Aviation, Telecommunications and Maritime

The Firm has expertise and extensive experience in the practice of aviation and telecommunications laws ranging from compliance with pre-operating and operating requirements of these industries under Philippine laws to corporate mergers and acquisitions as well as international negotiations for air services agreements and commercial agreements. It has experience in acquisition of the relevant franchises, permits, authorizations and licenses from the Congress of the Philippines, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Civil Aeronautics Board. It is also developing its maritime law practice with the vast experience of its members in this field as its seed investment.

Banking, Finance and Securities

The Firm represents several banking and financial institutions. It provides advice on regulatory matters affecting banking and financial institutions and on domestic and international financing transactions, including syndicated loan facilities, leveraged leases, project financing, public and private offerings, listing of securities, creation of mortgage and other collateral security and all matters of banking and securities law.

Corporate Law, Insolvency and Corporate Recovery

The Firm is experienced in handling all aspects of corporate law, including formation of corporation, partnership and joint venture, and can advice clients on initial public offering, corporate mergers and acquisitions, and other capital restructuring, as well as in acquisitions of non-performing assets (e.g. distressed debts and assets) whether under the Special Purpose Vehicle Law or otherwise. It has extensive practice in corporate recovery and insolvency, and has handled or is currently handling corporate rehabilitation cases representing either creditors or debtors. The Firm’s lawyers can act as corporate secretary and provide general corporate housekeeping services.

Foreign Investment

The Firm provides advice and assistance to foreign investors on the appropriate device for their presence in the Philippines, e.g., joint venture, subsidiary, branch office or regional headquarter, the tax consequences of their investments, incentives available to them under Philippine laws, remittance of their profits and repatriation of their capital, as well as compliance with the legal requirements for investments in partly or wholly nationalized economic activities.

Government Contracts and Regulation

The Firm has expertise on government contracts, including negotiation and documentation of build-operate-transfer contract, construction, power and energy contract, or and mining service contract, mineral production sharing agreement, technical services agreement, acquisition of government-owned assets, toll operations agreements, and other contracts with the government. The Firm provides advice on all aspects of governmental and administrative regulations and can make direct representation for clients before congressional and executive officials in connection with the formulation, interpretation and / or application of legislative and administrative rules and regulations.

Immigration

The Firm handles the application and processing of visas for tourist, temporary visitor, pre-arranged employment, treaty trader, special investor, technical personnel and regional headquarters personnel from the Bureau of Immigration and alien employment or work permits from the Department of Labor and Employment.

Intellectual Property and Technology

The Firm’s practice deals with the trademarks, patents, copyrights and intellectual property of domestic and foreign companies, involving registration of the same with the Intellectual Property Office and related offices.

Labor

The Firm handles labor and employment matters and represents clients in compulsory and voluntary arbitration, collective bargaining negotiation, cases before the National Labor Relations Commission and other conflicts between labor and management. The Firm also reviews company employment policies, employee benefit plans and personnel manuals.

Litigation

The Firm’s litigation practice covers all courts and quasi-judicial bodies and all types of cases, i.e. criminal, civil, commercial, domestic relations, administrative, testate and intestate succession, and agrarian disputes. It has acted as counsel not only for domestic enterprises but also for foreign clients suing in Philippine courts.

Mass Media

Mass media is a substantive area of practice of the Firm given its services to leading broadcast (television and radio) and print media networks in the country, whose operations cover both domestic and overseas. It provides full service to these media networks including but not limited to corporate services, setting up of operations abroad, acquisitions and corporate combinations, licensing, litigations involving anti-trust and monopoly issues, talents, commercial advertising, and content and regulatory issues, as well as libel law suits.

Natural Resources

The Firm is well versed in laws and administrative rules and regulations relating to the prospecting, exploration, development and utilization of the country’s natural resources and counts among its clients well-known mining and oil firms. In particular, it is well positioned to provide expertise on contracts with the government involving Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), Technical Services Agreement, and Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA).

Taxation

The Firm has substantial expertise in all aspects of Philippine taxes necessary to give advice on the tax aspects of commercial and financial transactions, corporate mergers and restructuring, foreign investments, estate planning, etc. and to handle claims for refund and tax cases before the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Court of Tax Appeals. The Firm’s tax lawyers can obtain advance rulings from the Bureau of Internal Revenue on the taxation of various transactions and effects of the tax treaties with other countries.