Description
1963-2013
Firm Profile
2015
YEARS
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Guiding you every step of the way.
. Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 |
Strong economic performance has made the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) one of the world’s most
dynamic regions. Free flow of goods, services and investment;
a freer flow of financial capital; enhanced connectivity; and
expanded opportunities for intra-regional labor migration will
characterize deep market integration as the ASEAN Economic
Community culminates this year.
The Philippine economy is again expected to be the fastest
growing within the Southeast Asian region. The country
continued its rapid progress, gaining confidence from foreign
investors and global institutions as it registered a 5.3 percent
gross domestic product growth in the third quarter of 2014. Net
foreign investments grew by 61.3 percent within the first nine
months of the year.
Within the past two years, Philippine Credit Ratings were significantly upgraded by the world's major credit rating agencies -- Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s --- reaffirming the country’s strong economic fundamentals and its positive growth prospects. As the country enters a demographic sweet spot, where majority of the over 100 million Filipinos would be within the working-age group, the nation's attractiveness as a global investment destination is further strengthened. This puts the country in a strong and enviable position to benefit from upcoming developments in the Asian regional landscape. 2 .
3 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 For more than five decades, Quisumbing Torres (QT) has been helping multinational and domestic organizations drive their growth in the Philippines. A consistent top-ranking law firm, we provide global reach with deep local roots, enabling us to deliver exceptional advice to clients across borders seamlessly. In 1963, the Firm was established as Collas and Guerrero and later became known as Quisumbing Torres. As part of the Baker & McKenzie’s global network of more than 11,000 people in 77 offices in 47 countries, we are able to offer market insight and international experience that few firms in the Philippines can match. With our team of more than 50 Philippine lawyers, Quisumbing Torres proactively addresses legal issues that affect our clients' business in the country. Toward this end, we organize our lawyers into practice groups, to deal with specific legal issues that affect our clients' commercial operations.
Today, Quisumbing Torres lawyers offer seasoned and industryspecific advice in the practice areas of Banking & Finance, Corporate & Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Immigration, Intellectual Property and Tax. "Clients want their questions to be answered in a clear and succinct manner, and to be given practical solutions to their legal and regulatory issues. Quisumbing Torres is able to do this." – Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 "Quisumbing Torres has good business acumen and its regional capacity makes it an ideal choice for regional employers. We use (the firm) for work we consider particularly complex or sensitive." – Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 “The ‘very responsive and competent’ team at Quisumbing Torres is praised for its ‘strong internal and external professional network’, which is ‘arguably second-to-none in the industry.’” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 As skilled industry advisers, QT lawyers have played a proactive role in the growth of the Philippines’ key business sectors. With half a century of experience, our Firm is well-equipped to deliver industry-specific advice in, among others: Aviation, Aerospace & Defense Chemicals and Plastics Construction & Building Materials Consumer Goods & Retail Energy & Utilities and Climate Change Financial Services Food & Beverage Hotels, Resorts & Tourism Infrastructure Insurance Information Technology Manufacturing & Wholesale Media & Entertainment Mining & Metals Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Real Estate (including REITs) Services (including Outsourcing) Telecommunications Transportation & Logistics .
Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 4 Quisumbing Torres’ team of lawyers are widely recognized in various areas of practice and ranked top-tier by respected legal publications. Our Practice Groups For over 50 years, QT has been the trusted adviser of multinational and local companies that demand sharp insights for critical business decisions. Our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and innovative thinking enables us to provide tailored and practical advice, helping our clients gain competitive advantage in their respective fields of operations. Our value-based solutions and clientcentric services continue to position QT as one of the highly recommended law firms in the country today. We take a proactive role in addressing the legal issues affecting clients’ businesses in the Philippines. We provide the right teams by organizing our lawyers into key practice groups to tackle the fundamental aspects of our clients’ commercial operations.
As a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International, our global reach with deep local roots enables us to work seamlessly across borders and practices, further strengthening client relationships. “The firm has ‘a fabulous reputation across many practice areas.’” - The Legal 500 2015 . 5 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Our banking & finance team offers keen insight into providing practical and innovative solutions to your financing, financial services and insurance issues. QT advises on all aspects of banking, financing and insurance transactions in the Philippines and across borders. Whether you are securing financing for a power plant, a renewable energy project or a major infrastructure, or for a mining project, syndicated loans for a prime property development or procuring insurance for costly assets, our team offers experienced insights and industry knowledge into counterparty needs to help you protect value and manage risks. In particular, we have assisted and advised clients on a range of issues and transactions, including the following: The drafting and review of credit facility and security arrangements Philippine banking and financing laws and regulations, as these have impact on both offshore and onshore financing transactions The registration and recording of security to create and perfect security interests Establishing business presence in the Philippines, as well as registration of investments, loans, and guarantees with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas "Quisumbing Torres understood the timeline for our project and consistently acted to ensure that their output came when it was needed." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 …the highly rated (Banking and Finance) team at Quisumbing…is praised for its "prompt and thorough response times" and "good level of knowledge." - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 We combine market-leading thought and commercial experience to help you with: Project Finance Whether you need limited recourse financing or advice on debt security issues, we help you explore viable financing options, including loans and credit facilities, and implement the financing structures best suited to your projects. We have advised lenders, developers, sponsors, project companies and engineering procurement construction contractors on a broad range of power, renewable energy, oil and gas, mining and metals, and infrastructure projects. With access to cutting-edge knowledge tools and resources, we keep you up-todate on local, regional and global market developments that can affect your financing arrangements. Insurance As you execute transactions in the country, our dedicated team helps you stay compliant with the Philippine Insurance Code and its implementing regulations. We have assisted leading insurance companies with all aspects of insurance and reinsurance transactional and regulatory matters.
