The Lawyer Who Trains Like an Athlete—and Works Like One Too

Discipline before dawn

It’s 5 a.m. The city is asleep, but Oliver Moeller is already at the gym, lifting weights before his day officially starts. By 8 a.m., he’s in a suit, navigating corporate law with the same discipline he applies to his workouts. There’s no magic formula to his routine, just meticulous planning and an understanding that discipline trumps motivation.

“I get that question a lot,” he says when asked how he juggles law, fitness, and modeling. The answer is simple: he plans ahead. His days are structured down to the hour, with fitness reserved for early mornings, an unshakable commitment before work begins. There’s neither nightlife nor late-night impulsive plans.

At 33, Oliver has built a career in corporate law, dabbled in labor and criminal law, and somehow, maintained the physique of a professional athlete. But law is a craft for him. As a corporate lawyer, his role is more focused on understanding the intricacies of business, risk management, and legal strategy. He’s deeply involved in the work, ensuring that his clients, ranging from startups to established companies, operate within the bounds of the law while maximizing their potential for success.

Presence matters

He admits that law is an intense profession that demands critical thinking and a level of confidence beyond courtroom theatrics. “When you’re a lawyer, you’re not just dressing for yourself, you’re representing your client. The way you present yourself says a lot about how prepared and capable you are.” In the same way he takes pride in his physical discipline, he applies that same rigor to his legal practice, constantly learning, refining his skills, and staying ahead of industry trends.

Oliver subscribes to delayed gratification. Growth, to him, is like a plant; small and consistent efforts over time yield the best results.

Burnout and balance

But balance is also knowing when to rest. “There’s nothing wrong with putting your head down and grinding,” he shares, “but at the same time, your mental health is just as important.” Burnout is real, and it’s a fine line between pushing yourself and pushing too hard. The only way to find that balance, he says, is trial and error.

When it comes to mental sharpness, Oliver treats learning like another muscle to train. “I admit, I definitely don’t know everything,” he says. “But I’m confident in my ability to learn.” In the gaps between work and training, he makes time for reading and absorbing information on politics, business, and law.

Fitness, for him, is more than just aesthetics. “The gym is one of the few places where you get exactly what you put in,” he says. “If you go every day for three years, it will show. If you don’t, it will show too.” That principle bleeds into every aspect of his life, his legal career, his relationships, and his ability to keep showing up, no matter what.

Rooted and reimagined

Born in Germany but raised in the Philippines since he was two, Oliver considers himself more Filipino than German. He once dreamed of being a professional athlete, basketball, of course, but life had other plans. “I saw the cool lawyers on TV with their black suits and black cars,” he says with a smile. The reality of law was different, but he embraced it.

Now, he’s setting his sights on new challenges. A bodybuilding competition in September. Sharing more of his fitness journey online. But above all, continuing to grow in his legal profession.

It all comes back to discipline, the unglamorous work of showing up, day after day, whether it’s in the gym, in the courtroom, or in life itself.

As seen in the pages of VMAN SEA 03: now available for purchase!

Photography Jerick Sanchez

Art direction Mike Miguel

Fashion Corven Uy

Grooming Thazzia Falek

Hair Mong Amado

Nail grooming Jennifer Pascual of Triple Luck Brow & Nail Salon

Photography assistants Karl Rimando, Buddy Reyes, and Dave Orpilla

Grooming assistant Delvi Flores