Intellectual Property: Philippines

THE FIRM This firm earns praise for its full-service IP department, which is highlighted for its strength in litigious matters. It also provides assistance in trade mark portfolio management, working closely with leading names such as Collective Brands. Other key clients include San Miguel, Estée Lauder, Fresenius Kabi Oncology, Eveready Battery Company and Marvel Entertainment.

Sources say: "When I think of intellectual property in the Philippines, I think of this firm immediately."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Head of the practice group, Alex Fider is a perennial presence in the Filipino intellectual property market. He is a director and former President of the Licensing Executives Society of the Philippines, and his formidable reputation is justified by his "excellent client care skills and academic prominence."

THE FIRM This exceptional practice leverages off its international connections to maintain an impressively high profile. Whilst the majority of its work consists of trade mark portfolio management, the group offers comprehensive coverage of all aspects of IP rights protection. It handles licensing and franchising, IP prosecution and litigation as well as enforcement and infringement matters.

Sources say: "The team is excellent – they understand our business well and keep us appraised of everything that is going on."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Partner Laxmi Rosell is a new addition to the team. Clients praise her for being "switched on to the local scene," and for "getting stuck into what needs to be done on the ground." Bienvenido Marquez is another key contact.

THE FIRM This firm has one of the largest IP and franchising practice groups in the Philippines. The team has a sterling reputation for handling the largest and most complex cases. It offers a full service to clients, covering product registration, licensing and technology transfer. The team also includes specialists in IP litigation, tasked with advising on unfair competition and infringement actions.

Sources say: "A long-standing firm with a great reputation."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Vicente Amador leads the IP department and is particularly well regarded for e-commerce matters. Sources report: "He remains an iconic figure in IP." Enrique Manuel is recommended for his deep understanding of the area and for his proven track record.

THE FIRM This firm is universally acknowledged for its market-leading IP practice. The group's work spans infringement, enforcement, commercialisation, licensing, franchising and prosecution. In the past year, it obtained an important Supreme Court judgment for Pilipinas Shell Petroleum relating to the illegal refilling of liquefied petroleum gas tanks. Other notable clients include United Laboratories, Xerox, ABS-CBN Broadcasting and Banco De Oro Unibank.

Sources say: "The quality of their work remains consistently excellent across the board. The individuals and the firm overall are extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Managing partner Bienvenido Somera has an impeccable reputation amongst peers and clients alike for extensive patent and trade mark experience. Senior partner Patricia Bunye is appreciated for her "comprehensive and thorough approach." She is particularly highly regarded for her food, drugs and cosmetics expertise. Susan Villanueva is another indispensable member of the practice. She proves popular with a diverse client base, acting on matters in the broadcasting, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and IT industries. All three are recognised for their exceptional litigation talents, with one interviewee identifying them as "the first people I would call were I ever in need."

THE FIRM This compact firm remains a formidable force in the intellectual property market. The team handles a substantial trade marks portfolio, and is commended for its patent prosecution work. It is best known in litigation and enforcement matters, although it also handles licensing and franchising. Working on behalf of the Motion Picture Association, it provided legal counsel in relation to the prosecution of complaints regarding violations of the Anti-Camcording Act of the Philippines. Other notable clients include Gucci, Versace, Nike and Nintendo.

Sources say: "They know their business and they are good at what they do. They deliver quality services."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Maria Trinidad Villareal is the sole practice group head. She is best known for her skill in IP litigation, where commentators describe her as "an exemplary and authoritative lawyer."

THE FIRM This firm remains a major player in patent infringement work for foreign pharmaceutical companies, with Eli Lilly, Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim and BASF all engaging the team's services. The group is also active in the areas of licensing and unfair competition. It represents luxury goods operators, and provides counsel to leading brands such as Sony, ExxonMobil and LaCoste. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Noel Laman remains an integral member of the team, best known for his skilled handling of patent disputes within the pharmaceutical industry. Dina Lucenario is seen to be a key player in licensing issues.

THE FIRM With this firm's formidable dispute resolution reputation, its strength in IP litigation comes as no surprise. It works with clients from a variety of sectors, including software and publishing companies. In addition to litigation, the group handles trade mark applications, registration and enforcement. The team also advises on copyright and patent matters.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Name partner Gilbert Raymund Reyes is heralded as a "pragmatic and talented litigator." Jaime Hofileña is also "very well respected in IP law." Both practitioners are recommended for their work with domestic and international clients.

THE FIRM This firm has an extensive practice covering all aspects of IP rights protection. It advises on licensing, technology transfer agreements and unfair competition matters. The team also has the capacity to monitor applications of trade marks and patents, to assist clients to identify potentially conflicting new marks.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Senior partner Rogelio Nicandro is responsible for the firm's IP department. Sources report: "He is personable, knowledgeable and tenacious when it comes to his clients' interests."

THE FIRM This impressive boutique firm remains an important player in the market. It provides a full service but is particularly active in anti-piracy, enforcement and litigation matters. It recently advised Autodesk, La Coste and AstraZeneca in their respective anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy actions. Other key clients include Sony, Honda Motors Philippines and Nestlé Philippines.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Ferdinand Negre earns widespread respect amongst peers for his "extremely laudable work in the field." He is very active in the franchising and licensing arena. Anthony Bengzon is recognised for his expertise in IP litigation and enforcement. He proves popular with clients in the information technology and telecommunications sectors.

THE FIRM This long-standing practice has a presence throughout South-East Asia by virtue of its offices in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The group advises on a broad range of matters, although it stands out in particular for its expertise in the area of patents. It is ably assisted by a team of technical experts and engineers.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Managing partner Antonio Audie Bucoy is regarded as "a prominent and knowledgeable practitioner." He is recommended for complex IP work, often involving a litigious element, or wider corporate or tax aspects. 

THE FIRM Esguerra & Blanco Law Offices remains a trusted counsel to pharmaceutical companies in respect of patent enforcement disputes. The team acts for Pfizer in an ongoing patent infringement dispute with United Laboratories. The group is also a notable player in technology transfer and licensing matters.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Managing partner Ramon Esguerra is well known for his prowess in contentious IP matters.

THE FIRM This firm maintains a solid profile through its advisory and enforcement practice, and wins praise for its work in patent prosecution. It also manages substantial trade mark portfolios and advises clients in relation to application, registration, licensing and franchising. The group attracts clients from the pharmaceutical and retail sectors in addition to household names such as McDonald's.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Augusto San Pedro spearheads the group. Peers regard him as "a very thorough lawyer" and "a safe pair of hands."

THE FIRM This firm co-operates closely with its affiliate, Zobella & Co, to handle IP matters. The team is well regarded for a broad range of work, including patent and trade mark filings and applications, prosecution and litigation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alonzo Ancheta remains a key figure in the IP landscape. Sources praise the depth of his experience in this field, saying: "We still look to him for advice."

THE FIRM Taw & Associates works closely with multinational IP firm Rouse, to advise on the full spectrum of IP matters. It handles filings, portfolio management and litigation, amongst other issues. Highlights from the past year saw the team advise Castrol on its first enforcement programme in the Philippines, and represent Allergan in a trade mark matter relating to BOTOX. As part of a wider global network, it is popular with leading multinationals, including GlaxoSmithKline, BP Singapore and RIM.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Edmund Jason Baranda is an IP lawyer and patent agent. Bangkok-based Lisa Yong is another key contact.