We have also advised Banking & Finance foreign insurers, sureties and intermediaries on establishing and licensing their presence in the Philippines, as well as with meeting solvency requirements and other local regulations. In particular, our full range of insurance-related services includes the following: Advising clients on Philippine laws and regulations as they relate to cross-border and onshore insurance activities Assisting clients with establishing a presence in the Philippines and with obtaining the necessary license and regulatory approvals from the Insurance Commission to conduct insurance business Reviewing insurance policies and assisting clients with claims recovery Advising on bancassurance transactions Felix T. Sy, Jr. Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4963 | + 63 2 217 4512 M + 63 917 819 4963 | + 63 998 962 7541 felix.sy@quisumbingtorres.com . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 6 Corporate & Commercial Our Corporate & Commercial Practice Group provides a comprehensive range of corporate and commercial services to domestic and foreign clients planning to invest, or do business, in the Philippines. These services cover all aspects of the client’s business and all transactions undertaken by the client within the framework of the Philippine regulatory regime. Our commercial lawyers provide seamless and cost-effective solutions to multinational companies as they collaborate closely with colleagues from the Baker & McKenzie network to coordinate transactions with a cross-border or international element. The close coordination between QT and other Baker & McKenzie offices in cross-border transactions means that all issues - from corporate, finance, employment to tax and industryspecific legal regulations - can be covered by one integrated team that understands the operating environment in every jurisdiction involved in the transaction. Our services include work relating to: Our team represents a large number of multinational clients that are leaders in their respective fields. advising on and obtaining special registrations for corporate entities to avail of tax and other incentives under Philippine law; We advise and assist clients on the establishment of operations in the Philippines. This involves obtaining all registrations, licenses and approvals and meeting all legal requirements for their operations. Our team’s extensive experience in advising multinational clients find us in the unique position of being fluent in the intricacies and complexities of issues relevant to foreign investors interested in doing business in the Philippines. advising on the legal framework for the proposed business activity, as well as on the preferred vehicle or structure for the investment, including the establishment of branches, subsidiaries, representative offices, regional headquarters, regional operating headquarters, and other types of business vehicles; advising on and obtaining government approvals, permits, licenses and registrations for the client’s operations; preparing, negotiating and reviewing contracts for various corporate and commercial transactions that may arise from the client’s business; and advising on the Philippine regulatory regime for various corporate and commercial transactions that may have implications on the client’s business. Pearl T. Liu Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4905 | + 63 2 577 6206 M + 63 917 819 4905 | + 63 998 962 7520 pearl.liu@quisumbingtorres.com .
7 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Our Corporate & Commercial Practice Group has extensive experience in Mergers & Acquisitions. We have strong knowledge of the regulations affecting a wide range of industries, such as banking, financial services, energy/power, hotels/resorts/ tourism, information technology, insurance, manufacturing, mining, outsourcing, retail, real estate, and telecommunications, among others, which serve as a robust background for advising and assisting clients in M&A, corporate reorganizations, and divestitures in these industries. You benefit from our team’s experience in various M&A and joint venture transactions that has equipped them with extensive knowledge and expertise in: pre-acquisition review; negotiating, preparing and reviewing • sale and purchase agreements (both shares and assets) capital restructuring, postacquisition integration or reorganizations; establishment of joint venture companies; and documenting and handling the various regulatory requirements for M&A transactions, investment structures, reorganizations, spin-offs, divestitures, and other business combinations. • preparatory and ancilliary agreements • joint venture, shareholders and other business agreements "They were very experienced in the complex laws on foreign ownership in the Philippines, gave us options and took care of all the mechanisms." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 The Quisumbing Torres Corporate and Commercial team is "responsive and knowledgeable" - Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | Dispute Resolution Our Dispute Resolution Practice Group (DRPG) provides strategic dispute analysis and practical advice on realistic assessments of the outcomes and potential costs. We help you to make informed decisions consistent with your commercial objectives. Our DRPG provides strategic counsel on all forms of dispute resolution, from negotiation and mediation, to arbitration and litigation. Access to an international network allows us to successfully represent foreign and domestic clients on some of the biggest commercial disputes and landmark cases in the Philippines. Our practice also has extensive experience in handling multijurisdictional disputes. Our team has wide-ranging experience in the following areas: 8 Quisumbing Torres’ Dispute Resolution Practice Group is “a sought-after group” and is recognized for its “significant international arbitration experience.” - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 “…has a diverse disputes practice that is well versed in both litigation and international arbitration matters.” - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2013 Arbitration Civil litigation International and domestic commercial arbitration Airline litigation (contract and tort liability claims), including representation of several of the world’s largest air carriers before administrative agencies Construction arbitration Commercial Litigation Corporate disputes, including shareholders’actions and other inter-corporate and intracorporate disputes Partnership and joint venture controversies Professional negligence Contract and property disputes Enforcement of foreign judgments and multijurisdictional conflicts Tort claims International trade disputes Criminal Litigation Banking and finance disputes Specialized litigations Distribution agreement disputes Administrative, tax and customs litigation Insurance and reinsurance actions Mining litigation Restraint of trade Corporate compliance Intellectual property actions Corporate rehabilitation and insolvency Construction disputes Donemark J.L. Calimon Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4920 | + 63 2 907 8873 M + 63 917 819 4920 | + 63 998 962 7520 donemark.calimon@quisumbingtorres.com .
