Legal500

Quisumbing Torres

12TH FLOOR, NET ONE CENTER, 26TH STREET CNR 3RD AVENUE, CRESCENT PARK WEST, BONIFACIO, GLOBAL CITY, TAGUIG 1634, PHILIPPINES

Zurich, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Valencia, Toronto , and 69 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Philippines

Aviation

Within Aviation, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres’ extremely experienced practice, which comes highly recommended on the disputes side, is seeing an increasing amount of transactional and regulatory work. Rodrigo Quimbo heads the team, which recruited seven new associates in 2011, although it lost partner Alejandre Duenas, who left to form his own firm.

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Praised for its ‘good quality legal documentation’, Quisumbing Torres’ ‘service matches the level of a top law firm’. The ‘professional’ practice head Felix Sy is praised for his ‘high-level legal skill and social network’. The firm has traditionally had a strong international lender following, thanks in part to its links with Baker & McKenzie, but is increasingly doing more for borrowers, such as Korea Electric Power Company.

Capital markets

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres is experienced in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and a recently passed REIT Law should increase its activity in this area. In traditional capital markets, it did a due diligence on the mining company Mindoro Resources for its dual listing in Australia and Canada. Elizabeth Opeña heads the team.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres has a very strong transactional practice and also represents clients on their regular day-to-day matters. The firm is particularly experienced in the energy, pharmaceutical, BPO and mining sectors. Jocelyn Gregorio-Reyes heads the six-partner team, which also includes energy and natural resources expert Pearl Liu. Other partners include Maria Christina Macasaet-Acaban, Dennis Quintero and Lourdes Echavez-De Leon.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres has an impressive international client base, which it regularly represents on complex multijurisdictional litigations and arbitrations. The firm has excellent specialist disputes practices for aviation, employment and IP matters. On the broader commercial side, it has recently been representing two global chemical companies in a major damages claim, and has also been involved in several major tax and customs disputes. Ramon Quisumbing heads the team, which also includes Rodrigo Quimbo and Emmanuel Buenaventura.

Employment

Within Employment, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

At Quisumbing Torres, group head Kenneth Chua, Gil Roberto Zerrudo and recently promoted partner Eliseo Zuniga are noted for their ‘very prompt response times and excellent quality of legal service. They are flexible and easy to work with and make clients feel that they are being given prompt attention and priority’. The ‘excellent’ team is recommended for labour relations and litigation, and advice on transactional and outsourcing-related issues. Korea Electric Power Corporation and Triumph International Philippines are both major clients.

Foreign firms

Within Foreign firms, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

For an on-the-ground offering in the Philippines, no firm can match Baker & McKenzie’s presence, thanks to the preeminence of its local correspondent firm Quisumbing Torres, which works seamlessly with the international network. The firm offers full service coverage, from major corporate matters to IP and immigration issues.

Immigration

Within Immigration, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres has a vast clientbase in the mining, BPO and technology sectors, and represents numerous related companies from the US, Australia and Singapore on their immigration issues. Managing partner Ricardo Castro heads the excellent team.

Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

André Betita heads Quisumbing Torres’ first-class IP practice, which benefits greatly from the firm’s links to Baker & McKenzie. About 60% of the firm’s work is focused on trade mark registration and enforcement, where it represents a broad base of technology and consumer goods clients. The firm also has a considerable patent practice. Pericles Casuela is highly recommended.

Legal market overview

Within Legal market overview,

There have been few changes to the legal market since 2010, and the country’s three largest full-service firms, Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW), Romulo and SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan, continue to dominate most areas of the market. Baker & McKenzie affiliate Quisumbing Torres is also gaining an increased market share, while slightly smaller firms, such as Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose and Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos, are seen as very good alternatives to the big three, especially among foreign firms who need to refer work. Several major international firms have dedicated Philippines desks, typically working out of offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. A review of these can be found in the Foreign Firms table.

Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres’ projects and energy lawyers are praised for their ‘technical ability and knowledge’ and their ‘outstanding’ expertise in project finance. ‘They are also quick and prompt in responding to client queries and proactive in updating clients with development issues and polices that would affect them’. The firm is also praised for its ‘exceptional network internationally’, which comes from being part of the Baker & McKenzie network. The versatile group, which includes Pearl Liu, Lourdes Echavez-De Leon and Dennis Quintero covers all areas of mining and energy, including disputes, M&A, regulatory and project finance.

Real estate and construction

Within Real estate and construction, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres has a strong focus on REITs, which looks set to become an increasingly active area since a new law on REITs was passed in the Philippines recently. The firm also advises developers and investors. Elizabeth Opeña heads the team.

