Atty. Mae S. Divinagracia is a Filipino lawyer, trial litigator, legal educator and managing partner whose profile rose sharply in 2026 after she joined the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte. Although she had already spent nearly two decades building a career in litigation and legal education, her appearances before the Senate impeachment court introduced her to a much wider national audience.
Divinagracia has a particularly strong background in courtroom advocacy. Her legal practice has covered commercial, civil and criminal litigation, arbitration, corporate rehabilitation, product liability, banking, family law, intellectual property, labor matters and other complex disputes. Before becoming a partner at Co Nazario Velasco-Catera and Divinagracia Law Offices, she spent several years with the prominent Philippine firm Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices, commonly known as ACCRALAW.
Her professional career has also extended beyond private practice. Divinagracia has taught law at several Philippine institutions, including the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, Ateneo de Naga University and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Law. She has also represented the Philippines in international moot court competitions, adding an advocacy and academic dimension to her career. In 2026, her work as counsel for the late DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral and later as a private prosecutor in Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings placed her at the centre of several major Philippine legal and political stories.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Profile Summary
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Mae S. Divinagracia |
| Profession | Lawyer, Trial Litigator and Legal Educator |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Known For | Litigation, legal education and 2026 Sara Duterte impeachment trial |
| Current Professional Role | Managing Partner, Co Nazario Velasco-Catera and Divinagracia Law Offices |
| Undergraduate Degree | Bachelor of Science in Legal Management, Minor in Marketing |
| Undergraduate University | Ateneo de Manila University |
| Undergraduate Graduation | 2003 |
| Law Degree | Juris Doctor |
| Law School | Ateneo de Manila University School of Law |
| Law Graduation | 2007 |
| Legal Career Began | December 2007 |
| Former Firm | Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW) |
| Former Position | Senior Associate, Litigation and Dispute Resolution |
| CNDLAW Partnership | Since 2015 |
| Law Teaching | Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Naga and PUP |
| Major Legal Areas | Commercial, civil and criminal litigation, arbitration, corporate law and related disputes |
| 2026 Role | Private prosecutor in Sara Duterte impeachment trial |
| Former Client | Late DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral |
| Date of Birth | Not reliably publicly disclosed |
| Age | Not reliably publicly confirmed |
| Husband | Not reliably publicly disclosed |
| Children | Not reliably publicly disclosed |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Early Life
Very little reliable information has been publicly documented about Mae Divinagracia’s childhood and upbringing. Unlike many public personalities who have extensive biographies covering their parents, siblings and hometowns, Divinagracia’s public profile has historically been centred on her professional life. Her law-firm biography and major news profiles focus primarily on her education, legal practice, teaching career and courtroom work rather than her private family background.
What is clear is that Divinagracia developed her professional foundation at Ateneo de Manila University. She pursued a Bachelor of Science in Legal Management with a minor in Marketing, completing the degree in 2003. The combination of legal management and marketing gave her an academic background that blended business, organisational management and legal concepts, which would later complement her work with corporate and commercial clients.
Rather than entering public life through politics or entertainment, Divinagracia built her reputation gradually within the Philippine legal profession. Her early career was shaped by private legal practice, litigation and advocacy, while her later involvement in legal education and major public-interest cases expanded her profile. By the time she became a nationally recognised figure in 2026, she had already accumulated years of experience as a practicing lawyer, lecturer and law-firm partner.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Education
Divinagracia attended Ateneo de Manila University for her undergraduate education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Legal Management in 2003, with a minor in Marketing. Legal Management is an interdisciplinary course that combines aspects of business, management and law, giving students an understanding of how legal principles operate within organisations and commercial environments.
After completing her undergraduate studies, she remained at Ateneo for her professional legal education. She earned her Juris Doctor from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in 2007. Her legal education prepared her for a career that would eventually become heavily focused on litigation, dispute resolution and courtroom advocacy.
