FNS has been providing top quality legal service in the Philippines for the last twenty five years. We maintain a visible presence in the Makati Central Business District with our headquarters in the main hub of business in Ayala Avenue and a liaison office in Hong Kong, with the goal “of providing faster and more responsive service to its clients”, this according to Senior Partner Roderick ‘Dicky’ R. C. Salazar lll. “Improving our craft has been the trademark and branding of the Firm since it was founded in 1993 and this we intend to continue through strict adherence to the precepts of excellence, professionalism, efficiency and integrity,” Dicky continues.
Throughout the years, the Firm’s partners and associates have become well-known specialists in their respective multi-disciplinary fields of expertise. Senior and Founding Partner Gregorio ‘Ogie’ Y. Narvasa ll adds “international legal survey institutions list and recommend our Firm for various practice areas, particularly in civil and criminal litigation, corporate and commercial law, mining and natural resources. Specializations in labor, immigration, and intellectual property have likewise been our Firm’s thrust to ensure that all client concerns are met in a timely, professional manner with the combined efforts of our lawyers committed to fulfilling the needs of our varied clientele.”
This is the tradition and the norm at FNS. The clients are given not only the advantage of expertise, but also the intrinsic support of a full complement of dedicated and experienced legal team.
FNS is a full-service Firm. We work on Criminal and Civil Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Transactions, Employment and Industrial Relations, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Electronic Commerce and Information Technology, Estate Planning, Immigration, Intellectual Property, Mining, Energy, Project Finance and Natural Resources, Real Estate, Franchising, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Proceedings, Shipping and Maritime Law, Taxation, and Telecommunications and Public Utilities.
For us, the main goal is the success of the case and the complete satisfaction of the client. Senior and Founding Partner Philip Sigfrid ‘Sig’ A. Fortun declares, “every victory, gratification and triumph that our client attains with our total involvement means an accomplishment of our mission of service.” Sig notes – “a happy and satisfied client makes for a happy and successful firm.” Dicky states, “we are bent not only on fulfilling the legal requirements but also on surpassing the individual expectations of the clients through focus and efficiency. It is our vision to help the clients realize their full potential, maintain their stature, realize their objectives and achieve success in all their endeavors. For us in the Firm, a satisfied client translates to our success in the practice of law.”
Keeping abreast with the latest laws and jurisprudence in the Philippines and worldwide, has always been one of the Firm’s elemental concern, not only to provide as Dicky says, “cutting edge advice to the clients, but also to advance the standards of legal service in the Philippines.” Sig comments, “Our Firm contributed to the mandatory continuing legal education of its colleagues in the profession through its Legal Advantage Services some years back. We also provide our national and international clients with connections to the world’s finest legal resources through our correspondent foreign firms in Europe, the Americas and the Asia Pacific.”
With the next twenty five years in sight, FNS continues to deliver on its mission of providing the best quality service with consistency, professionalism, and efficiency.
Founded in 1993
50 people in their team
In the growing area of alternative dispute resolution and arbitration (both domestic and international), we had represented shareholders of a domestic company against an international entity based in the United States as well as known construction companies against their principals and vice versa, all of which cases involved complex, critical, and challenging issues and concerns. Court-administered dispute resolution has been an area where our Firm excels racking up a number of cases settled resulting in significant benefits and prompt resolution of client’s claims.
We offer a full-range and comprehensive service on dispute resolution and arbitration, it assures its clients of a combination of its diverse knowledge, experience, commercial skills, and prompt action in meeting its clients’ needs.
Senior Partner Dicky Salazar, Partner Walter Go and Senior Associate Matt Ong are accredited arbitrators with the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.
Walter heads the practice group and can be reached at [email protected].
No legal issue is too complicated, no claim or defense is too difficult to handle, and no litigation is too tedious for the skilled team of FNS litigators to win. Honed through daily court room work, attendance by a team at evidence-presentations conducted by senior partners, and impressed with constant reminders to focus on details not readily seen in the body of evidence, it is not at all surprising that the success rate of cases handled by FNS teams in various courts and tribunals are exceptionally high.
Keeping clients out of trouble or getting them out of one is key to FNS being the go-to of individuals and organizations with high-profile entanglements while keeping low-key in its handling, away from the prying eyes of media, to deliver results that are beyond clients’ expectations. Members of the team meet regularly to keep abreast of current trends, case law, and techniques that are revised, reworked, and re-thought of by senior partners with over 3 decades of shaping jurisprudence that had helped change the legal landscape.
Persistent and prescient, the litigation teams of FNS are your reliable source of information to steer your concerns and businesses onto compliance with the Rule of Law. Because of their deep understanding of the law and genuine concern for their clients’ well-being, FNS litigators inspire others to move cases forward with discipline, dispatch, and dogged-determination. Court personnel and judges confirm that the caliber of our lawyers are a notch above the rest in writing style, clarity of thought, profundity of arguments, and engaging decorum in and out of court.
Be safe, secure, and satisfied with the FNS team of dispute resolution experts.
Founding and Senior Partner Sig Fortun leads all FNS litigators and he can be reached at [email protected].
Knowing and understanding and being interested in what our corporate clients require and need from their lawyers is our passion and calling. Business entities in various industries, be they small, medium-sized or large enterprises, Filipino or foreign, require lawyers who can assist them achieve their objectives from their inception, continued operations and projects leading up to the completion of their corporate life.