9 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Employment We provide what clients seek: rigorous guidance on responsible employment practices. QT helps employers arrive at sound and mutually beneficial employment policies, leveraging the deep knowledge of the dynamics of Philippine and international labor laws and practices. Close collaboration with Baker & McKenzie colleagues worldwide enables us to better understand global employers’ needs and effectively address concerns about maintaining a workforce in the Philippines. We represent international and domestic companies in industries ranging from banking and financial services, business process outsourcing, information technology and telecommunications, to pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy and mining, and manufacturing. Our lawyers have helped draft legislation that has led to meaningful changes to local labor codes. Clients turn to us for advice in employment procedures and labor laws: General employment law advice Employment contract review and development Workmen’s compensation Employee benefits Executive compensation and transfer Collective employment termination "Very professional and committed to their clients; a go-to practice for complex, high-risk situations." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 The Firm is noted for its “very good response time” - Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 Collective bargaining agreements Discrimination and sexual harassment law advice Trade union recognition procedures Executive termination Employment litigation Immigration-related matters Kenneth L. Chua Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4940 | + 63 2 217 2547 M + 63 917 819 4940 | + 63 998 962 7551 kenneth.chua@quisumbingtorres.com .
Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | As the Philippines assumes a prominent role in the international labor market, and, increasingly, with the ASEAN economic cooperation, movement of human capital across regions will be more evident. In QT, clients with global and regional mobility concerns can access a topnotch immigration practice harnessed over 50 years of industry experience. Miguel A. Galvez Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4950 | + 63 2 217 5641 M + 63 917 819 4950 | + 63 998 962 7604 miguel.galvez@quisumbingtorres.com We offer comprehensive support for immigrationrelated matters. QT works closely with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Board of Investments and other government agencies to advise you on immigration procedures and help you meet immigration requirements. With wide experience, our lawyers help you obtain and extend work visas and work permits for expatriate personnel in the Philippines. We support industries ranging from longstanding sectors such as consumer goods, transportation and logistics, to emerging or highgrowth industries such as BPO and information technology.
We also advise a number of philanthropic organizations that champion global causes and assist clients whose expatriates comprise the restricted nationals list. 10 Our top-quality immigration advice covers: All visa-related procedures, including visa extension, visa conversion, exit or re-entry and visa downgrading Foreign employment-related procedures for special work permit, provisional permit to work and alien employment permit Naturalization Dual citizenship Deportation proceedings Quisumbing Torres' Immigration team is “first-class” - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 Immigration . 11 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Intellectual Property Our innovative approaches encompass all aspects of intellectual property protection. Quisumbing Torres offers clients an integrated approach to protecting your intellectual assets in the Philippines and across borders. Combining insightful advice and innovative tools, we help clients in obtaining, defending, enforcing, and exploiting intellectual property rights, including copyrights, trademarks, and patents. We offer seamless service on a range of matters, from counseling on registrability, conducting trademark searches, registration and maintenance, to commercialization, protection and enforcement. We also understand that effective protection of groundbreaking technologies and successful litigation of patent disputes are critical aspects of today’s increasingly competitive business environment. Equipped with in-depth knowledge of local IP laws and commercial practices drawn from over five decades of on-the-ground experience in the market, our lawyers deliver specialist advice in specific areas of intellectual property law such as licensing and franchising, technology transfer, IP prosecution, IP litigation and enforcement actions. The firm’s IP litigation practice is exceptional, having secured a number of winning results in opposition and cancellation cases, as well as significant court victories, including securing a number of successful decisions from the Philippine Supreme Court. In a constantly changing competitive market, our experienced IP lawyers provide cutting-edge advice on: "Very professional; they are detailed as to the facts and very organised." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 “The "very responsive and competent" team at Quisumbing Torres is praised for its "strong internal and external professional network," which is "arguably second to none in the industry." - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 Copyright Other IP litigation Patent filing/prosecution and registered designs Patent litigation IP audit and due diligence Customs recordation of IP rights FDA advisory and enforcement IP Arbitration Our IP lawyers act for manufacturers and suppliers of a wide variety of goods and services, including household and pharmaceutical products, fashion and luxury goods, and information technology and communications companies. eneral IP advisory G Intellectual Property Trademark registration/portfolio management Trademark/trade dress litigation Anti-piracy/anti-counterfeiting Quisumbing Torres is “widely recognised for its impressive coverage of IP protection and enforcement”. - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 Commercial/non-contentious IP Bienvenido A.