Her time in law school was also significant for her development as an advocate. Divinagracia participated in international moot court competitions, including the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and the Asia Cup in Tokyo. Moot court competitions require participants to research complicated legal questions, prepare written submissions and argue before judges, making the experience particularly valuable for someone who would later build a career as a trial lawyer.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Career
Beginning Her Legal Career
Divinagracia began her professional legal career in December 2007, shortly after completing her law degree. She joined Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices, one of the Philippines’ established full-service law firms.
She initially worked within the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. Her work exposed her to complex legal disputes and helped her develop the courtroom and dispute-resolution skills that would become central to her professional identity.
Her career at ACCRALAW progressed steadily. She was promoted to senior associate in 2012, reflecting her increasing experience and responsibilities within the firm. Her time there provided an important foundation before she moved into a more entrepreneurial phase of her legal career.
Founding RADLAW
In 2013, Divinagracia co-founded Aguila Rances and Divinagracia Law Offices, commonly referred to as RADLAW, with colleagues. The move allowed her to continue developing her practice while taking on greater responsibility for the direction of a legal practice.
The creation of RADLAW was significant because it marked Divinagracia’s transition from working within a large established law firm to helping build a legal practice of her own. Her subsequent career would continue along this path of leadership and private legal advocacy.
Joining CNVD Law
In 2015, Divinagracia joined Co Nazario Velasco-Catera and Divinagracia Law Offices, now commonly known as CNVD Law. She became a partner and later took on the position of managing partner.
CNVD Law provides legal services across several areas, including litigation and arbitration, corporate governance and compliance, intellectual property, labor and employment, election law and family law. Divinagracia’s own practice is particularly associated with litigation and dispute resolution.
Her work has included commercial litigation, civil and criminal cases, corporate rehabilitation, banking disputes, family law, intellectual property, real-estate litigation, product liability and intra-corporate controversies. Her law-firm profile describes her as a versatile litigator who has taken cases to trial and arbitration while also seeking negotiated solutions when litigation can be avoided.
Legal Education Career
Divinagracia has maintained an academic career alongside private practice. She became a professional lecturer at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Law, where she taught from 2013 until 2024.
She subsequently became associated with the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, where she has taught since 2018, and Ateneo de Naga University, where she has taught since 2019.
Her teaching work is especially notable because her practice is closely connected with advocacy and courtroom strategy. Her professional experience allows her to bring practical examples of litigation and legal reasoning into legal education.
At CNVD Law, she is identified as a specialist in litigation, while her teaching has included criminal law. Her combined roles as practicing lawyer and educator have made legal advocacy an important part of her professional identity.
International Moot Court Experience
Divinagracia’s advocacy experience began before she became a prominent trial lawyer. During her law-school years, she participated in international moot court competitions.
Among the competitions associated with her are the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and the Asia Cup in Tokyo. These competitions involve teams researching international or complex legal questions and defending their arguments before panels of judges.
Her participation in such competitions helped develop skills that are highly relevant to her later career: legal research, written advocacy, oral argument, questioning, structured reasoning and the ability to respond under pressure.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia and Catalina Cabral
Before her 2026 impeachment-trial role, Divinagracia became publicly known in connection with her representation of Maria Catalina Cabral, a former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary.
Divinagracia served as Cabral’s legal counsel during investigations surrounding the former official. She publicly represented Cabral’s legal interests and spoke to the media about aspects of the case, including questions surrounding Cabral’s status as a potential witness.
In January 2026, Divinagracia clarified that Cabral had been offered the role of an ordinary witness rather than a state witness in the ongoing flood-control investigation. The distinction was important because a state witness arrangement carries different legal implications from simply appearing as an ordinary witness.
Cabral’s death subsequently brought additional attention to Divinagracia because of her role as the former official’s lawyer. Her public comments made her one of the lawyers associated with the continuing questions surrounding Cabral’s case.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia and Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial
Joining the Prosecution Team
Divinagracia became nationally prominent in 2026 when she was added to the House prosecution team’s roster of private prosecutors for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The House prosecution panel announced her addition in June 2026 alongside several other experienced lawyers. Her selection reflected her background in litigation and trial advocacy rather than a career as an elected politician or government prosecutor.
