Maila S. Diwa-Acoba 
Associate Attorney

Maila S. Diwa-Acoba is an Associate Attorney with Cesari Werner & Moriarty. She earned her

Juris Doctor degree from University of the City of Manila (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila)

– College of Law located in Manila, Philippines. Maila is licensed in both in the Philippines and

in California. She discovered her calling in the legal profession while earning her Bachelor of

Science in Psychology. Upon attaining her undergraduate degree, she decided to pursue a legal

career in the Philippines and obtained her license to practice law shortly after graduating from

law school. Her litigation practice started from being a public defender under the Philippine

Department of Justice (DOJ) as a public defender for almost five years. She has been assigned in

heinous crime court, regional and metropolitan trial court in Manila, Philippines.

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Maila was admitted to practice in the State of California in February of 2018. She worked as an

in-house counsel for more than 8 years in a non-profit organization that has nationwide and

global operation. In this role, she routinely handled contracts, property acquisitions, insurance

and  litigation actions specifically infringement and copyright matters. Driven to pursue passion

and greater challenges in her legal career, Maila joined Cesari, Werner & Moriarty.

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Outside her legal profession, Maila is a licensed PADI open-water diver, loves to travel and is a

self-made cake artist and a pastry chef. She used to be a youth leader for 8 years where she

worked and helped in building community public nursery schools and public libraries for less

privilege kids in Manila, Philippines. Maila is bilingual, with Tagalog as her native language.

MEMBERSHIPS

State Bar of California and Integrated Bar of the Philippines

Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC)

National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA)

Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California (ADCNC)