Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako

𝐓𝐡𝐞 "𝐖" 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐧!   When it comes to trademark infringement, adding a few extra words is not always enough to avoid confusing similarity. In a recent case, the Supreme Court applied the Dominancy Test and reaffirmed that what matters most is the element that first catches the eye of the ordinary consumer. The ruling serves as a vital reminder for businesses that building brand identity around a distinctive visual element is powerful, but relying on descriptive add-ons to bypass existing trademarks is a risky strategy. In the latest legal update 𝘛𝘩𝘦 "𝘞" 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘯!, SRMO intellectual property law partner Eilyn E. Medina-Garcia and associate Gabriel B. Esguerra dissect the Supreme Court ruling involving the famous stylized "𝐖" mark. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ght2UQtv #SRMOLaw #125YearsOfLegalExcellence #IntellectualPropertyLaw #TrademarkProtection

𝐒𝐑𝐌𝐎 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫-𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 SRMO Arbitration Partner Broderick Arcilla acted as Arbitrator-Judge in the Philippine Institute of Construction Arbitrators and Mediators' (PICAM) Second Arbitration Moot Competition held on July 6-7, 2026, at the University of the Philippines BGC. The competition serves as a highly specialized platform for Filipino law students to master alternative dispute resolution under the rules governing the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (CIAC). PICAM is the official association of CIAC Arbitrators and Mediators. Atty. Arcilla also serves as Deputy for Criminal Litigation Practice at SRMO. #SRMOLaw #125YearsOfLegalExcellence #Arbitration

SRMO and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) successfully held the 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘌𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 at the SRMO Board Room in Makati City last June 30, 2026. Present for DMW were Atty. Rina G. Rojas (OIC-Chief, DMW Legal Assistance Division), Director Eric D. Dollete (Migrant Workers Protection Bureau), Atty. Pearl Sharon A. Dela Cruz (Chief, DMW Prosecution Division), and Atty. Kristina Marie Joy B. Andal-Escosia (OIC-Chief, DMW AIRTIP Division). Thank you, DMW! #SRMOLaw #125YearsOfLegalExcellence #DMW #OFW #ServeAndProtect

𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬: 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 For businesses dealing with unutilized input VAT in the Philippines, timing is everything. Missing a statutory deadline can completely derail an otherwise valid claim. The Supreme Court recently provided a valuable, up-to-date roadmap that clarifies the exact reckoning points for VAT refund processing periods. The Supreme Court harmonized the evolution of our tax timeline rule set—tracking changes through the TRAIN Law, the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act, and the recent CREATE MORE Act. Read the article by SRMO partner Veronica Jude E. Abarquez and Associate Apryll B. Bulintao here: https://lnkd.in/gaUMSdxP #SRMOLaw #125YearsOfLegalExcellence #TaxLaw #VATRefund

SRMO congratulates Atty. Victor N. Alimurung, Of Counsel, on receiving the prestigious Utopian Hall of Fame Award! As a 1964 Founding Member of the Fraternal Order of Utopia, Atty. Alimurung has dedicated decades to academic excellence, leadership, and nation-building. As SRMO celebrates 125 years of legal excellence, we are incredibly proud to celebrate this monumental milestone with him. Congratulations, VNA! #SRMOLaw #125YearsOfLegalExceppance #UtopiaHallOfFame

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐞𝐬? In a recent and critical ruling, the Supreme Court drew a sharp legal boundary between valid administrative sanctions and the unlawful deprivation of a homeowner's fundamental rights under R.A. 9904 (The Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners' Association). When a homeowner fell seriously behind on dues, the local HOA responded aggressively: banning food and package deliveries, barring ride-hailing services, and restricting guests from entering the subdivision roads. Are the HOA's actions valid and legal? Find out the Supreme Court’s verdict in this article by SRMO partner Jonalyn G. Porquez-Sampiano and Associate Abbygail M. Suria: https://lnkd.in/gi62iUEh

