Asialaw Profiles
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Del Rosario & Del Rosario

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Philippines

Intellectual Property

Del Rosario & Del Rosario

Del Rosario & Del Rosario’s IP practice is developing, with international technology companies taking particular interest in the firm. Sony and Facebook are only a few household names that use this firm for its IP capabilities. Attorneys Arturo Del Rosario and Saben Loyola are especially involved in the IP area.

Hechanova Bugay & Vilchez

Led by managing partner Editha Hechanova, Hechanova Bugay & Vilchez’s IP practice is rapidly gaining a strong reputation for its expertise in handling raids and seizures of counterfeit goods. Hechanova has assisted Sanyo Electric, Luxottica Group, the owner of the Ray-Ban sunglasses brand, and Oakley in handling seizures of counterfeit goods from both warehouses and retail outlets in the Philippines. The goods seized during Oakley’s raid alone are estimated to be worth US$12.5 million.

Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices

Partner Margarita Benemerito-Castillo leads an active IP practice at Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices. In the last year, the firm has handled trade mark and patent filing and litigation for companies such as APB Asia, NV Sumatra Tobacco Trading, Phelps Dodge Philippines Energy Products, Le Café Figaro Enterprises and Apollo International.

Rouse

In a landmark case, Rouse obtained the ‘well known’ distinction for the BOTOX mark while representing pharmaceutical company Allergen in a trade mark dispute. The ruling, however, has been appealed. Other clients who have engaged the firm in the last year include BP Singapore, WWE, Wm Wrigley Jr and Research In Motion.

Labour & Employment

Del Rosario & Del Rosario

The employment practice at Del Rosario & Del Rosario is closely related to its strong shipping and maritime practice. Key cases this year involved advising shipowners, agents and insurers on handling damages sought by Filipino crews who have experienced piracy, hijacking and kidnapping incidents off the coast of Africa. The firm takes care to minimise litigation from Filipino crew members regarding damages, including provisions for stress related disorders developed such as post traumatic stress disorder.

Puyat Jacinto & Santos

Puyat Jacinto & Santos is labour and employment counsel for the business process outsourcing units for corporations such as Sykes Asia, Sykes Marketing Services, Hewlett Packard, JP Morgan Chase, HTMT and APAC Customer Services. It has also acted for SN Aboitiz Power on employment matters relating to its takeover of the privatised Magat Hydro-Electric Power Plant and Ambuklao-Binga Hydro-Electric Power Plants. Partner Roy Enrico C Santos leads the practice.

Shipping, Maritime & Aviation

“The firm is a household name in the shipping and maritime areas,” says one competitor of Del Rosario & Del Rosario. Another peer remarks: “Its lawyers are really good, especially brothers Arturo T Del Rosario Jr and Ruben T Del Rosario.”Del Rosario ... [more]

Tax

Del Rosario & Del Rosario

Del Rosario & Del Rosario’s strong tax practice covers issues relating to its strong shipping, maritime and aviation practice areas. It has advised shipowners from countries as diverse as Norway, Cyprus and Germany on legal matters, including tax restructuring, after changes in the Migrant Workers & Overseas Act last year.

Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices

In its largest tax case this year, Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices advised Philippine Associated Smelting & Refining (PASAR) in a PhP18 million dispute against the Bureau of Internal Revenue regarding excise taxes and tax free zones. The firm’s tax practice has grown this year, adding two junior associates one of whom was formerly a tax supervisor and the other a tax consultant.

Puno & Puno

Puno & Puno has added three new associates in tax, including a CPA from KPMG Manabat Sanagustin & Co, greatly expanding its capabilities. The firm assisted Aboitize Renewables and Luzon Hydro Corporation on its divestment of all interests in Pacific Hydro Bakun. Puno & Puno structured this exit to minimise tax exposure to both parties.

Puyat Jacinto & Santos

Puyat Jacinto & Santos’ tax practice, which is led by real estate partner Virginia Viray, acts for high profile clients such as Hewlett-Packard Philippines. Although the firm lacks a dedicated practice, it is advising a Reit on tax structuring for the acquisition of land and the proposed construction of serviced apartments. It also is representing several clients before the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Court of Tax Appeals and the Supreme Court.

Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco

Partner Sylvette Y Tankiang heads the tax practice at Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco. The full service firm’s strong international reputation has resulted in its representation of regional corporations, such as AP Renewables, HSBC Trustee, JT International and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, in tax disputes against the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

Zambrano & Gruba

Attorneys Angelo Patrick F Advincula and Michael Geronimo head the tax practice at Zambrano & Gruba, which specialises in both advisory and litigation. The firm maintains a prestigious list of local clients, including the Philippine National Bank, Philippine Airlines, De La Salle University System, Grand Plaza Hotel and Kepco Iljan.





15th Floor, Pacific Star Building
Makati Ave. cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.
Makati City

Tel:
(63 2) 810 1791   24/ 7
Mob: (63) 917 830 8384
Fax: (63 2) 817 1740 / 810 3632
Email: mail@delrosariolaw.com
Website: www.delrosariolaw.com
Contact: Ruben T. Del Rosario, Managing Partner

Total number of partners: 5
Total number of lawyers: 22 
Year established: 1977
Languages spoken: English, Filipino, Spanish
Key areas of practice: Shipping and Admiralty, Intellectual Property, Cargo claims and Charterparty, Corporate and Commercial, Transport, Labour and Personal Injury (includes Filipino crew claims), Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Insurance and Reinsurance, Arbitration and ADR, Immigration