The Senate subsequently began hearing the impeachment case, with the prosecution presenting evidence concerning the allegations contained in the impeachment articles. Divinagracia became one of the lawyers helping the House prosecution team present its case.
Direct Examination of Lemuel Ortonio
Divinagracia received particularly intense media attention on August 25, 2026, when she conducted the direct examination of Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio.
Ortonio had been declared a hostile witness, making the examination an important part of the prosecution’s presentation. Divinagracia questioned him about the OVP’s confidential funds and the circumstances surrounding requests and explanations for those funds.
During the questioning, she focused on inconsistencies in explanations surrounding confidential-fund transactions. Her style attracted significant attention because of the controlled manner in which she moved from one question to another.
The “Scam” Exchange
One of the most discussed moments from Divinagracia’s examination occurred when she questioned Ortonio about differing explanations for confidential funds.
She suggested that repeatedly changing explanations could indicate that someone was lying or that the matter could constitute a “scam.” Defense counsel objected to the language, and Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero ordered certain words, including “scam” and “lying,” stricken from the record.
The exchange nevertheless helped turn Divinagracia into one of the most recognisable lawyers in the proceedings. News coverage and social-media discussion increasingly focused on her questioning style and courtroom presence.
The Comfort Cross
Another detail that attracted considerable public attention was the small wooden cross Divinagracia held during the impeachment proceedings.
Divinagracia explained that she carries a “comfort cross” during trials and uses it for personal comfort. Reports identified the cross as bearing an image associated with Padre Pio.
The image of the lawyer holding the cross quickly circulated online, producing a separate wave of public interest around her personality and faith. Divinagracia’s explanation indicated that the object was a personal source of comfort during the pressure of courtroom proceedings.
Her Questioning Style
Divinagracia’s performance during the impeachment proceedings also generated discussion among legal observers and members of the public. Commentary surrounding her appearances frequently highlighted her calm delivery and structured questioning.
Rather than relying primarily on dramatic courtroom theatrics, her approach has been described as methodical. Her questions generally attempt to establish one fact before moving to the next, allowing individual answers to build toward a larger line of argument.
This approach reflects the skills developed throughout her career as a litigator and law professor. Her effectiveness in a high-pressure public proceeding has consequently become one of the principal reasons she has gained a wider following in 2026.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Trending: Why Is Atty. Mae Divinagracia Famous?
Atty. Mae Divinagracia is trending in 2026 primarily because of her role as one of the private prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Her direct examination of OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio on August 25 brought her name to national attention as she questioned him about confidential funds and related records.
Her profile grew further after several moments from the trial circulated widely online. These included her exchange over the word “scam,” her questioning of Ortonio concerning aliases and confidential-fund transactions, and photographs showing her holding a small wooden comfort cross during the proceedings.
Divinagracia’s rise in public attention is significant because she was already an accomplished lawyer before the impeachment trial. She had spent years handling litigation, leading a law firm, teaching law and participating in international moot court competitions. Her 2026 visibility therefore represents a much wider public discovery of a legal career that had largely developed outside mainstream celebrity culture.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Personal Life
Divinagracia keeps her private life considerably more closely guarded than her professional life. Reliable public profiles provide substantial information about her education, legal career and teaching appointments but do not establish detailed information about her parents, siblings, husband or children.
Her public image is consequently dominated by her work. She has spent much of her adult life in environments requiring preparation, confidentiality and professional discretion, including private legal practice, litigation and legal education. This may help explain why detailed biographical information about her family life is limited.
One of the few personal details she publicly discussed in connection with the 2026 impeachment proceedings was her use of a comfort cross. She said she holds it during trials for comfort. Reports identified it as a wooden cross associated with Padre Pio, giving the public a small glimpse into the personal source of strength she carries with her while working under intense pressure.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Mae Divinagracia is Filipino and practices law in the Philippines. Her professional career has been based primarily in Metro Manila and has included private legal practice, university teaching and appearances before Philippine courts and tribunals.