Asia's courts are busier than ever. And the lawyers winning the hardest cases are doing it across borders, across asset classes, and against the clock. Asian Legal Business has published its ALB Asia Top 30 Litigators 2026, selecting 30 practitioners from 109 submissions across 11 jurisdictions. Singapore led with 7 winners from 13 submissions. India produced 4. Hong Kong, Indonesia, and South Korea each contributed 3. Featured conversations include JJ Chan of CBE, Daniel Chia, FCIArb of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Prolegis, Alma D. Fernandez-Mallonga of Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako, Siraj Omar, S.C. of Siraj Omar LLC, Pathorn Towongchuen of TTT+Partners, and Truong Trong Nghia of YKVN. The docket spans cryptocurrency fraud recovery, sovereign energy disputes, landmark constitutional challenges, multi-billion-dollar civil fraud judgments, and Korea's most high-profile criminal acquittal in recent history. Read the full rankings here: Asian Legal Business (ALB) Asia June 2026 edition: https://lnkd.in/gcJx6_FZ https://lnkd.in/eEU7wmsK

Winning a criminal dismissal is hard. Doing it in a nationally publicised case, 39 years into your career, is something else. In this piece by Asian Legal Business, Alma D. Fernandez-Mallonga, Senior Partner and Head of Litigation at Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako, the Philippines' oldest law firm, speaks on building client trust through candour rather than comfort, managing expectations ruthlessly, and the qualities no algorithm can replicate. The piece is part of the ALB Asia Top 30 Litigators 2026 rankings. Asian Legal Business (ALB) Asia June 2026 edition: https://lnkd.in/gcJx6_FZ Full rankings: https://lnkd.in/eEU7wmsK https://lnkd.in/eAb2vepJ

𝐒𝐑𝐌𝐎 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐲. 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐚 𝐃. 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳-𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐁 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 2026 Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako (SRMO) is incredibly proud to announce that Atty. Alma D. Fernandez-Mallonga, Senior Partner and Head of our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group, has been named among the prestigious Asian Legal Business (ALB) Asia Top 30 Litigators for 2026. ALB's annual recognition highlights a select group of practitioners who are redefining the profession through landmark cases, strategic precedent-setting, and a steadfast commitment to the most complex mandates in their jurisdictions.   𝐀 40-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 With four decades of distinguished practice, Atty. Mallonga’s career is defined by a deep mastery of complex litigation, labor law, arbitration, and corporate dispute resolution. As a vital leader within the Philippines’ oldest operating law office, she has successfully steered everything from high-profile white-collar criminal defense to critical public interest advocacy. Atty. Mallonga was involved in proceedings held in Sacramento, California, to assist an American who successfully resisted extradition in a widely publicized case, and has represented a prominent Philippine hospital and appeared on its behalf in a deposition of a medical expert from Johns Hopkins Hospital in a multi-million dollar medical malpractice suit. Atty. Mallonga’s formidable legal mind has been evident since her academic years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, summa cum laude, from the University of the Philippines in 1981, and obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree, cum laude, from the UP College of Law in 1986, graduating as Valedictorian of her class.   𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲: "𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭." In her featured interview with Asian Legal Business, Atty. Mallonga shared the core philosophy that drives her courtroom and boardroom strategy: "𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘳 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵." In a world of increasingly complex legal mandates, she emphasizes that winning strategies cannot be built on wishful thinking. For Atty. Mallonga, the true hallmark of a great litigator is the ability to manage client expectations ruthlessly, view disputes through a deeply human lens, and bring a level of professional stamina and intuition that no algorithm can replicate. Her inclusion in this year’s regional list is a powerful testament to that philosophy—proving that while the litigation landscape may evolve, the timeless values of integrity, grit, and pragmatic advocacy remain the most potent tools in the courtroom. Congratulations on this well-deserved milestone, ADFM! #SRMOLaw #125YearsOfLegalExcellence

SRMO congratulates its Associate Atty. Alvin S. Siapian II, CPA on his induction as the Chair of Professional Development and a Member of the Taxation and Government Affairs Committee of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Northern Metro Manila Chapter on June 19, 2026. His expertise will undoubtedly be an asset to the chapter as it fosters professional excellence and engages with critical regulatory developments this fiscal year. #SRMOLaw #125YearsOfLegalExcellence #PICPA #TaxLaw #ProfessionalGrowth