Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Legal Spend Management in the Philippines: A Guide for In-House Teams
Legal spend management in the Philippines helps in-house teams control outside counsel costs, set budgets, and run a defensible, transparent legal function.
Joint Venture with a Philippine Partner: Rules for Foreign Investors
How foreign investors can structure a joint venture with a Philippine partner, including the 60-40 ownership rule, board control, and SEC registration.
Joint Venture Agreement Philippines: How to Structure One Under the Revised Corporation Code
A joint venture agreement in the Philippines can be unincorporated or set up as a corporation. Learn how control, shares, and boards are structured.
Franchise Quality Control in the Philippines: How Franchisors Enforce System Standards
Franchise quality control in the Philippines rests on contract and IP law. Learn how franchisors protect their system standards and marks under RA 8293.
Outside Counsel Management in the Philippines: Fees, Staffing, and Value
Outside counsel management in the Philippines means controlling legal fees, staffing, and engagement terms while upholding the ethical rules that bind every lawyer.
Anti-Dummy Law Philippines Compliance: What Foreign-Linked Ventures Must Know
Anti-dummy law Philippines compliance means keeping beneficial ownership and voting control in Filipino hands. Learn the rules under the Foreign Investments Act.
Data Center Joint Venture in the Philippines: Ownership and Control Rules
Planning a data center joint venture in the Philippines? Learn how the Revised Corporation Code and foreign investment rules shape ownership and control.
Regulatory Sandbox Philippines: How Fintechs Test Products with the BSP
The BSP Regulatory Sandbox lets fintechs test new financial products in a controlled, time-bound environment. Here is how the framework works.
VAT Refund Timelines: Supreme Court Clarifies the 120-Day Rule in Dohle Shipmanagement
The Supreme Court clarifies when the 120-day VAT refund period starts, giving taxpayers control over the timeline for judicial claims.
Independent Contractor vs. Employee: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a "freelancer" is really a regular employee under Philippine labor law, using the control test.
Easements and Eminent Domain in the Philippines: MMDA’s Limits After Diamond Motor
The Supreme Court limits MMDA’s power to impose easements, balancing flood control with private property rights and just compensation.
Unconstitutional Bargain: State Control Over Natural Resources in Philippine Seas
The Supreme Court struck down the JMSU as unconstitutional, reaffirming that exploration of the country's natural resources must remain under full State control.
Tenant Rights vs Landowner Control: Clarifying Agrarian Dispute Jurisdiction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts must refer ejectment cases to the DAR and what the DAR certification must contain.
Constructive Possession Knowledge AND Control IN Drug Offenses
The Supreme Court explains when a passenger in a car carrying drugs can be convicted of constructive possession under RA 9165.
Upholding Academic Freedom: Supreme Court Limits State Control Over Law School Admissions
The Supreme Court strikes down the PhiLSAT requirement as an unconstitutional intrusion on law schools' academic freedom to admit students.
Understanding the Limits of Government Audit Jurisdiction: Insights from the Pagcor Case
The Supreme Court clarifies the scope of COA audit jurisdiction over government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries.
When Lawyers Cross the Line: The Limits of Advocacy in Corporate Disputes
A lawyer's duty to the court limits zeal for clients. The Supreme Court suspends counsel for evading a TRO in a corporate control fight.
Finality of Court Control Over Criminal Cases: SSS v. Seno on Withdrawal of Information
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling in SSS v. Seno on trial court discretion over motions to withdraw criminal informations and due process limits.
Constructive Possession Knowledge AND Control IN Drug Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court acquits in drug cases when police fail to prove possession, knowledge, and control beyond reasonable doubt.
Jurisdiction in Property Disputes: Assessed Value of the Whole Lot Controls
Philippine Supreme Court rules that in property disputes, jurisdiction is determined by the assessed value alleged in the complaint, not the disputed portion's value.
Government Control vs Corporate Structure: Defining Audit Jurisdiction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules that government control, not corporate form, determines COA audit jurisdiction over corporations in the Philippines.
Employment Status and Control Test in Illegal Dismissal Cases: A Guide
Explaining how Philippine courts determine employment status and jurisdiction in illegal dismissal cases, using the Loreche-Amit v. CDMC ruling.
When Land Boundaries Prevail Over Stated Area in Lump-Sum Sales
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that in lump-sum land sales, boundaries control over stated area, preventing relitigation of ownership disputes.
Lump Sum Sales Boundaries Prevail Over Area In Real Estate Contracts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that in lump sum real estate sales, boundaries control over stated area under Article 1542.