Marquez III Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 8 19 4936 | 63 2 585 8228 M + 63 917 512 4936 | + 63 998 962 7590 bienvenido.marquez@quisumbingtorres.com . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 12 Tax We offer advice to help clients minimize risks and maximize tax incentives. We help clients entering the Philippine market design and implement tax structures that are practical and tailored to your local operations. We help address regulatory issues to protect your business from unforeseen exposure. We represent clients before pertinent government agencies, local government units and the courts in assessment and refund cases involving national taxes, local taxes and customs duties. Our seasoned tax professionals work closely with Baker & McKenzie lawyers and tax specialists worldwide to deliver tax and customs advocacy services in the BPO, information technology, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and mining industries. We execute proven strategies to help clients resolve tax and customs controversies. Longstanding professional relationships with government agencies enable us to pursue the right remedies before the relevant tax authorities. We regularly advise clients on: Tax structuring for mergers and acquisitions Corporate reorganizations Tax incentives available to foreign investments Taxation of employee compensation and benefits Real estate transactions Income and withholding taxes Tax treaty issues Tax and customs audits Dennis G. Dimagiba Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4912 + | 63 2 577 6209 M + 63 917 819 4912 | + 63 998 962 7570 dennis.dimagiba@quisumbingtorres.com Valuation and classification issues International trade and customs issues Trusts and wealth management Value-added tax Local business tax and real property tax issues Quisumbing Torres’ team is known for “a strong offering on international and domestic tax matters, including tax structuring and tax controversy cases” - Chambers Asia Pacific 2014 .
13 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Firm Top Honors in Directory Rankings Legal Directory / Publication Rank / Award / Honor Asian Legal Business Employer of Choice 2013-2015 Tier 1, 2013-2014 • Mergers & Acquisitions Tier 1, 2015 • IP Rankings (Patents / Trademarks / Copyright) Leading Firm, IP Rankings (Patents/Trademarks), 2014 Spotlight Firm, Corporate M&A Rankings, 2012 Chambers Asia Pacific Spotlight Table, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, 2012 Band 1 • Banking & Finance, 2015 • Corporate/M&A: Real Estate, 2014 • Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, 2008-2011, 2013-2015 • Employment, 2014 - 2015 • Intellectual Property, 2008-2015 • Natural Resources & Mining/Projects, Infrastructure & Energy, 2008-2011/2012-2015 Chambers Global Band 1 • Natural Resources & Mining/Projects, Infrastructure & Energy, 2009-2011/2012-2015 IFLR1000 Tier 1 • Energy and Infrastructure, 2014 The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Tier 1 • Aviation, 2007-2015 • Corporate and M&A, 2015 • Immigration, 2007-2015 • Intellectual Property, 2007-2015 • Labor/Employment, 2007-2015 • Mining & Natural Resources/Projects & Energy, 2007-2015 • Real Estate and Construction, 2006-2009, 2012-2015 . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 14 Baker & McKenzie has an instinctively global perspective, as well as a deep understanding of the language and culture of business all over the world. We defined the global law firm in the 20th century, and we are redefining it to meet the challenges of the global economy in the 21st. We are in more markets than any other law firm. We bring extensive market knowledge and insights of more than 11,000 people in 77 offices worldwide, working and behaving smoothly across borders, issues and practices. We have cultivated the culture, commercial pragmatism, and technical and interpersonal skills required to deliver world-class service that is tailored to the preferences of international, world-class clients. As a member firm of Baker & McKenzie, Quisumbing Torres leverages its network resources to bring global expertise in local transactions, enriching the quality of legal insights for clients. Baker & McKenzie is named World's strongest law firm brand for the fifth consecutive year in the 2014 Acritas’ Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index . The Firm ranked top for each of the measures that makes up the Index – awareness, favorability, consideration for multi-jurisdictional deals and for multi-jurisdictional litigation - and increased the lead over its nearest competitor to more than 60%. Acritas’ Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index Ranking is based on interviews with 1,185 senior legal buyers across the world’s largest multinationals with revenues in excess of $1bn. . 15 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Our Global Reach Seoul Beijing Tokyo Shanghai Taipei Hong Kong Hanoi Yangon Bangkok Manila Ho Chi Minh City Kuala Lumpur Singapore Jakarta Brisbane Melbourne Sydney 17 Offices in Asia Pacific Global Firm Facts 77 Offices 47 Countries 4,200 Qualified Lawyers 5,600 Fee Earners USD2.54 billion FY14 Global Fee Income . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 16 . www.bakermckenzie.com/philippines Contact: Ramon Quisumbing Managing Partner Tel.: +63 2 819 4700 ramon.quisumbing@quisumbingtorres.com Quisumbing Torres 12th Floor, Net One Center 26th Street corner 3rd Avenue Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City Taguig City, Philippines 1634 Tel.: +63 2 819 4700 Fax: +63 2 816 0080 ©2015 Quisumbing Torres. All rights reserved. Quisumbing Torres is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein with member law firms around the world. In accordance with the common terminology used in professional service organizations, reference to a “partner” means a person who is a partner, or equivalent, in such a law firm.
