ESTABLISHED IN 1977

Total number of professionals: 32 (11 partners)
Principal office: Taguig
Other office: Cebu

Key practice areas

Shipping; corporate; labour; IP; transport; investments; insurance; immigration; litigation; and arbitration.

Our services

The Philippine maritime industry is a dynamic and ever-growing business in which DelRosarioLaw has played, and continues to play, a major part. The firm acts for multinational shipping clients on controversies involving labour, personal injury, vessel arrest, collisions, salvage, oil pollution, damage or loss of cargoes, bunker claims, charterparty or bill of lading disputes, protection and indemnity (P&I) or hull and machinery (H&M) and freight demurrage and defence (FD&D) work, ship finance, sale and purchase documentation, registrations, management and crewing.

Co-managing partner Ruben T Del Rosario, the charter president of the Philippine Maritime Voluntary Arbitrators Association, is regularly invited to speak at national and international fora on issues related to amendments to the standard terms and conditions of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) contract and other matters relating to Filipino crew claims.

DelRosarioLaw’s labour practice acts on a full-range of matters involving Filipino seafarers’ claims and industrial relations disputes. With Filipinos making up more than 25% of all seafarers worldwide, labour claims and suits for death, disability, illness, illegal dismissal and other related claims are substantial.

DelRosarioLaw represents, among others, the international group of P&I clubs, as well as insurance companies and cruise lines. In response to the growing needs of the clients, Del Rosario Pandiphil, the firm’s paralegal affiliate, handles all seafarers’ medical claims. Del Rosario Pandiphil, is also now the Philippine network partner of the Through Transport Club, the largest club for ship, terminal and depot operators, container lessors and freight forwarders, and is a member of, and insured with, the International Transport Intermediaries Club.

Continuing evolution

The firm’s corporate practice has grown substantially in recent years to accommodate the increased business and outsourcing activities of its clients in the Philippines. These include foreign direct investments, company formations, such as regional office or regional operating headquarters (RO/ROHQ), M&A, joint ventures and general corporate work.

The firm’s tax and immigration practice has likewise grown to support its growing corporate clientele to ensure compliance with the ever-developing local regulatory environment.

Major international law firms regularly refer cases to DelRosarioLaw, trusting them to ably handle their representation in the Philippines. The litigation and dispute resolution practice of the firm continually broadens its various fields of law to cope with the ever-expanding business concerns of its clients.

In recent years, there has been a large increase in matters pertaining to IP matters. The firm’s IP clients include international giants Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Sony.

Co-managing partner Arturo T del Rosario Jr, besides specialising in maritime law, was the president of the IP Association of the Philippines from 2016 to 2018, and spearheads DelRosarioLaw’s work covering trademark, patent applications and disputes.