Maritime law is a loaded practice area for our Firm. We advise shipping companies and Protection and Indemnity organizations on matters related to domestic and international labor conventions, overseas employment, crew and cargo claims, sea mishaps, lading conflicts, vessel acquisition and registration. On the litigation aspect, we are normally on the side of the shipowners and insurers but we do not lose sight of the fact that it is usually a Filipino seafarer at the other end of the table. Thus, we endeavor to resolve conflicts amicably and fairly in accordance with the terms of the relevant contract and/or collective bargaining agreement. In this particular area of law, we are pro-active in the application of the modes of alternative dispute resolution.
Our Firm handles a broad range of matters related to the operations of leading oil and gas and oilfield infrastructure providers, including the retailers and dealers of oil products. From resolving importation issues, to laying down the property arrangements for a depot, or litigating to recover underground tanks, and down to the human resource problems of the gas station forecourt, we have dealt with and continue to handle various legal concerns on this vital resource.
Marketing, advertising, special productions, events and venues—these are serious business undertakings but at the same time, all appeal to the lighter side of life. Following each opinion we dispense or legal service we render to these clients, we know that somehow this eventually translates, at the very end, to a celebration, an important gathering or a smile from a contented spirit.
Land conversion and property development are our niche areas of practice. The process entailed from being a farm plot to a mall is neither easy nor involves only one government agency. The effort requires more than expertise in or knowledge of agrarian laws. A high degree of personal attention and follow-up is involved when dealing with a multitude of sectors who are, at times, in conflict with one another. We generally prefer a modest tone to the legal services we offer but in this particular field (no pun intended), we can confidently claim a high success rate.
The critical nature of the services that our clients provide in the fields of power generation and water supply gives us the added motivation to exert the highest degree of diligence in ensuring their smooth operation and compliance with laws. With heavy regulation comes a heavy responsibility. Indeed, any snag that affects a utility provider causes a greater impact upon all of us as consumers. We take on this responsibility with the public interest in mind.
There are corporate legal services such as—contract review, company registration and compliance, advisories on tax incidents, drafting Board resolutions, organizing mergers or handling dissolutions—that our Firm regularly render either as part of a retainer arrangement or as a special project. However, what we equally highlight is the diversity.
We count among our clients a number of special educational institutions, alternative learning schools, foundations and non-government organizations that espouse their respective causes or missions but ultimately are all geared toward making life on the planet better. While these organizations turn to us for legal advice, they, in turn, keep us grounded.