TMT

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Pericles Casuela heads the TMT group at Quisumbing Torres, which is backed up by the firm’s top-notch IP group. The firm has an impressive roster of international telecoms and IT clients and is also very active in e-commerce.

Tax

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Quisumbing Torres’ experienced team does an even mix of contentious and non-contentious work and has recently been involved in several customs-related disputes. The firm also works closely with its corporate team on major cross-border M&A’s and largely represents international clients. Dennis Dimagiba heads the two-partner team, which also includes Jose Jaime Cruz.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Baker & McKenzie office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Abu Dhabi

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Melbourne

Austria

Offices in Vienna

Azerbaijan

Offices in Baku

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

Belgium

Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich

Egypt

Offices in Cairo

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

Offices in Jakarta

India

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Italy

Offices in Rome, Milan, and Bologna

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

London

Offices in London EC4V and London EC4V

Luxembourg

Offices in Luxembourg

Libya

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

Malaysia

Offices in Kuala Lumpur

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Philippines

Offices in Makati

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Russia

Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Zurich and Geneva

Taiwan

Offices in Taipei

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

United States

Offices in Washington DC, Palo Alto, New York, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Houston

Vietnam

Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

New rules due on assessment of workplace working conditions

Continuing our practice of regularly updating our clients on changes in the Russian legislation, in this legal alert we would like to inform you that as of September 1, 2011, the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation will introduce a new procedure for assessing working conditions in workplaces. 1 [1] Results of workplace assessments with respect to the working conditions conducted before September 1, 2011 (in accordance with the procedure currently in effect 2 [2]) will remain valid up until the next regular assessment.

- Baker & McKenzie

Legal Developments in Philippines

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Category Two (2): The Philippine Experience

In December 2006, Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced its re-fleeting program that included the purchase of several Boeing 777s intended primarily for plying the lucrative US-RP Pacific corridor.

- Ocampo & Manalo
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE PHILIPPINES: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR BUSINESS

The Philippines has been one of the pioneers in private sector participation in major government infrastructure projects in Asia. The Build-Operate-Transfer Law or RA 6957 passed in 1990 was the first of its kind in the region.

- Zambrano & Gruba Law Offices
Aquino reassures investors against regulatory risk

The Philippine government sponsored the Infrastructure Philippines conference held on November 18-19, 2010 as part of its efforts to drum up investor interest in Philippine infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships. The conference was generally met with optimism from both potential project sponsors and financiers.

- SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
Philippine PPP Center established

In line with his administration’s avowed policy of focusing on public-private-partnerships as a way of addressing the Philippines’ infrastructure needs, on September 9, 2010, President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 8, renaming the existing Build-Operate-Transfer (“BOT”) Center as the Public-Private-Partnership (“PPP”) Center and transferring it from the Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) to the National Economic and Development Authority (“NEDA”).

- SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
MANDATORY CONCILIATION-MEDIATION FOR ALL LABOR CASES

Department Order No. 107-10, series of 2010 (“DO 107-10”) of the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”), which became effective on October 24, 2010, now prescribes a 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation service for all labor cases.

- SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
Prior Registration Not Required for Trade Name Infringement

The Supreme Court recently reiterated its 2009 ruling that the local prior registration of a trade name is not a requisite for its owner to hold an unauthorized user liable for infringement. In its decision in Coffee Partners, Inc. vs.

- SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
PRIMER ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) on investing in the Philippines, such as choosing the right corporate vehicle, the allowed areas of investment, tax incentives, and other key information:

- Zambrano & Gruba Law Offices
PHILIPPINES ADOPTS RENEWABLE ENERGY FRAMEWORK

The renewable energy market has experienced rapid growth over the past several years. This is partly due to an increased global consciousness of the dangers of climate change and the need to focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly sources of energy.

- SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
PHILIPPINES ADOPTS LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR REITs AND RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

The Philippines’ formal capital market is one of the oldest in Asia, and yet, the general perception is that the country’s financial sector remains underdeveloped. Recent years have seen the passage of important legislation intended to boost the financial sector, such as the Special Purpose Vehicle Act of 2003 (intended to facilitate the removal of nonperforming assets from bank balance sheets) and the Securitization Act of 2004 (aimed at developing a market for asset-backed securities). Much remains to be done, however

- SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
Philippines adopts new corporate rehabilitation and insolvency framework

The availability of credit depends to a large extent on whether a workable, reliable framework that provides reasonable assurances that debts will be paid and distressed borrowers rehabilitated in a timely fashion is in place.

- SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan