The firm has a diversified general law practice and corresponds with leading law firms in major cities of the world. It handles all aspects of corporate, commercial and international business transactions, protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, technology transfers, civil and criminal litigation, admiralty, labor-management relations, taxation, aviation law, estates and trusts, media law, immigration and family law.
The firm’s partners are supported by associates and assistants, technical consultants and administrative and secretarial staff. Each case or assignment is handled by a team supervised by a partner. If required by the nature, magnitude and complexity of the work, more than one partner or team may be involved. Every client has access to a partner for advice on urgent matters.
(Renato G. Calma, Roane Alfredo P. Lopez III, Virna Emeline C. Divino)
The firm is considered to be among the pioneers of the practice of intellectual property law in the Philippines. The firm offers the full range of services in intellectual property clearance and protection, enforcement, due diligence and licensing. The firm also engages in practice in franchising and licensing laws, consumer protection laws, information technology and other areas of law which frequently interface with intellectual property law.
With its full range of services, the firm looks after the intellectual property portfolio of a good number of established European, American and Asian companies and institutions in the pharmaceutical industry, the academe, sports and entertainment, food industry, fashion, clothing and consumer items industry.
The firm’s IP litigation is a reliable support in the firm’s strong practice in trademark and patent filings and prosecution. The firm has consistently ranked among the top filers in both patent and trademark matters and has represented clients in patent and trademark infringement suits. The firm has also prosecuted a number of cases involving copyright litigation in the publishing and music industry in behalf of authors, media companies and composers. The firm is ranked as a top-tier law firm in intellectual property by The Legal 500.
(Elizer A. Odulio)
Labor Law
Labor law is a sensitive area for businesses in the Philippines. Workers are generally well protected under the Labor Code. The firm handles all aspects of employer-employee relations from illegal dismissal disputes to unfair labor practices and other labor related claims. It is also active in handling industrial disputes including CBA negotiations, preventive mediation and conciliations. It also has extensive labor practice involving disputes between seafarers and shipowners whether they are P & I Covered or not.
The litigation department handles complex corporate, property, civil, criminal, shipping, aviation, banking, mining, media, immigration and intellectual property related cases. Lawyers of the firm have argued before all levels of the judiciary. They are committed to render efficient and effective solutions to litigated matters. They exert extra efforts to understand the business involved to become effective.
(Renato G. Calma, Roane Alfredo P. Lopez III, Virna Emeline C. Divino)
Corporate, Commercial, Real Estate and Tax Department
The Law Firm has helped in the formation, establishment and organization of partnerships, joint ventures, domestic corporations, branches and representative offices of its foreign clients. It has participated and handled mergers and acquisitions and acted as legal counsel in various commercial contracts and real estate transactions.
Lawyers of the Law Firm have also been appointed as Directors and Corporate Secretaries of its corporate clients. As corporate secretary, our lawyers attend board and stockholders meetings, handle the keeping of minutes of meetings, the recordal of the transfer of shares in the Stock and Transfer Book of the corporation, and the issuance of certifications on matters affecting these corporations.
The Law Firm regularly assists its corporate clients in their compliance with auditors and government authorities. It has advised clients on the filing of their tax returns, preparation of protest letters, obtaining tax rulings and securing Certificates Authorizing Registration on the transfer of shares of stocks and real properties. It has filed and secured Tax Treaty Relief Rulings from the Bureau of Internal Revenue-International Tax Affairs Division for clients whose countries of domicile have entered into tax treaties with the Philippines.
