Practice Areas
The core of the Zobella's practice includes primarily Trademark Registration, Maintenance and Enforcement, Inter Partes Cases and Administrative Proceedings before the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Patent Drafting and Registration (Invention, Utility Model and Design), Patent Infringement, Unfair Competition Litigation, Licensing, Franchising and Technology Transfer, Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, Intellectual Property Audit, Alternative Dispute Resolution and other matters involving Intellectual Property.
The Firm also engages in a selective yet diverse range of legal practice. These areas include:
a. Corporate and Commercial Matters
The Firm is able to advise both local and foreign individuals and entities intending to do business in the Philippines. Among the scope of issues referred to and resolved by the Firm are the choice of business entities, appropriate structures to comply with the requirements of Philippine law and the possible availment of incentives. Other incidents include corporate documentation and SEC maintenance, corporate and strategic planning, contract drafting and review and special transactions.
b. Civil Litigation
The Firm counsels its clients in such day-to-day matters incident to their respective business endeavors and personal lives. These matters include litigation for damages, enforcement of contracts and settlement of estate.
c. Labor and Employment
The Firm also has strong labor practice, alternatively protecting the interests of both employer and employee, whether locally or abroad. The scope of expertise of the Firm includes drafting and reviewing employment contracts, labor standards and labor relations litigation, general counselling and advisory on employment-related incidents.
d. Immigration
Qualified and accredited by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, the Firm, with its officers and staff, are confident in handling cases in the highly specialized field of local immigration and citizenship. Aside from assistance in Philippine visa applications, services offered by the Firm include assistance in proceedings for Alien Certificates of Registration, Employment Permits, hold departure orders, deportation and naturalization.
e. Taxation and Advisory
The Firm's tax practice includes primarily general counseling on national and local taxation. The Firm also assists its clients in overcoming deficiency assessments periodically issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Other incidents in the Firm's tax practice include book keeping, reportorial requirements, claiming for tax refund and/or tax credit and VAT input taxes.
f. Estates
The Firm has assisted clients in settlements and estate proceedings as well as family related matters.