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.
Disbarment for Attorney Misconduct: Delaying Justice and Abusing Court Processes
A lawyer's dilatory tactics and groundless suits against judges led to disbarment for violating the lawyer's oath and obstructing justice.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Does a Corporation Assume Another's Debt
The Supreme Court clarifies when a corporation may be held liable for another company's debts, and when the corporate veil cannot be pierced.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When a Bank Isn't Liable for a Foreclosed Firm's Debts
PNB acquired PASUMIL's foreclosed assets but wasn't liable for its debts. The Supreme Court explains when corporate veil piercing applies.
Estoppel Bars Investor from Questioning Contract After Enjoying Its Benefits
Supreme Court ruling on estoppel: an investor cannot question a trading agreement's validity after benefiting from it and suffering losses.
Partnership vs Guarantor: Who Bears Liability in a Business Venture?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the line between a partner and a guarantor in business, and who bears liability when the venture fails.
Beyond Labels: How Factual Allegations Define Criminal Charges in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts look past the label of a complaint to its factual allegations to determine jurisdiction, as Fabia v. Court of Appeals shows.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies and SEC Jurisdiction Over Listed Banks
Supreme Court clarifies that listed banks must comply with SEC disclosure rules despite BSP supervision, explaining agency jurisdiction and administrative remedies.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: Agency Prerogative and Orderly Legal Process
Explore how the Supreme Court upheld SEC disclosure rules for listed banks, clarifying the doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies.
Diplomatic Immunity for International Officials: When It Shields and When It Does Not
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that ADB staff immunity covers only official acts, not private crimes like slander.
Upholding Stockholder Rights Derivative Suits AND Corporate Governance IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies derivative suits, stockholder standing, and jurisdiction over intra-corporate disputes under RA 8799.
Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in the Philippines: Summary Judgment and Forum Non Conveniens
Philippine courts explain when summary judgment is proper in enforcing foreign judgments and when forum non conveniens applies.
Shareholder Rights vs Corporate Discretion: Mandamus and Stock Transfer Recording
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a corporate secretary must record stock transfers, SEC jurisdiction, and shareholder rights.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: Fraud and Mismanagement as Grounds for Corporate Liability
The Supreme Court explains when courts may disregard corporate fiction and why mere control or mismanagement is not enough.
Parol Evidence Rule: When Prior Agreements Can Modify a Contract
Philippine Supreme Court explains when prior negotiations can alter a written contract under the parol evidence rule.
Ponzi Schemes and Investment Scams in the Philippines: Supreme Court Ruling on Large Scale Swindling and Estaf
The Supreme Court explains when a Ponzi scheme constitutes large scale swindling and estafa under Philippine law.
Statute of Limitations in Philippine Contract Law: The 10-Year Rule for Written Contracts
Learn the 10-year prescriptive period for written contracts in the Philippines, when it starts, and how the Supreme Court applied it in a stock pledge dispute.
How Corporate Rehabilitation Suspends Labor Disputes: The Rubberworld Case
When a company under rehabilitation faces labor claims, the SEC's automatic stay suspends all actions—including labor cases before the NLRC.
Attorneys Fees and Simulated Sales: Protecting Lawyers' Rights in the Philippines
A lawyer's right to collect contingent fees can extend to challenging simulated sales that defeat payment, as the Supreme Court ruled in Alberto v. Court of Appeals.
When Does an Agreement Become Legally Binding? The BF Homes Case on Perfected Contracts
Learn when a contract becomes legally binding in the Philippines, based on the Supreme Court's BF Homes ruling on homeowners' rights and jurisdiction.
Notarial Duty and Due Diligence: Attorneys Cannot Notarize Documents They Sign for Others
A lawyer who signs a verification for clients and then notarizes it violates the Notarial Law. The Supreme Court explains the limits of a notary's duties.
Finality of Judgments: Ducat v. Court of Appeals and the Bar Against Relitigating Settled Issues
Why the Supreme Court barred a losing litigant from re-opening a settled execution sale and warned against forum-shopping.
Corporate Liquidation vs Labor Claims: How the Supreme Court Resolved the Conflict
When a company under rehabilitation is ordered liquidated, labor claims must be filed with the liquidator, not executed separately. Learn the rule.
Securing Shareholder Rights: Preliminary Injunctions in Philippine Corporate Disputes
Understand when Philippine courts grant preliminary injunctions in corporate disputes, using the Ortañez-Enderes case as a guide to shareholder rights.
SEC Jurisdiction Over Government-Owned Corporations: The PNCC Case
The Supreme Court clarifies SEC jurisdiction over GOCCs organized under the Corporation Code, using the PNCC dispute as a landmark example.