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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Minimum Capital for Foreign Companies in the Philippines: What the Law Actually Requires
Is there a minimum capital for a foreign company in the Philippines? Learn what the Revised Corporation Code and the Foreign Investments Act require.
Anti-Dummy Law Philippines Compliance: What Foreign-Linked Ventures Must Know
Anti-dummy law Philippines compliance means keeping beneficial ownership and voting control in Filipino hands. Learn the rules under the Foreign Investments Act.
Minimum Capital Requirements for Foreign Corporations in the Philippines
Does the Philippines impose a minimum capital requirement on foreign corporations? Learn what the Revised Corporation Code and the Foreign Investments Act actually say.
Foreign Investment Negative List Philippines: What Foreigners Cannot Own
The Foreign Investment Negative List Philippines limits foreign ownership in certain sectors. Learn what foreigners cannot own under the Foreign Investments Act.
Foreign Ownership Restrictions in the Philippines: A Guide to the Negative List
Learn how the Philippine Constitution and the Foreign Investments Act restrict foreign ownership, and how the Negative List works.
Foreign Investment and Unfair Competition: Key Insights from a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Case
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the limits of judicial review over Board of Investments registration decisions and the meaning of unfair competition claims.
Investment Contracts in Lending Businesses: Rights, Risks, and Recovery of Principal
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when investors in lending businesses can recover their principal and how courts distinguish investments from loans and partnerships.
When Investment Turns Criminal: Reassessing Estafa in Corporate Transactions
Supreme Court clarifies that failed investments and unmet expectations do not automatically constitute estafa under Philippine law.
Deception Beyond the Contract: Criminal Liability for Diverting Investments Without Consent
When an investment agent diverts funds to another company without the investor's consent, criminal liability may arise under Article 318 of the Revised Penal Code.
Probable Cause and Estafa: When Failed Corporate Investments Stay Civil, Not Criminal
Supreme Court ruling on when failed corporate investments amount to estafa, and why probable cause findings by prosecutors are rarely disturbed.
Documentary Stamp Tax on Stock Subscriptions: Lessons from JAKA Investments
The Supreme Court clarifies when documentary stamp tax attaches to stock subscriptions and why refund claims fail without clear proof.
Navigating Investment Incentives: The Finality of BOI Decisions and Appellate Procedure
The Supreme Court ruled that a denial of an income tax holiday by the Board of Investments must be appealed to the Court of Appeals, not the Office of the President.
When Can Foreign Corporations Sue in the Philippines? A Guide
Learn when unlicensed foreign corporations can sue in Philippine courts under the Corporation Code and Foreign Investments Act.
Protecting Your Property Investments Understanding Grace Periods AND Cancellation IN Philippine Real Estate Co
Learn how Philippine law protects real estate buyers on installment, including grace periods, cancellation rules, and cash surrender value rights under RA 6552.
Protecting Your Property Investments: Understanding Buyer in Good Faith in Philippine Real Estate Law
Learn how Philippine courts treat "buyer in good faith" and banks' duty of diligence in real estate transactions, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Interest on Foreign Equity Investments in Closed Banks: The Pacific Banking Case
Explaining when interest accrues on foreign equity investments in a closed Philippine bank, and the rules on liquidating dividends.
Custodianship vs Trusteeship: Determining Liability in Investment Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between a custodian and a trustee in investment agreements, and who bears liability when investments fail.
Promissory Notes vs Loan Agreements: Legitimacy in Philippine Investment Transactions
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when loan documents are legitimate investments, using a disbarment case to explain forgery, consent, and moral character.
Worthless Securities and Capital Loss: Tax Implications in the Philippines
Philippine tax law treats worthless equity investments as capital losses, deductible only against capital gains. China Banking Corp. case explains.