Similarly, reference to an “office” means an office of any such law firm. This publication is not intended for circulation in New York, United States of America. .
Within the past two years, Philippine Credit Ratings were significantly upgraded by the world's major credit rating agencies -- Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s --- reaffirming the country’s strong economic fundamentals and its positive growth prospects. As the country enters a demographic sweet spot, where majority of the over 100 million Filipinos would be within the working-age group, the nation's attractiveness as a global investment destination is further strengthened. This puts the country in a strong and enviable position to benefit from upcoming developments in the Asian regional landscape. 2 .
3 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 For more than five decades, Quisumbing Torres (QT) has been helping multinational and domestic organizations drive their growth in the Philippines. A consistent top-ranking law firm, we provide global reach with deep local roots, enabling us to deliver exceptional advice to clients across borders seamlessly. In 1963, the Firm was established as Collas and Guerrero and later became known as Quisumbing Torres. As part of the Baker & McKenzie’s global network of more than 11,000 people in 77 offices in 47 countries, we are able to offer market insight and international experience that few firms in the Philippines can match. With our team of more than 50 Philippine lawyers, Quisumbing Torres proactively addresses legal issues that affect our clients' business in the country. Toward this end, we organize our lawyers into practice groups, to deal with specific legal issues that affect our clients' commercial operations.
Today, Quisumbing Torres lawyers offer seasoned and industryspecific advice in the practice areas of Banking & Finance, Corporate & Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Immigration, Intellectual Property and Tax. "Clients want their questions to be answered in a clear and succinct manner, and to be given practical solutions to their legal and regulatory issues. Quisumbing Torres is able to do this." – Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 "Quisumbing Torres has good business acumen and its regional capacity makes it an ideal choice for regional employers. We use (the firm) for work we consider particularly complex or sensitive." – Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 “The ‘very responsive and competent’ team at Quisumbing Torres is praised for its ‘strong internal and external professional network’, which is ‘arguably second-to-none in the industry.’” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 As skilled industry advisers, QT lawyers have played a proactive role in the growth of the Philippines’ key business sectors. With half a century of experience, our Firm is well-equipped to deliver industry-specific advice in, among others: Aviation, Aerospace & Defense Chemicals and Plastics Construction & Building Materials Consumer Goods & Retail Energy & Utilities and Climate Change Financial Services Food & Beverage Hotels, Resorts & Tourism Infrastructure Insurance Information Technology Manufacturing & Wholesale Media & Entertainment Mining & Metals Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Real Estate (including REITs) Services (including Outsourcing) Telecommunications Transportation & Logistics .
Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 4 Quisumbing Torres’ team of lawyers are widely recognized in various areas of practice and ranked top-tier by respected legal publications. Our Practice Groups For over 50 years, QT has been the trusted adviser of multinational and local companies that demand sharp insights for critical business decisions. Our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and innovative thinking enables us to provide tailored and practical advice, helping our clients gain competitive advantage in their respective fields of operations. Our value-based solutions and clientcentric services continue to position QT as one of the highly recommended law firms in the country today. We take a proactive role in addressing the legal issues affecting clients’ businesses in the Philippines. We provide the right teams by organizing our lawyers into key practice groups to tackle the fundamental aspects of our clients’ commercial operations.
As a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International, our global reach with deep local roots enables us to work seamlessly across borders and practices, further strengthening client relationships. “The firm has ‘a fabulous reputation across many practice areas.’” - The Legal 500 2015 . 5 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Our banking & finance team offers keen insight into providing practical and innovative solutions to your financing, financial services and insurance issues. QT advises on all aspects of banking, financing and insurance transactions in the Philippines and across borders. Whether you are securing financing for a power plant, a renewable energy project or a major infrastructure, or for a mining project, syndicated loans for a prime property development or procuring insurance for costly assets, our team offers experienced insights and industry knowledge into counterparty needs to help you protect value and manage risks. In particular, we have assisted and advised clients on a range of issues and transactions, including the following: The drafting and review of credit facility and security arrangements Philippine banking and financing laws and regulations, as these have impact on both offshore and onshore financing transactions The registration and recording of security to create and perfect security interests Establishing business presence in the Philippines, as well as registration of investments, loans, and guarantees with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas "Quisumbing Torres understood the timeline for our project and consistently acted to ensure that their output came when it was needed." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 …the highly rated (Banking and Finance) team at Quisumbing…is praised for its "prompt and thorough response times" and "good level of knowledge." - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 We combine market-leading thought and commercial experience to help you with: Project Finance Whether you need limited recourse financing or advice on debt security issues, we help you explore viable financing options, including loans and credit facilities, and implement the financing structures best suited to your projects. We have advised lenders, developers, sponsors, project companies and engineering procurement construction contractors on a broad range of power, renewable energy, oil and gas, mining and metals, and infrastructure projects. With access to cutting-edge knowledge tools and resources, we keep you up-todate on local, regional and global market developments that can affect your financing arrangements. Insurance As you execute transactions in the country, our dedicated team helps you stay compliant with the Philippine Insurance Code and its implementing regulations. We have assisted leading insurance companies with all aspects of insurance and reinsurance transactional and regulatory matters.
