Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. Whether you are a Filipino entrepreneur or a foreign investor looking to establish a presence in the Philippines, we handle the entire incorporation process from start to finish. This includes business name registration, SEC incorporation, statutory compliance, and — where applicable — securing approvals from PEZA, BOI, or other regulatory bodies under the CREATE Act. We also advise on the most appropriate business structure for your goals, whether that is a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or a branch or representative office for foreign entities. Starting right means starting compliant — and we make sure you do.

Yes. Real estate transactions involve more legal steps than most people realize, and the cost of getting it wrong can be significant. RVTLC Law assists clients with the full range of property transactions — including deed of sale preparation and notarization, title transfer and land registration with the Registry of Deeds, capital gains and documentary stamp tax compliance, due diligence on title integrity, and estate-related property transfers. Whether you are buying, selling, donating, or inheriting real property, we ensure the transaction is legally sound and properly documented from day one.

One of the best investments a business owner can make. A retainer arrangement with RVTLC Law means you have immediate access to legal counsel whenever a question, contract, or compliance issue arises — without the delay or cost of engaging a new lawyer each time. We serve as your business's ongoing Legal Department: reviewing contracts before you sign them, advising on labor and HR matters, keeping you ahead of regulatory changes, and responding swiftly when disputes arise. Most importantly, a good retainer relationship prevents legal problems from developing in the first place — and that is almost always less expensive than resolving them after the fact.

Your options depend on the nature of the dispute, the contracts involved, and the outcome you are seeking. RVTLC Law will first assess whether the matter can be resolved through negotiation or alternative dispute resolution — which is often faster, less expensive, and better for business relationships. If litigation is necessary, our team is prepared to represent you before the appropriate court or quasi-judicial body, from the Regional Trial Court to the Court of Appeals. We handle civil disputes involving contracts, property, damages, injunctions, and corporate matters, and we approach every case with a clear strategy focused on your best outcome.

Do not ignore it — and do not respond without legal and accounting counsel. A BIR assessment is a serious matter that requires an immediate and well-structured response within strict deadlines. RVTLC Law has CPA-Lawyers on the founding team who are specifically equipped to handle tax assessments, deficiency disputes, and BIR audit defense. We review the assessment, identify legal and factual grounds for protest, prepare the necessary documentation, and represent you through the entire administrative and judicial process — including appeals before the Court of Tax Appeals if necessary. Time is critical in tax disputes, so we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible.

Labor disputes require immediate and careful attention. Whether your employee has filed a complaint before the NLRC, the DOLE, or the Civil Service Commission, RVTLC Law will advise you on your legal exposure, represent you in all proceedings, and help you build a well-documented defense. Beyond litigation, we also assist businesses in reviewing and strengthening HR policies, employment contracts, and disciplinary procedures to reduce the risk of future disputes. Prevention is always the better strategy — but when a case has already been filed, having the right legal team makes all the difference.

Yes, and we handle them with the discretion and care they deserve. RVTLC Law assists clients with annulment and legal separation proceedings, child custody and support arrangements, and the settlement of estates — whether by will or intestate succession. We understand that family legal matters are among the most emotionally and financially significant decisions a person can face, and we approach each case with both professional precision and genuine sensitivity. Our goal is to guide you through the process as smoothly and efficiently as possible, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

Very much so. Several of our founding partners have direct, hands-on experience in the Philippine technology and FinTech sector — including BSP digital payment regulations, data privacy compliance under the NPC, e-commerce structuring, and blockchain advisory. RVTLC Law assists technology startups with everything from initial venture structuring and investor agreements to terms of service, data privacy policies, intellectual property protection, and ongoing regulatory compliance. If you are building in the digital economy, RVTLC Law is the legal partner that understands your world — not just your legal documents.

Yes. Your brand and intellectual property are among your most valuable business assets, and protecting them early is far less costly than defending them later. RVTLC Law handles trademark and patent registration with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), IP licensing agreements, and enforcement actions against infringement. Whether you are a startup securing your brand identity, a business expanding into new markets, or a creator protecting original work, we provide the legal protection your intellectual assets deserve.

The Philippines offers significant opportunities for foreign investors, but navigating its regulatory landscape requires careful legal guidance. RVTLC Law advises foreign individuals and entities on market entry strategy, permissible ownership structures under the Foreign Investment Act and the CREATE Act, PEZA and BOI registration for tax incentives, visa and work permit requirements, and ongoing regulatory compliance. With founding partners who have direct experience in cross-border transactions, impact investing, and international corporate operations, we are uniquely positioned to help foreign investors establish and grow a compliant, competitive presence in the Philippine market.

