Bridging Borders: The Legal Odyssey of Venus Dugayon Ursos

Before establishing her law office in California, Venus Dugayon Ursos built a strong legal career in the Philippines, where she applied her legal training to support business growth in the non-life insurance industry. As part of a top management team, she used her legal insight to make strategic decisions that enhanced operational efficiency and compliance.

Her leadership role involved handling matters related to marine and shipping lines, aviation incidents, motorcar and fire claims, flood and personal injury claims, surety bonds, and even participating in Senate hearing and labor court proceedings. This experience gave her a well-rounded understanding of the legal and regulatory environment in the Philippines.

Today, Venus draws on this rich and diverse background to offer thoughtful and principled legal representation to her clients in California.

Professional Credentials & Recognition

Venus holds a Certificate of Completion in Computer Science for Lawyers from Harvard Law School Executive Education (July 2025). The program focused on legal issues at the intersection of law and technology, including cybersecurity, data privacy, emerging technologies, and digital evidence.

Jurisdiction Notice: Venus Dugayon Ursos practices law in the State of California. Her prior legal experience in the Philippines informs her perspective but does not involve the active practice of Philippine law in the United States.

Other Expertise

Before practicing law in California, Venus Dugayon Ursos built extensive executive and legal-adjacent experience in Makati, Philippines, widely recognized as the country’s premier business and financial center. She served as Chief Underwriter and Head of Claims in the non-life insurance sector, with primary responsibility for underwriting strategy, claims management, and company-wide risk assessment.

She later assumed broader executive management roles overseeing multiple companies across various industries. In these positions, she managed day-to-day operations, company formation, strategic planning, and the responsible wind-down of business entities, while reporting directly to company Presidents or owners.

Her professional background reflects a strong foundation in legal analysis, organizational leadership, and ethical decision-making. These experiences inform her disciplined, detail-oriented, and professional approach to the practice of law.

Now serving clients through her California law practice, Venus brings the same commitment to professionalism, diligence, and principled representation to every matter she handles.

Note: Non-legal business experience referenced above was outside of Venus’s current legal practice in California.

Education

University of the Philippines - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Social Science, Major in Economics and Psychology, 1998-2001
Saint Louis University (PH) - Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), 2002-2006
Insurance Institute for Asia and the Pacific, Ayala Avenue, Makati, PH - Non-Life Insurance Courses, (Fire, Marine, Casualty, and Surety), 2008-2010
Harvard Law School Executive Education- Awarded a Certificate of Completion of Computer Science for Lawyers, July 2025

Languages

English
Filipino / Tagalog (Bilingual Support)
Ilocano/Igorot/Kalinga

Licenses and Certifications

STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA
- Licensed Attorney
- Admitted October 2021

SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES
- Licensed Attorney
- Admitted to the Bar, May 2007

(Not admitted to practice Philippine law in California)

HARVARD LAW SCHOOL EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
- Certificate of Completion: Computer Science for Lawyers
- Issued July 2025

This credential does not expire

Non-Life Company Underwriter for Fire, Casualty and Surety Business
- Republic of the Philippines, Department of Finance, Insurance Commission
- Issued Nov 2010 Expired Mar 2011
- Credential ID Certificate of Registration No. 411-2010-R-FCS-A

Non-Life Insurance Chief Underwriter
- Philippine Fire and Marine Insurance Corporation
- Issued Jan 2009 Expired Mar 2011

Note: Only the California license authorizes the practice of law in the U.S. Certifications from the Philippines are listed for background and experience purposes only and do not imply current legal authority outside California.

Let’s Get Connected

We welcome inquiries from clients located in California and beyond. If your legal matter involves federal law, The Law Office of Venus Dugayon Ursos may be able to assist, depending on the jurisdiction and subject matter. Contact us to find out how we can help. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you.

(Attorney licensed to practice law in California. Federal law services may be available to clients in other states or countries, depending on the matter and applicable rules.)