We have also advised Banking & Finance foreign insurers, sureties and intermediaries on establishing and licensing their presence in the Philippines, as well as with meeting solvency requirements and other local regulations. In particular, our full range of insurance-related services includes the following: Advising clients on Philippine laws and regulations as they relate to cross-border and onshore insurance activities Assisting clients with establishing a presence in the Philippines and with obtaining the necessary license and regulatory approvals from the Insurance Commission to conduct insurance business Reviewing insurance policies and assisting clients with claims recovery Advising on bancassurance transactions Felix T. Sy, Jr. Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4963 | + 63 2 217 4512 M + 63 917 819 4963 | + 63 998 962 7541 felix.sy@quisumbingtorres.com . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 6 Corporate & Commercial Our Corporate & Commercial Practice Group provides a comprehensive range of corporate and commercial services to domestic and foreign clients planning to invest, or do business, in the Philippines. These services cover all aspects of the client’s business and all transactions undertaken by the client within the framework of the Philippine regulatory regime. Our commercial lawyers provide seamless and cost-effective solutions to multinational companies as they collaborate closely with colleagues from the Baker & McKenzie network to coordinate transactions with a cross-border or international element. The close coordination between QT and other Baker & McKenzie offices in cross-border transactions means that all issues - from corporate, finance, employment to tax and industryspecific legal regulations - can be covered by one integrated team that understands the operating environment in every jurisdiction involved in the transaction. Our services include work relating to: Our team represents a large number of multinational clients that are leaders in their respective fields. advising on and obtaining special registrations for corporate entities to avail of tax and other incentives under Philippine law; We advise and assist clients on the establishment of operations in the Philippines. This involves obtaining all registrations, licenses and approvals and meeting all legal requirements for their operations. Our team’s extensive experience in advising multinational clients find us in the unique position of being fluent in the intricacies and complexities of issues relevant to foreign investors interested in doing business in the Philippines. advising on the legal framework for the proposed business activity, as well as on the preferred vehicle or structure for the investment, including the establishment of branches, subsidiaries, representative offices, regional headquarters, regional operating headquarters, and other types of business vehicles; advising on and obtaining government approvals, permits, licenses and registrations for the client’s operations; preparing, negotiating and reviewing contracts for various corporate and commercial transactions that may arise from the client’s business; and advising on the Philippine regulatory regime for various corporate and commercial transactions that may have implications on the client’s business. Pearl T. Liu Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4905 | + 63 2 577 6206 M + 63 917 819 4905 | + 63 998 962 7520 pearl.liu@quisumbingtorres.com .
7 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Our Corporate & Commercial Practice Group has extensive experience in Mergers & Acquisitions. We have strong knowledge of the regulations affecting a wide range of industries, such as banking, financial services, energy/power, hotels/resorts/ tourism, information technology, insurance, manufacturing, mining, outsourcing, retail, real estate, and telecommunications, among others, which serve as a robust background for advising and assisting clients in M&A, corporate reorganizations, and divestitures in these industries. You benefit from our team’s experience in various M&A and joint venture transactions that has equipped them with extensive knowledge and expertise in: pre-acquisition review; negotiating, preparing and reviewing • sale and purchase agreements (both shares and assets) capital restructuring, postacquisition integration or reorganizations; establishment of joint venture companies; and documenting and handling the various regulatory requirements for M&A transactions, investment structures, reorganizations, spin-offs, divestitures, and other business combinations. • preparatory and ancilliary agreements • joint venture, shareholders and other business agreements "They were very experienced in the complex laws on foreign ownership in the Philippines, gave us options and took care of all the mechanisms." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 The Quisumbing Torres Corporate and Commercial team is "responsive and knowledgeable" - Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | Dispute Resolution Our Dispute Resolution Practice Group (DRPG) provides strategic dispute analysis and practical advice on realistic assessments of the outcomes and potential costs. We help you to make informed decisions consistent with your commercial objectives. Our DRPG provides strategic counsel on all forms of dispute resolution, from negotiation and mediation, to arbitration and litigation. Access to an international network allows us to successfully represent foreign and domestic clients on some of the biggest commercial disputes and landmark cases in the Philippines. Our practice also has extensive experience in handling multijurisdictional disputes. Our team has wide-ranging experience in the following areas: 8 Quisumbing Torres’ Dispute Resolution Practice Group is “a sought-after group” and is recognized for its “significant international arbitration experience.” - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 “…has a diverse disputes practice that is well versed in both litigation and international arbitration matters.” - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2013 Arbitration Civil litigation International and domestic commercial arbitration Airline litigation (contract and tort liability claims), including representation of several of the world’s largest air carriers before administrative agencies Construction arbitration Commercial Litigation Corporate disputes, including shareholders’actions and other inter-corporate and intracorporate disputes Partnership and joint venture controversies Professional negligence Contract and property disputes Enforcement of foreign judgments and multijurisdictional conflicts Tort claims International trade disputes Criminal Litigation Banking and finance disputes Specialized litigations Distribution agreement disputes Administrative, tax and customs litigation Insurance and reinsurance actions Mining litigation Restraint of trade Corporate compliance Intellectual property actions Corporate rehabilitation and insolvency Construction disputes Donemark J.L. Calimon Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4920 | + 63 2 907 8873 M + 63 917 819 4920 | + 63 998 962 7520 donemark.calimon@quisumbingtorres.com .
