The Philippines

Firm overview

United by common ideals and shared values, fifteen accomplished individuals founded Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia in 2013. Since then, fifteen new partners have risen to the challenge of leading the firm into the next generation. This partnership of seasoned practitioners is forged on a commitment to build a lasting legal institution that will carry on the values of professionalism, meritocracy, and mutual respect.

The firm is led by Avelino “Nonong” J. Cruz, Jr., Simeon “Sonny” V. Marcelo, and Joe Nathan P. Tenefrancia. Cruz previously served as the nation’s Secretary of National Defense and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, while Marcelo defended the public interest as the Ombudsman and Solicitor General. Tenefrancia represents the next generation of partners who will continue the legacy of professionalism and excellence.

The firm’s lawyers are highly regarded individuals whose counsel is sought by leaders of the nation, captains of industry, and the common person. With highly motivated lawyers working in teams and ably supported by the country’s best non-legal personnel, we bring together our collective expertise, skills, experience and networks to practice law as one firm. With committed advocacy and wise counsel as hallmarks of our practice, we are our clients’ reliable partners in achieving winning solutions. Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia provides exceptional legal representation in various fields of law as a fullservice firm.

Our core partnership values translate into our governance principles and are integral to ensuring that we provide our clients with top-notch, cost-effective legal services while emphasizing teamwork, creativity, and responsiveness.

Our IP lawyers are best known for their ability to provide excellent and effective legal services covering:

• Prosecution of applications for the registration of trademarks and patents (inventions, utility models, industrial designs) and applications for issuance of certificates of copyright deposit and registration;
• Protection of business models, trade secrets and undisclosed information;
• IP commercialization, providing comprehensive legal and business-oriented strategies in negotiating agreements for licensing and franchising;
• Domain name registration and dispute resolution;
• Registration of technology transfer agreements;
• Conduct of IP due diligence and audit of IP assets;
• Registration of food, cosmetics and drugs;
• Handling administrative, civil and criminal cases on infringement of copyright, patent and trademark; unfair competition; dispute settlement and mediation involving IP rights; and
• Anti-piracy programs and IP enforcement cases.

Network Memberships:
INTA, ECTA, AIPPI, LESI, AIPA, IR Global, Marques

Last updated 29th August 2018 

Firm overview

Firm overview

V&A Law’s intellectual property practice covers the full spectrum of intellectual property rights, as well as adjacent issues related to advertising and media, Food and Drug Administration regulation and compliance, domain names, border control, and licensing, franchising, and commercialization. V&A Law provides multifaceted and comprehensive legal services tailor-fit to the client’s specific needs and objectives.

V&A Law is known for its speed, accuracy, and efficiency in IP prosecution, which stems from its highly systematic and team-based process. Its exceptional Patent Team comprised of lawyers with diverse technical backgrounds in medicine, molecular biology, physics, chemistry, and materials science, enables the Firm to competently draft patent specifications and to effectively respond to substantive examination objections in house.

V&A Law also boasts of a highly competent IP Litigation Team with an excellent track record for high profile cases before both regular courts and administrative bodies. V&A Law ensures that the nuances of intellectual property cases are specifically addressed, resulting not only in big ticket wins, but also in creating important judicial precedents in the field of intellectual property in the Philippines. V&A Law successfully argued at the Supreme Court level for the indictment of the officers and stockholders of corporations for IP rights violations in relation to the illegal refilling activities of Petron Corporation’s liquefied petroleum gas cylinders – a reversal of previous decisions allowing individual officers to escape liability through the use of the corporate veil. 

V&A Law’s strong partnerships and collaborations with experienced law firms around the world provide an excellent and trusted network for its clients’ intellectual property needs across multiple jurisdictions. 

Firm overview

The global business community is more interconnected than ever before. Opportunities and risks cross multiple markets, sectors and areas of law, requiring an integrated, connected approach to achieving business goals while mitigating risk.

Digital transformation is no longer a singular project but an ongoing necessity. Supply chain disruption is a constant threat. Beyond the completion of a transaction, deal value is realized only through successful integration. Workforces are redesigned, changing how and where we do our jobs. Business leaders are seeking growth that is both sustainable — and inclusive.

Quisumbing Torres delivers holistic solutions to interconnected challenges.

We work collaboratively with our clients, providing the appropriate perspective to inform decision-making while managing risk. We assist business leaders in gaining access to untapped opportunities.

Clients benefit from insight and foresight from our seasoned legal team of more than 60 Philippine lawyers working together across practice areas, industry sectors and geographic borders as a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein, for six decades.