CORPORATE FINANCE AND SECURITIES
The
Firm’s corporate practice is not limited to serving as corporate
secretary for corporations and providing general corporate housekeeping
services. It gives advice on a wide range of commercial transactions,
such as joint ventures, capital restructuring, corporate acquisitions
and privatizations of government-owned or -controlled corporations
or assets, including the structuring, negotiation, documentation,
and closing of mergers and various business combination transactions.
In addition, the Firm acted as counsel for several reverse takeovers
of dormant but listed Philippine companies by way of due diligence,
strategy and documentation. It has also provided corporate law advisory
services on offshore regional transactions. However, the core of its
corporate practice is in the design and documentation of various securities
flotation of large corporations including the initial public offering
of their stock.
Finally,
the Firm regularly provides inputs to the Philippine Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) on proposed rules and regulations affecting
the Philippine capital markets, and took an active part in the formulation
of the new rules on warrants and derivatives.
IMMIGRATION
The
Firm has substantial experience in the field of immigration law. It
aids clients in securing visas, work permits, and Department of Justice
and Department of Labor and Employment clearances.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The
Firm’s intellectual property practice includes intellectual
property registration, assignment, licensing, protection and enforcement.
LABOR
The
Firm’s labor practice covers both the management and labor side.
It has a track record of handling collective bargaining negotiations
and settling industrial disputes, including strikes, unfair labor
practices, labor standard cases and money claims. The Firm gives advice
on labor matters such as implementation of company rules and regulations
and adoption of labor-saving devices, and also reviews the company’s
employment policies and personnel manuals.
LITIGATION
The
Firm handles all forms of dispute, i.e., criminal, civil, administrative,
and cases falling under special proceedings, including settlement
of estates.
REAL ESTATE
The
Firm’s real estate practice includes giving advice and assistance
in the acquisition, lease, development, and disposition of real estate.
It has provided counseling for diverse projects ranging from the tallest
commercial building, tallest residential condominium building, the
biggest low-cost housing developer, and the largest real estate transaction,
the Fort Bonifacio privatization.
TAX
The
Firm’s tax practice covers all areas of tax planning and tax
counseling including estate planning and litigation. It has secured
victories in landmark cases against the Bureau of Internal Revenue
such as the case involving capital gains realized from the sale of
listed shares done outside the stock exchange.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, MASS MEDIA AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY
The Firm is also up to speed
in the growing field of telecommunications and mass media. It provided
assistance for the financing of the Mabuhay Satellite. It also acts
as counsel for the leading landline (PLDT) and mobile telecommunication
company (Smart Communications) in the Philippines as well as for several
internet servers and several leading nationwide radio stations in
the Philippines (Nation Broadcasting Corporation and Radio Veritas).
The Firm is counsel for several information and communications technology
companies, including systems/software developers, value added service
providers, call center and internet service providers.