9 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Employment We provide what clients seek: rigorous guidance on responsible employment practices. QT helps employers arrive at sound and mutually beneficial employment policies, leveraging the deep knowledge of the dynamics of Philippine and international labor laws and practices. Close collaboration with Baker & McKenzie colleagues worldwide enables us to better understand global employers’ needs and effectively address concerns about maintaining a workforce in the Philippines. We represent international and domestic companies in industries ranging from banking and financial services, business process outsourcing, information technology and telecommunications, to pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy and mining, and manufacturing. Our lawyers have helped draft legislation that has led to meaningful changes to local labor codes. Clients turn to us for advice in employment procedures and labor laws: General employment law advice Employment contract review and development Workmen’s compensation Employee benefits Executive compensation and transfer Collective employment termination "Very professional and committed to their clients; a go-to practice for complex, high-risk situations." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 The Firm is noted for its “very good response time” - Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 Collective bargaining agreements Discrimination and sexual harassment law advice Trade union recognition procedures Executive termination Employment litigation Immigration-related matters Kenneth L. Chua Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4940 | + 63 2 217 2547 M + 63 917 819 4940 | + 63 998 962 7551 kenneth.chua@quisumbingtorres.com .
Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | As the Philippines assumes a prominent role in the international labor market, and, increasingly, with the ASEAN economic cooperation, movement of human capital across regions will be more evident. In QT, clients with global and regional mobility concerns can access a topnotch immigration practice harnessed over 50 years of industry experience. Miguel A. Galvez Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4950 | + 63 2 217 5641 M + 63 917 819 4950 | + 63 998 962 7604 miguel.galvez@quisumbingtorres.com We offer comprehensive support for immigrationrelated matters. QT works closely with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Board of Investments and other government agencies to advise you on immigration procedures and help you meet immigration requirements. With wide experience, our lawyers help you obtain and extend work visas and work permits for expatriate personnel in the Philippines. We support industries ranging from longstanding sectors such as consumer goods, transportation and logistics, to emerging or highgrowth industries such as BPO and information technology.
We also advise a number of philanthropic organizations that champion global causes and assist clients whose expatriates comprise the restricted nationals list. 10 Our top-quality immigration advice covers: All visa-related procedures, including visa extension, visa conversion, exit or re-entry and visa downgrading Foreign employment-related procedures for special work permit, provisional permit to work and alien employment permit Naturalization Dual citizenship Deportation proceedings Quisumbing Torres' Immigration team is “first-class” - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 Immigration . 11 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Intellectual Property Our innovative approaches encompass all aspects of intellectual property protection. Quisumbing Torres offers clients an integrated approach to protecting your intellectual assets in the Philippines and across borders. Combining insightful advice and innovative tools, we help clients in obtaining, defending, enforcing, and exploiting intellectual property rights, including copyrights, trademarks, and patents. We offer seamless service on a range of matters, from counseling on registrability, conducting trademark searches, registration and maintenance, to commercialization, protection and enforcement. We also understand that effective protection of groundbreaking technologies and successful litigation of patent disputes are critical aspects of today’s increasingly competitive business environment. Equipped with in-depth knowledge of local IP laws and commercial practices drawn from over five decades of on-the-ground experience in the market, our lawyers deliver specialist advice in specific areas of intellectual property law such as licensing and franchising, technology transfer, IP prosecution, IP litigation and enforcement actions. The firm’s IP litigation practice is exceptional, having secured a number of winning results in opposition and cancellation cases, as well as significant court victories, including securing a number of successful decisions from the Philippine Supreme Court. In a constantly changing competitive market, our experienced IP lawyers provide cutting-edge advice on: "Very professional; they are detailed as to the facts and very organised." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 “The "very responsive and competent" team at Quisumbing Torres is praised for its "strong internal and external professional network," which is "arguably second to none in the industry." - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2014 Copyright Other IP litigation Patent filing/prosecution and registered designs Patent litigation IP audit and due diligence Customs recordation of IP rights FDA advisory and enforcement IP Arbitration Our IP lawyers act for manufacturers and suppliers of a wide variety of goods and services, including household and pharmaceutical products, fashion and luxury goods, and information technology and communications companies. eneral IP advisory G Intellectual Property Trademark registration/portfolio management Trademark/trade dress litigation Anti-piracy/anti-counterfeiting Quisumbing Torres is “widely recognised for its impressive coverage of IP protection and enforcement”. - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 Commercial/non-contentious IP Bienvenido A.
