Villanueva Gabionza de Santos (VGS) Law Office: 20 Years of Service Beyond Expectations

Online, September 16, 2010 (Newswire.com) - VGS LAW began as the vision of young lawyers to find a new firm which would embody the ideas of what each felt would be an institution which would at its pinnacle be: one of the leading law firms in the country; the womb to attract, develop, and enhance the best of legal minds of each year's law graduates to mold themselves in the best possible lawyers and individuals that they possibly can; to achieve advancement in its technical and research competence; to serve as the leading legal think-tank at the forefront of legal development and the breeding ground of leaders and visionaries in various fields related to law and business management.

The institution is to be an embodiment of an excellent law firm, legal research center, and management and investment company, fitted together in inter-related organizations. Indeed it became an early policy for members to consider themselves not only as lawyers, but also as scholars and businessmen.

Two decades after its beginnings on 01 July 1990, Villanueva Gabionza de Santos (VGS) continues to evolve into the dynamic legal institution it set out to become: a veritable terminal base for a spectrum of local and international clientele with varied and exigent legal needs.

VGS' multi-disciplinary thrust includes in-depth, composite and active practices in fields of commercial and corporate law, mergers and acquisition, litigation, taxation, securities, banking, finance, intellectual property, estate planning, transportation, labor, maritime, aviation, immigration and public service law.

The seasoned and motivated practitioners of VGS Law Office are products of a culture of intensive and holistic legal training. They are highly proficient in practicing and appearing before local government branches and agencies, judicial and quasi-judicial courts of all levels, legislative and administrative bodies, as well as in dealing with non-government agencies, privatized groups and individual clientele, tackling not just local laws but also cross-border issues, in keeping with the Firm's total commitment to provide not just competitively comprehensive legal services, but also "Service Beyond Expectations".
The Practice
VGS Law's general practice includes diverse services ranging from rendering legal advisement to individual and corporate clients, retainer services, contract drafting, conflicts-prevention, prosecution and defense, relating to all areas of legal queries concerning civil, criminal, commercial, political, labor, special proceedings, tax and international law.

Mindful of the vigorous and ever changing needs of today's individuals and businesses, VGS Law Office has consistently rendered general legal services with responsive and professional exigency to clients from all backgrounds.

Commercial and Corporate Law

VGS Law has extensive experience in all corporate work such as business set-up, government compliance, incorporation and corporate governance, formation of branches/representative offices/regional headquarters and subsidiaries, joint venture agreements, shareholders agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate secretary assistance. Other major areas of corporate work include corporate rehabilitation, arbitration and insolvency.

Litigation

VGS Law has an intensive litigation practice, handling a wide range of administrative, civil, special civil, criminal, and special proceeding cases before administrative agencies, quasi-judicial bodies, regular courts in various Philippine territorial jurisdictions from the National Capital Region to all other Provincial regions, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Regional Trial Courts, Special Courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. The Firm has successfully represented individuals and private corporations.

Labor Law

VGS Law has an active labor practice for management and the workforce alike, with extensive experience in drafting employment contracts, company policies and manuals, prevention and prosecution of labor disputes, and assisting in collective bargaining for small to large entities alike.

Intellectual Property

VGS Law, a member of the Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines (IPAP), has a growing Intellectual Property Department that handles registration, maintenance and protection of trademarks, copyrights and patents. It has a wide-range practice on inter-partes cases filed before the Intellectual Property Office, as well as in Intellectual Property (IP) litigation for infringement and unfair competition before the regular courts.

Immigration

VGS Law represents its clients before government agencies, such as but not limited to, the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies responsible for the enforcement of laws affecting the authorized stay of aliens in the Philippines. The Firm also represents its clients before Philippine courts and administrative agencies in relation to petitions for the acquisition, recognition and reacquisition of Philippine citizenship, among others.

Maritime and Aviation Law

VGS Law renders legal assistance on relevant transportation laws and on matters relating to rules and regulations issued by government agencies, such as the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, Air Transportation Office, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). The Firm also represents its clients before said government agencies, involving claims for death or injury of passengers, loss or damage to cargo and property.

Taxation

VGS Law's varied tax practice includes legal advice and assistance on matters involving Philippine national and local taxation, specifically, tax implications of commercial transactions undertaken by individuals, various corporate structures/organizations and of international tax treaties. VGS also represents its clients before the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the tax courts for protests and claims for refund and tax credit, and before the Bureau of Customs involving issues on customs law, tariffs and duties. VGS Law Office also assists its clients on matters relating to estate planning and administration.

Insurance

VGS Law represents its clients in actions involving claims on life and non-life insurance, providing for legal advice and assistance on the relevant insurance laws, rules and regulations issued by the Insurance Commission.

Banking and Finance

VGS Law's banking and finance practice includes legal advice and assistance relating to rules and regulations governing Banking and Finance, such as regulations issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. VGS Law also provides its clients with legal advice and assistance relating to syndicated loans, cross-border loans and project finance agreements.

Foreign Investments

VGS Law determines for clients the most suited corporate vehicle by which its investments may be duly conducted in the Philippines. Assistance extends to ensuring that the entity or corporate vehicle complies with the Foreign Investments Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Law and other relevant laws, which provide for compliance and ownership requirements for nationalized business activities. The Firm also assists its clients in its registration for investment incentives with the Board of Investments, Philippine Economic Zone Authority and other Special Economic Zones. Assistance extends to the registration of foreign public and private loans, registration of foreign investments with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Mergers and Acquisitions

VGS Law assists clients in possible mergers and acquisitions of businesses, from due diligence reports, government compliance, negotiations, to the actual merger and acquisition processes.

Real Estate Transactions

VGS Law provides its clients with legal advice and assistance on matters relating to real estate and construction, including condominiums, subdivisions and other developments, duly representing them before various government agencies such as the Register of Deeds, House and Land Use Regulatory Board, and Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Estate Planning and Administration

VGS Law has had a growing number of estate planning and administration cases, for both local and foreign clients, rendering advice on estate distribution and management, in relation to tax implications.

Civil Law

VGS Law has thorough knowledge of Philippine civil law, from the effect and application of laws, human relations, persons and family relations, obligations and contracts, sales, property, ownership, wills and succession. Such breadth of practice enables the Firm to protect, prosecute and defend any and all cases premised on civil rights.

Appellate Practice

VGS Law handles cases brought on Appeal before any administrative, quasi-judicial and judicial bodies including the Regional Trial Courts, Department of Justice, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Court of Tax Appeals, Civil Service Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Central Board of Assessment Appeals, and Land Registration Authority. The Firm's strategic and radical approach to cases on appeal has successfully won for its clients reversals of lower court's and administrative bodies' decisions.

Public Service Law

VGS Law assists clients in securing a certificate of public convenience from the Public Service Commission for the intention of operating and managing common carriers, sub-way motor vehicles, either for freight or passenger and the like.