Our Corporate and Commercial Practice Group composed of experienced partners ably assisted by senior associates and junior associates address such need. We offer the services of lawyers who are reliable and transparent at cost efficient budgets and real time connection.
Our lawyers are familiar and experienced with and possess specialized knowledge of the legal requirements for business incorporation and set-up, statutory compliance, corporate reorganizations, expansions, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, and tax compliance. These are the tools we use to provide our clients the confidence that they have competent legal support.
We offer an understanding of Philippine corporate and commercial laws within the context of the clients’ specific economic activities and circumstances. When asked to draw up, review, negotiate and close commercial contracts, we bear in mind that clients want to be protected against lawsuits. We know that clients are averse to any damage, thus, we seek ways to have avoid or mitigate risks. These are ensured through agreements that are clear, detailed, updated, fair and concise prepared and negotiated by FNS lawyers.
We bring to our clients’ tables the required skills, insights, strategy and counsel on how to avoid or address mistakes. We join clients in their risk appraisal and alternatives assessment in the varied fields of business from construction, pharmaceutics, telecommunications, business process outsourcing, banking, realty, condominiums, hotels, distribution, manufacturing, technology, transportation, manpower services, and other essential industries. Our services as counsel, directors, stockholders and corporate secretaries are valued additions to the established corporate structures. These complement our clients’ organizations and help their businesses succeed and achieve the right outcome.
Through our 25 years of experience, we have proudly gained the loyalty and trust of clients whom we have helped. Repeat business from our valued clients show the level of satisfaction and stable relationships established and tested through the test of time. Looking forward to meeting and assisting new corporate clients keeps us vibrant and eager. We keep our Firm’s doors open to new opportunities, linkages and numerous success stories.
Senior Partner Dicky Salazar leads this practice group and he can be reached at [email protected].
We handle a wide-range of cases covering marriage, adoption, child-custody issues, and actions for protection of women and children with focus on the most economical and swift resolution of disputes. Our core competency stems from years of experience in handling issues covering women and children particularly on abuse and violence incidents where a team of trained lady lawyers handle cases with much dedication and concern for client’s welfare. We are knowledgeable in the most recent techniques and practices in presenting child witnesses and protection of women’s rights in the family.
Partner Myls Creencia manages this practice group and she may be reached at [email protected].
We represent foreign clients with their transactions before the Bureau of Immigration and facilitate the processing of their documents before said agency.
Partner Myls Creencia heads the practice group. Her email address is [email protected].
At FNS, we believe that our clients should always realize value from their intellectual property.
That is why, for patents, we draft the specifications and claims of the invention and utility model applications, in consultation with our technical specialists from Pinoy IP Works, Inc., to ensure that the inventors and makers get the broadest protection possible for their R&D, enabling them to secure more embodiments than they previously thought.
For Convention and Patent Cooperation Treaty national phase filings, we take care to bring together the inputs of the correspondent patent attorneys and the insights from our team to hasten the issuance of the certificates of registration. We stay away from cookie-cutter approaches.
We also help our clients design their trademarks to make these distinctive and appropriate for their goods or services. Licensing and assignments of IPs are par for the course.
And if push comes to shove, we simply roll up our sleeves and push back harder to protect and even enlarge the commercial gains of our clients. Litigation, whether inter partes or infringement, is just second nature.
Partner Bay Loste heads this practice group and he can be reached at [email protected].
We help clients in their labor-related concerns such as collective bargaining agreement negotiations, unfair labor practices and certification elections. Clients also approach us to assist them in resolving post-employment challenges like illegal termination issues.
Founding and Senior Partner Ogie Narvasa and Partner Ann De Jesus-Viray co-manage the practice group. Ogie can be reached at [email protected] while Ann’s email address is [email protected].
Our clients regularly consult us regarding numerous transactions relating to real estate. Our lawyers also sit in boards of condominium corporations to document proceedings and advice homeowners about their rights and obligations.
Franchising in the country is now bigger and brighter. There is no better time to go into a franchising business in the Philippines than today. More importantly, there is no better Firm equipped to handle the legal progressions and complexities of your franchising business than our lawyers who are into the business themselves.
Whether it be product franchising or a business format franchising, our lawyers will be able to competently assist you in the development of your franchise through their legal know-how and familiarity with the intricacies and essentials of the franchising business. Our lawyers have the competence and knowledge to help you hurdle the obstacles that you may encounter during the process.
It is true that no single person or entity, regardless of his/its vast experience, will be able to handle the all the phases of franchise development, such as the development of an operations system, development of a franchise structure, development of a marketing department, and development of the legal franchising. Our lawyers, however, can assure you of their capable and diligent assistance during each of these phases and in every step of the way.
We, as your lawyers, are here to make sure that the terms and conditions of your franchise documents are complied with in your favor and that any such breach thereof will not create a dent on the system which can cause damage to your product, brand or business. We are here to help your franchising business grow.
In the face of franchising adversities, we will not let you down. We will exert our utmost best to establish a win-win partnership with you and shall work with you to achieve personal and financial growth and success in the wonderful world of franchising.
Partner Maricar Lazaro heads these two practice areas and she may be reached at [email protected].