The loss of a loved one is difficult enough without the added complexity of settling an estate. RVTLC Law guides families through the entire estate settlement process — whether the deceased left a valid will or passed away intestate. Our services include the preparation of extrajudicial settlement documents, estate tax computation and BIR compliance, transfer of title over real and personal properties, coordination with banks and financial institutions for the release of accounts, and judicial settlement proceedings when required. We handle the legal complexities so that families can focus on what matters most, with the assurance that the process is handled correctly, efficiently, and with the utmost sensitivity.

Yes. Contracts that were entered into under duress, through misrepresentation, or without full understanding of their terms may be subject to legal challenge — and even valid contracts may contain provisions that can be negotiated, modified, or contested. RVTLC Law conducts thorough contract reviews to identify problematic clauses, assess your legal exposure, and advise on the most practical course of action. Where necessary, we pursue remedies including contract rescission, reformation, or damages before the appropriate courts. Whether you are seeking to exit a bad agreement or enforce a good one, our team has the legal and commercial expertise to protect your interests effectively.

What sets RVTLC Law apart is not just what we know — it is what we have lived. Our founding partners did not come to law straight from the classroom. They came from the boardrooms, trading floors, audit rooms, and operations centers of some of the Philippines' and the world's most respected institutions — SGV & Co. (Ernst & Young), HSBC, CIMB Bank, BPI, PNB, Jet Aviation (General Dynamics), and MySuki Inc. — before choosing law as the next chapter of already distinguished careers. That depth of real-world experience is embedded in every piece of advice we give, every contract we draft, and every case we argue.

Two of our five founding partners are dual-licensed CPA-Lawyers — a rare combination that allows us to deliver tax, corporate, and financial compliance advice that is simultaneously legally precise and commercially intelligent. Multiple partners trained at SGV & Co., the country's most rigorous audit and advisory institution, giving us an insider's understanding of how regulators think, how auditors examine records, and how compliance frameworks are built and stress-tested from the inside.

Academically, our founding batch stands among the best in the country. RVTLC Law's founders include the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the San Beda College Alabang School of Law Class of 2025, multiple Dean's Listers, and national top performers in the 2025 Philippine Bar Examinations. The Bedan tradition of Ora et Labora — disciplined excellence grounded in integrity and service — is not a marketing line for us. It is the personal conviction each partner carries into every client engagement, every day.

But perhaps what sets us apart most is this: we are a firm that genuinely cares about the people and businesses we serve. We respond within 24 hours. We explain the law in plain language. We tell you the truth even when it is not what you want to hear. We fight hard for every client — and we make ourselves accessible to everyone, not just the largest corporations. At RVTLC Law, you are not a case number. You are a client we are committed to serving with the full force of everything we know and everything we are.

We believe that transparency in billing is just as important as transparency in legal advice. RVTLC Law offers flexible fee arrangements tailored to the nature and complexity of each engagement. Depending on the matter, we work on a retainer basis for ongoing corporate and advisory work, fixed fees for transactional and document-based matters such as incorporations, contracts, and property transfers, hourly rates for complex litigation and regulatory proceedings, and contingency or success fee arrangements for select high-probability cases such as collection matters and labor claims. Every engagement begins with a signed Engagement Letter that clearly sets out the scope of work, the applicable fee structure, and the commencement fee — so there are no surprises. We also provide monthly narrative billing reports that detail everything we have done on your matter, because we believe clients should always know exactly what they are paying for and why it matters.

Absolutely — and you would not be the first person to reach out with exactly that question. Many of our best client relationships began with a simple conversation: someone who sensed that something was not right, or who wanted to make sure they were doing things correctly, but was not yet sure what kind of legal help they needed. That is precisely what an initial consultation is for. At RVTLC Law, we take the time to listen carefully to your situation, identify the legal issues at play, and point you in the right direction — whether that means engaging our firm, referring you to a specialist, or simply giving you the clarity you need to make an informed decision. There is no such thing as a question too small or a situation too uncertain. Reach out to us at admin@rvtlc-law.com. We respond to every inquiry within 24 hours — because the first step toward resolving a legal concern is always the most important one.