Her exact date of birth has not been reliably established by authoritative public sources. Some online biography sites have circulated an alleged birth year, but that information is not sufficiently corroborated to present as fact. For the same reason, her exact current age should be treated as unknown rather than assigning an unverified number.
Divinagracia’s faith has attracted some public attention because of the comfort cross she carries during legal proceedings. Reports have identified the cross as featuring Padre Pio, a Catholic saint, but the existence of the cross alone should not be used to make a definitive statement about every aspect of her personal religious identity. A reliable public source does not establish her religion in sufficient detail.
Her exact height is also not reliably documented. Public photographs from her courtroom appearances generally show her in formal professional attire, often wearing dark legal or business clothing. Her public appearance is increasingly associated with her composed courtroom demeanour and the small wooden cross she has carried during the impeachment proceedings.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Social Media Presence
Divinagracia’s public profile in 2026 has been driven more by news coverage and courtroom appearances than by a celebrity-focused social-media career. Unlike influencers and entertainment personalities, she has generally maintained a professional public identity centred on law.
Her appearances during the impeachment proceedings have nevertheless generated substantial social-media discussion. Photographs and short clips of her questioning witnesses have circulated widely, while discussions about her comfort cross and courtroom style have helped introduce her to audiences who were previously unfamiliar with her legal career.
A consistently verified personal Instagram account or other major social-media handle could not be established with sufficient confidence from authoritative public information. It is therefore better not to attach an unverified social-media account to her biography.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Net Worth
Mae Divinagracia’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. There is no authoritative financial statement establishing her personal wealth, and figures circulating on low-quality biography websites should not be treated as confirmed.
Her professional career nevertheless places her among established legal practitioners in the Philippines. She has spent years working in private practice, progressed to partnership and eventually became managing partner of a law firm. Her practice covers several areas of litigation and corporate law, while her academic work provides an additional professional role.
It would therefore be reasonable to describe Divinagracia as an established and professionally successful lawyer, but assigning a precise peso or dollar value to her net worth would be speculative. Her income, assets, investments and other private financial information are not sufficiently documented in reliable public sources to support a credible exact estimate.
Atty. Mae Divinagracia Legacy
Although Divinagracia’s national fame is relatively recent, her legal career predates her appearance in the impeachment trial by many years. Her work in litigation, arbitration, corporate disputes and other areas has established her as an experienced private practitioner rather than someone who became a lawyer solely because of the 2026 political controversy.
Her contribution to legal education is another important part of her career. By teaching at Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Naga and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, she has combined professional practice with the training of future lawyers. Her involvement in international moot court competitions also demonstrates that courtroom advocacy has been part of her professional development from an early stage.
The most visible chapter of her career so far is her involvement in the 2026 impeachment trial of Sara Duterte. Whether judged through her legal arguments, her questioning of witnesses or the public attention surrounding her courtroom presence, the proceedings have made Mae Divinagracia one of the more recognisable Filipino lawyers of 2026. Her longer-term legacy, however, will depend on the broader body of legal work and teaching that extends well beyond the current impeachment proceedings.
Conclusion
Atty. Mae Divinagracia’s journey from Ateneo de Manila University law student and international moot court competitor to accomplished litigator, law professor, managing partner and nationally recognised impeachment prosecutor illustrates a career built steadily through legal practice and advocacy. Her representation of Catalina Cabral and her 2026 role in the prosecution of Vice President Sara Duterte have brought her into the national spotlight, while her calm courtroom style and personal use of a comfort cross have made her a particularly recognisable figure during the impeachment proceedings. Despite the sudden increase in public interest surrounding her, much of her private life remains deliberately outside the public record, leaving her professional accomplishments as the clearest measure of her career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Atty. Mae Divinagracia
Who is Atty. Mae Divinagracia?