Marquez III Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 8 19 4936 | 63 2 585 8228 M + 63 917 512 4936 | + 63 998 962 7590 bienvenido.marquez@quisumbingtorres.com . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 12 Tax We offer advice to help clients minimize risks and maximize tax incentives. We help clients entering the Philippine market design and implement tax structures that are practical and tailored to your local operations. We help address regulatory issues to protect your business from unforeseen exposure. We represent clients before pertinent government agencies, local government units and the courts in assessment and refund cases involving national taxes, local taxes and customs duties. Our seasoned tax professionals work closely with Baker & McKenzie lawyers and tax specialists worldwide to deliver tax and customs advocacy services in the BPO, information technology, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and mining industries. We execute proven strategies to help clients resolve tax and customs controversies. Longstanding professional relationships with government agencies enable us to pursue the right remedies before the relevant tax authorities. We regularly advise clients on: Tax structuring for mergers and acquisitions Corporate reorganizations Tax incentives available to foreign investments Taxation of employee compensation and benefits Real estate transactions Income and withholding taxes Tax treaty issues Tax and customs audits Dennis G. Dimagiba Partner and Practice Group Head T + 63 2 819 4912 + | 63 2 577 6209 M + 63 917 819 4912 | + 63 998 962 7570 dennis.dimagiba@quisumbingtorres.com Valuation and classification issues International trade and customs issues Trusts and wealth management Value-added tax Local business tax and real property tax issues Quisumbing Torres’ team is known for “a strong offering on international and domestic tax matters, including tax structuring and tax controversy cases” - Chambers Asia Pacific 2014 .
13 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Firm Top Honors in Directory Rankings Legal Directory / Publication Rank / Award / Honor Asian Legal Business Employer of Choice 2013-2015 Tier 1, 2013-2014 • Mergers & Acquisitions Tier 1, 2015 • IP Rankings (Patents / Trademarks / Copyright) Leading Firm, IP Rankings (Patents/Trademarks), 2014 Spotlight Firm, Corporate M&A Rankings, 2012 Chambers Asia Pacific Spotlight Table, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, 2012 Band 1 • Banking & Finance, 2015 • Corporate/M&A: Real Estate, 2014 • Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, 2008-2011, 2013-2015 • Employment, 2014 - 2015 • Intellectual Property, 2008-2015 • Natural Resources & Mining/Projects, Infrastructure & Energy, 2008-2011/2012-2015 Chambers Global Band 1 • Natural Resources & Mining/Projects, Infrastructure & Energy, 2009-2011/2012-2015 IFLR1000 Tier 1 • Energy and Infrastructure, 2014 The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Tier 1 • Aviation, 2007-2015 • Corporate and M&A, 2015 • Immigration, 2007-2015 • Intellectual Property, 2007-2015 • Labor/Employment, 2007-2015 • Mining & Natural Resources/Projects & Energy, 2007-2015 • Real Estate and Construction, 2006-2009, 2012-2015 . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 14 Baker & McKenzie has an instinctively global perspective, as well as a deep understanding of the language and culture of business all over the world. We defined the global law firm in the 20th century, and we are redefining it to meet the challenges of the global economy in the 21st. We are in more markets than any other law firm. We bring extensive market knowledge and insights of more than 11,000 people in 77 offices worldwide, working and behaving smoothly across borders, issues and practices. We have cultivated the culture, commercial pragmatism, and technical and interpersonal skills required to deliver world-class service that is tailored to the preferences of international, world-class clients. As a member firm of Baker & McKenzie, Quisumbing Torres leverages its network resources to bring global expertise in local transactions, enriching the quality of legal insights for clients. Baker & McKenzie is named World's strongest law firm brand for the fifth consecutive year in the 2014 Acritas’ Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index . The Firm ranked top for each of the measures that makes up the Index – awareness, favorability, consideration for multi-jurisdictional deals and for multi-jurisdictional litigation - and increased the lead over its nearest competitor to more than 60%. Acritas’ Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index Ranking is based on interviews with 1,185 senior legal buyers across the world’s largest multinationals with revenues in excess of $1bn. . 15 | Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 Our Global Reach Seoul Beijing Tokyo Shanghai Taipei Hong Kong Hanoi Yangon Bangkok Manila Ho Chi Minh City Kuala Lumpur Singapore Jakarta Brisbane Melbourne Sydney 17 Offices in Asia Pacific Global Firm Facts 77 Offices 47 Countries 4,200 Qualified Lawyers 5,600 Fee Earners USD2.54 billion FY14 Global Fee Income . Quisumbing Torres Profile - 2015 | 16 . www.bakermckenzie.com/philippines Contact: Ramon Quisumbing Managing Partner Tel.: +63 2 819 4700 ramon.quisumbing@quisumbingtorres.com Quisumbing Torres 12th Floor, Net One Center 26th Street corner 3rd Avenue Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City Taguig City, Philippines 1634 Tel.: +63 2 819 4700 Fax: +63 2 816 0080 ©2015 Quisumbing Torres. All rights reserved. Quisumbing Torres is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein with member law firms around the world. In accordance with the common terminology used in professional service organizations, reference to a “partner” means a person who is a partner, or equivalent, in such a law firm.
Similarly, reference to an “office” means an office of any such law firm. This publication is not intended for circulation in New York, United States of America. .
