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.
Tax Residency Rules for Foreign Executives in the Philippines
Tax residency rules for a foreign executive in the Philippines: how resident and nonresident aliens are taxed, the 15% preferential rate, and treaty relief.
Cross-Border Loan from a Foreign Parent to a Philippine Subsidiary: BSP Rules
How a cross-border loan from a foreign parent to a Philippine subsidiary works under BSP foreign exchange rules, including registration and reporting.
Night Shift Differential in the Philippines: Who Gets It and How Much
Learn how night shift differential pay is computed in the Philippines, who qualifies, and the exact percentage required by law.
Transfer Pricing Rules for a Philippine Subsidiary and Its Foreign Parent
How Philippine transfer pricing rules apply to transactions between a Philippine subsidiary and its foreign parent, including the arm's length principle and BIR reporting.
Mall Lease Agreement Philippines: Key Rules for Retailers and Tenants
Understand what a mall lease agreement in the Philippines covers, your rights as a tenant, and the Civil Code rules on rent, repairs, and deposits.
Digital Bank License Philippines: Requirements, Capital and How to Apply
How to get a digital bank license in the Philippines: BSP Circular 1105 requirements, the P1.0 billion capital rule, and the current application window.
Closing a Philippine Subsidiary: Legal Steps for a Foreign Parent's Exit
Closing a Philippine subsidiary? Learn the Revised Corporation Code rules on dissolution, from board and stockholder approval to SEC filing and tax clearance.
Double Jeopardy and Parental Rape: What the Supreme Court Clarified in G.R. No. 262846
The Supreme Court clarifies double jeopardy in criminal appeals and affirms a father's rape conviction in G.R. No. 262846.
When a Parent Pays for Property in a Child's Name: Implied Trusts vs. Presumed Donations
Philippine law presumes a donation when a parent pays for property titled in a child's name. Learn how to overturn this presumption.
When Banks Can't Apply Loan Payments Across Different Debtors: Corporate Veil Rules
Supreme Court clarifies when a bank may apply a borrower's payment to another's debt, and why corporate separateness limits payment application.
Using an Alias in the Philippines: When It Becomes a Crime and the Pequero Case
Using a name different from your registered birth name can be a crime. Learn the rules, penalties, and lessons from a recent Supreme Court ruling.
When Notarizing Two Deeds for the Same Property Becomes a Lawyer’s Undoing
A lawyer who notarized two deeds of sale for the same property with different amounts was suspended and lost his notarial commission. Here’s why.
Concurrent Authority Investigating Energy Market Breaches in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that PEMC and ERC share concurrent power to investigate WESM rule breaches, resolving a jurisdictional dispute.
Concurrent Jurisdiction: PEMC Authority to Investigate WESM Rule Breaches
Supreme Court affirms PEMC's concurrent power with ERC to investigate and sanction WESM rule breaches by market participants.
Gender Equality in Employment: Differential Retirement Age Ruled Unlawful
The Supreme Court voids a CBA provision retiring female flight attendants at 55, ruling it discriminatory against women.
Equal Pay for Equal Work: When Seniority and Performance Justify Salary Differences
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that seniority, performance, and merit can justify different salaries for employees holding the same position.
Ascendancy and Abuse: Examining Parental Authority in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction, explaining how parental authority can substitute for force and intimidation.
When Holding Two Positions Is Not Grave Misconduct: Espinas v. Ombudsman
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling that holding concurrent public and private bank positions, without corrupt intent, is not automatically grave misconduct.
Fraudulent Land Patents Void Derivative Titles Even for Good-Faith Buyers
Supreme Court ruling: titles derived from fraudulently obtained land patents are void, even if current owners bought in good faith.
Unlocking Overtime and Night Shift Pay: A Landmark Ruling for Philippine Workers
The Supreme Court clarifies when security guards and other workers can claim overtime and night shift differential pay, and what evidence suffices.
Ownership and Rental Liability: Lessons from the NAPOCOR-BOHECO Transformer Case
A look at a Supreme Court ruling on ownership, possession, and who pays rentals when property is borrowed and never returned.
Understanding Apparent Authority: How Corporate Actions Bind Agreements in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a corporation is bound by an officer's acts under the doctrine of apparent authority.
Understanding Qualified Rape When Parental Authority Turns Criminal
Qualified rape under Philippine law occurs when a parent commits rape against a child. Learn the legal rules, penalties, and practical implications.