Clear counsel for business, property and family matters.
A Makati firm of six lawyers. We tell you where you stand in the first meeting, and what the work will cost before we start.
- 2011Founded in Makati
- Six lawyersTwo founding partners
- Seven languagesIncluding Ilocano, Bisaya and Hokkien
- Fees in writingAgreed before we start
- Video meetingsFor clients outside Manila or abroad
Practice areas
Six areas of law, each led by a partner or senior lawyer who has practised it for years.
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Corporate and commercial
Setting up, running and selling Philippine companies, from the first SEC filing to the last signature.
Fixed fees from ₱35,000
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Real estate and property
Buying, selling and leasing property safely, and resolving disputes when something goes wrong.
Fixed fees from ₱15,000
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Family law
Annulment, nullity, legal separation, custody and support, handled with discretion and care.
Fixed fees from ₱5,000
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Employment and labour
Clear contracts and policies for employers, and fair outcomes when employment ends.
Fixed fees from ₱20,000
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Estates and succession
Wills, estate settlement and estate tax, so families can pass on property without a fight.
Fixed fees from ₱30,000
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Overseas Filipinos
Legal help for Filipinos working or living abroad, without having to fly home.
Fixed fees from ₱5,000
How a matter works
No surprises: you know who is handling your matter and what it costs at every step.
1
First call
A free fifteen-minute call to understand what is happening and check we have no conflict of interest.
2
Consultation
A paid meeting, in person or by video, where a lawyer tells you where you stand and what your options are.
3
Engagement letter
If you go ahead, we set out the work, who does it and the fees in writing before anything starts.
4
The work
One lawyer is your contact from start to finish, with an update at least every two weeks.
Every client should leave the first meeting knowing where they stand. Everything else follows from that.
Carmela Ilagan and Rafael Reyes, founding partners
The lawyers
Six lawyers, admitted between 1998 and 2020, who between them speak seven languages.
Carmela Ilagan
Partner, admitted 2004
Corporate and commercial, Real estate and property
Rafael Reyes
Partner, admitted 2006
Family law, Estates and succession
Miguel Santos
Of counsel, admitted 1998
Employment and labour
Patricia Lim
Senior associate, admitted 2014
Corporate and commercial, Estates and succession
Andrea Dizon
Senior associate, admitted 2016
Family law, Overseas Filipinos
Jose Ramirez
Associate, admitted 2020
Real estate and property, Estates and succession
Selected matters
A few recent matters, described with our clients’ permission and without their names.
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A stalled condo turnover
Unit turned over and ₱410,000 in late penalties waived.
A buyer’s pre-selling unit was two years late. We documented the delay, invoked the contract and negotiated turnover with the penalties dropped.
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A subsidiary set up in seven weeks
SEC, BIR and city permits completed in seven weeks.
A Singapore design firm opened its Manila office. We structured the company within the foreign ownership rules and ran every registration in parallel.
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An estate across three provinces
Extrajudicial settlement and estate tax completed in five months.
Five siblings inherited land in Pampanga, Batangas and Quezon City. We agreed the division, filed the estate tax and transferred all three titles.
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A restaurant group at the NLRC
Illegal dismissal complaint dismissed.
The client had followed the twin-notice rule and kept the records. We put the paper trail before the labour arbiter and the complaint was dismissed.
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Wages recovered for a seafarer
Withheld wages and the placement fee refunded in full.
A seafarer was repatriated without his final pay. We filed against the manning agency and settled before hearing, while he was back at sea.
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Custody agreed without a trial
Parenting plan signed in mediation in three sessions.
Two parents disagreed about schooling and holidays. We proposed court-annexed mediation and drafted the plan both of them signed.
Every matter is different, and past results do not guarantee future ones.
Insights
Plain-language guides to Philippine law, written by our lawyers.
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Overseas Filipinos
Signing a special power of attorney from abroad
A special power of attorney lets someone at home act for you while you work abroad. It only works if it is drafted precisely and authenticated correctly.
By Andrea Dizon 2 min read
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Estates and succession
Settling an estate without going to court
When there is no will and the heirs agree, an estate can be settled out of court. It is faster and far cheaper than a judicial settlement.
By Patricia Lim 2 min read
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Employment and labour
Terminating an employee lawfully: the steps employers miss
Most illegal dismissal cases are lost on procedure, not on the reason. Here is what the Labor Code expects.
By Miguel Santos 2 min read
Not sure where you stand?
Book a consultation. It costs ₱3,500, credited to your fee if you go ahead, and you leave knowing your options.