Atty. Mae S. Divinagracia is a Filipino lawyer, trial litigator, legal educator and managing partner of Co Nazario Velasco-Catera and Divinagracia Law Offices.
Why is Mae Divinagracia famous?
She became widely known in 2026 after joining the private prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. She attracted further attention for her direct examination of OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio.
What does Mae Divinagracia do?
Mae Divinagracia is a practicing lawyer specialising in litigation and dispute resolution. Her work includes commercial, civil and criminal litigation, arbitration, corporate rehabilitation, product liability, corporate disputes, labor law and family law.
Where did Mae Divinagracia study?
She studied at Ateneo de Manila University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Legal Management with a minor in Marketing in 2003. She later earned her Juris Doctor from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in 2007.
When did Mae Divinagracia become a lawyer?
She began her professional legal career in December 2007 after completing her Juris Doctor. She subsequently developed her career through private practice, litigation and legal education.
What law firm does Mae Divinagracia work for?
She is the managing partner of Co Nazario Velasco-Catera and Divinagracia Law Offices, also known as CNVD Law.
Did Mae Divinagracia work at ACCRALAW?
Yes. She worked in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department of Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices, or ACCRALAW, from 2007 to 2013 and became a senior associate in 2012.
Is Mae Divinagracia a law professor?
Yes. She has taught law at Ateneo de Manila University School of Law and Ateneo de Naga University. She also taught at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Law from 2013 to 2024.
What subjects does Mae Divinagracia teach?
Her teaching has included criminal law, and she has served as a professional lecturer at several Philippine law schools.
Was Mae Divinagracia Catalina Cabral’s lawyer?
Yes. Divinagracia served as legal counsel for the late DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral and publicly represented her during investigations involving Cabral.
Who did Mae Divinagracia question during the Sara Duterte impeachment trial?
She conducted the direct examination of Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio during the impeachment proceedings.
Why did Mae Divinagracia hold a cross during the impeachment trial?
Divinagracia explained that she carries a small wooden “comfort cross” during trials because it gives her comfort. Reports identified the cross as featuring Padre Pio.
Is Mae Divinagracia Catholic?
Her use of a comfort cross featuring Padre Pio has been publicly reported, but her religion has not been sufficiently documented in authoritative sources to make a definitive biographical claim beyond that.
How old is Mae Divinagracia?
Mae Divinagracia’s exact date of birth and age have not been reliably established in authoritative public sources.
Is Mae Divinagracia married?
Reliable public sources do not currently provide sufficient information to confirm her husband or marital status.
Does Mae Divinagracia have children?
Reliable public sources do not currently establish whether Mae Divinagracia has children.
What is Mae Divinagracia’s nationality?
Mae Divinagracia is Filipino and practices law in the Philippines.
What is Mae Divinagracia’s height?
Her exact height has not been reliably documented in authoritative public sources.
What is Mae Divinagracia’s net worth?
Her exact net worth is not publicly verified. She is an established private lawyer and law-firm managing partner, but a specific financial figure would be speculative without reliable financial documentation.
What is Mae Divinagracia known for outside the impeachment trial?
Before becoming nationally prominent in 2026, she was known for her litigation practice, law-firm leadership, legal education and participation in international moot court competitions.
Which moot court competitions did Mae Divinagracia participate in?
She participated in international competitions including the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and the Asia Cup in Tokyo.
When did Mae Divinagracia join the Sara Duterte impeachment prosecution team?
She was added to the House prosecution panel’s group of private prosecutors in June 2026, ahead of the Senate impeachment trial.
What happened when Mae Divinagracia used the word “scam” during the trial?
During her questioning of Lemuel Ortonio, Divinagracia suggested that changing explanations for confidential funds could indicate lying or a scam. The defense objected, and the presiding officer ordered the disputed language struck from the record.
Is Mae Divinagracia a government prosecutor?
No. In the Sara Duterte impeachment proceedings, she serves as a private prosecutor assisting the House prosecution team. Her primary professional career is in private legal practice.