As digital transformation reshapes industries, few understand the high stakes of modern compliance better than UNAWA COO Atty. Gino Jacinto, who was recently recognized as a co-founder. With over 15 years in law and a proven track record in compliance and legal strategy, Gino brings an uncompromising approach to legal tech. His vision? To modernize and streamline business processes without sacrificing the accountability that legal practices demand.
How a Legal Mindset Elevates UNAWA’s Digital Solutions
Gino’s legal journey began in courtrooms, where he witnessed firsthand how outdated processes slowed down justice and frustrated both legal professionals and clients.
"Documentation bottlenecks cost people time and resources," he says. “Digitizing the legal sector isn’t just a convenience — it’s a necessity to simplify operations, reduce risk, and deliver justice faster.”
These early observations planted the seed for his later work at UNAWA, where he aims to create digital solutions that are both secure and legally enforceable.
At UNAWA, Gino's influence is critical to developing products that adhere to legal standards while providing users with tools to navigate compliance smoothly. His insights help shape the company’s flagship products, such as UCheck and SignSecure, which cater to industries with stringent compliance needs, including finance, real estate, and legal services.
Why UCheck Is the Compliance Tool Businesses Need
UCheck stands out as a solution shaped by Gino’s insistence on rigorous compliance. In an increasingly regulated business landscape, where rules like the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) demand careful attention, UCheck empowers companies to perform name-screening checks for AML compliance efficiently and thoroughly.
“When we designed UCheck, we weren’t just ticking boxes,” Gino explains. “We needed a solution that would withstand real-world scrutiny while actively protecting businesses from financial and legal risk.”
Built with user-friendly features, UCheck enables companies to verify client identities against global sanctions and watchlists without disrupting daily operations — a crucial advantage in high-stakes industries.
With UCheck, compliance isn’t just about meeting minimum standards. It’s about equipping businesses with a practical, powerful tool that reduces the risk of fraud and ensures adherence to complex regulations.
As Gino sees it, "Compliance is foundational for business integrity, and UCheck provides that foundation in an accessible format."
The Future of Secure, Legally Binding E-Signatures
UNAWA’s e-signature solution, SignSecure, also reflects Gino’s forward-thinking approach to compliance. Unlike basic digital signatures, SignSecure integrates UNAWA Face Recognition (UFR), a biometrics-based authentication tool that confirms each signer's identity.
"SignSecure allows businesses to collect and verify signatures with ease," Gino says. "And with biometric authentication, it achieves a level of security traditional e-signatures can’t match."
SignSecure’s UFR feature enables businesses to conduct secure and tamper-proof legally enforceable transactions. The platform captures facial recognition data in a "Manifest," which records every aspect of the signing process for non-repudiation, ensuring that signatures cannot be contested later. This degree of documentation is vital in sectors where contracts carry heavy financial or legal implications.
The importance of biometrics, as Gino points out, extends beyond legal compliance; it addresses a growing need for security in digital transactions. With data breaches on the rise, UFR represents a solution that safeguards businesses and clients alike.
“With SignSecure, we’re setting a new standard for how digital signing should be done,” he notes.
How UNAWA’s Legal-First Approach Drives Innovation
For Gino, integrating digital solutions into legal processes doesn’t mean sacrificing traditional rigor. “We’re not here to adopt flashy tech for its own sake,” he emphasizes. “Our mission is to develop tools that genuinely meet business needs, grounded in the principles of law and ethics.”
SignSecure’s user-friendly design epitomizes this balanced approach. Instead of complex and technical setups, the platform allows users to complete legally binding transactions with just a selfie. This simplicity makes SignSecure ideal for industries that value efficiency but can’t afford to compromise on security, from real estate and finance to legal services.
With a legal mind at the helm, UNAWA doesn’t just react to trends; it anticipates industry needs and designs solutions that deliver real-world value. Gino’s influence ensures that the company’s offerings are compliant and pragmatic, enabling users to embrace digital processes without sacrificing legal certainty.
Gino Jacinto’s Vision for Compliance and Security
As UNAWA’s co-founder, Gino is committed to expanding the company’s reach and impact. He envisions UNAWA as a leading legal tech player in the Philippines and a frontrunner across Southeast Asia, pioneering advancements in e-signatures and AML compliance.
“Legal and tech share a common goal: problem-solving,” he says. "I want UNAWA to be an industry leader in compliance, security, and innovation."
For businesses facing a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, Gino’s approach provides an anchor of stability. His legal background enables UNAWA to build solutions that anticipate future compliance needs while remaining adaptable to change. This foresight and dedication position UNAWA as a force for progress in the legal tech space, offering tools that empower businesses to operate with confidence.
Gino Jacinto’s role as co-founder is about more than adding a legal perspective to the team — it’s about driving meaningful transformation. With UNAWA, he’s crafting solutions that meet compliance demands and empower organizations to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
