyers, entrepreneurs, and professionals alike:
Take calculated risks early – Big opportunities rarely come fully packaged. Sometimes they start with nothing—no assets, no certainty—but the willingness to take the leap can be transformative.
Build beyond your expertise – Ocampo was trained as a lawyer, but building an airline required management, leadership, and operational skills. Stepping outside of one’s comfort zone accelerates growth.
Carry lessons forward – His aviation experience didn’t end in aviation. It became the blueprint for how he scaled and professionalized his law firm.
For Ocampo, the airline was more than a job. It was a proving ground for the principles that would later guide his law practice and corporate directorships. His story reminds us that sometimes the most valuable career detours are the ones that prepare us to build something lasting.
