MVGS Joins Drew Network Asia (DNA)

Announcements

Drew Network Asia (DNA), a network of premium legal firms, expanded on 1 October 2021 with the addition of prominent Philippine law firm Martinez Vergara Gonzalez & Serrano (MVGS).  

Formed in March 2020, DNA is an alliance of some of the most influential and well-established South East Asian law firms, namely Drew & Napier LLC from Singapore, Makarim & Taira S. from Indonesia and Shearn Delamore & Co. from Malaysia.

The addition of MVGS further expands DNA’s regional footprint in ASEAN which now boasts more than 480 fee earners and 150 partners in four countries: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.  

Martinez Vergara Gonzalez & Serrano (MVGS) is a leading full-service law firm in the Philippines established in 2007 by recognised elite lawyers Eduardo A. Martinez, Mark O. Vergara, Manuel Z. Gonzalez and Elmer B. Serrano. With the combined experience of the firm’s partners, MVGS has established itself as a highly-respected and leading law firm in the Philippines, providing a full range of excellent legal services in the areas of Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Projects & Energy, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labour and Employment and Immigration.
Manuel Z. Gonzalez, Managing Partner of MVGS said, “We are very excited to be a pillar firm of DNA as its vision certainly aligns with MVGS. Joining the alliance enables us to expand our professional services in the region. We look forward to a great partnership with the finest lawyers in the region.”

“We are delighted that MVGS has joined DNA,” said Cavinder Bull SC, CEO of Drew & Napier. “In spite of the ongoing pandemic, we have moved forward with our vision for growth, driven by our desire to meet the needs of our clients. DNA is increasingly a network of choice for any client looking to have representation of the highest quality throughout ASEAN.”

Lia Alizia, Managing Partner, Makarim & Taira S. said, “With MVGS joining DNA, we are now a stronger network than before. We believe that the combined strength and capabilities of each DNA member firm stands us in good stead with the growing competition in the region.”

Dhinesh Bhaskaran, Managing Partner, Shearn Delamore & Co said, “We welcome MVGS to the DNA family and look forward to serving our clients more seamlessly now that we have a network firm in the Philippines, giving us a wider reach in the region.”

DNA operates as a united collective, bringing international perspective, strong local expertise and impeccable service standards. DNA operates as a one-stop shop in handling complex and time sensitive multi-jurisdictional transactions or disputes seamlessly. While remaining independent, we operate as a “firm of firms”.

Each DNA firm has a track record of a client-focused approach, high quality legal advice, and cutting-edge solutions. All the firms consistently win client recognition and prominent accolades in the world’s most prestigious international legal publications.

About the DNA Member Firms
Drew & Napier LLC
Drew & Napier, established since 1889, is one of the largest and most established, full-service law firms in Singapore, with a history spanning more than 130 years. Our Dispute Resolution practice is consistently singled out as unparalleled, achieving top tier rankings in prestigious international publications for over a decade. Our International Arbitration Practice has been similarly identified among the world’s top 100 practices by the Global Arbitration Review since 2010. We are pre-eminent in Competition & Antitrust, Corporate Insolvency & Restructuring, Intellectual Property (Patents and Trademarks), Tax and Telecommunications, Media & Technology, and have market leading practices in Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Finance, and Capital Markets.

Makarim & Taira S.
Founded in 1980 by two Harvard graduates, Makarim & Taira S. is one of Indonesia’s leading full-service law firms. We are a leader in both the traditional practice areas of Corporate services, Banking, Finance, Foreign Investment, Litigation, Infrastructure, and Employment, as well as emerging growth areas such as Anti-Trust/Competition, Power and Energy, Intellectual Property, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, and Fintech. To better serve our clients, we also have an international reach to prominent firms recognised globally as leading experts in the industry through the World Law Group (WLG) and the World Services Group (WSG).

Shearn Delamore & Co.
Shearn Delamore & Co. is one of the oldest and largest full-service law firms in Malaysia, providing comprehensive services to domestic and international clients since 1905. The firm’s Dispute Resolution, Corporate & M&A, Intellectual Property, Employment, Tax, Competition & Antitrust, Banking & Finance, Technology, Media & Telco, Infrastructure & Projects, Construction, Regulatory Compliance & Enforcement, Real Estate and Shipping practice groups have been repeatedly recognised as market leaders, with the firm being a 5-time recipient of Chambers Asia Pacific’s Malaysia Law Firm of the Year award. The firm maintains extensive global links with legal and multilateral agencies, including the World Law Group (WLG), the World Services Group (WSG), and the Employment Law Alliance (ELA).

Martinez Vergara Gonzalez & Serrano (MVGS)
Martinez Vergara Gonzalez & Serrano (MVGS) is a leading full-service law firm in the Philippines established in 2007 by recognised elite lawyers Eduardo A. Martinez, Mark O. Vergara, Manuel Z. Gonzalez and Elmer B. Serrano. With the combined experience of the firm’s partners, MVGS takes pride in having established itself as a highly-respected and leading law firm in the Philippines, providing a full range of excellent legal services in the areas of Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Projects & Energy, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labour and Employment and Immigration.

For more information, please contact:
Madhu Rai (Ms)
Head, Marketing & Communications Department
T: +65 6531 2482  E: madhu.rai@drewnapier.com
Jane Lee (Ms)
Deputy Manager, Marketing & Communications Department
T: +65 6531 2218  E: jane.lee@drewnapier.com
Rosalia S. Bartolome-Alejo
Partner, MVGS
T: +63 2 8687 1195  E: rosalia.alejo@mvgslaw.com

Senior Partner Eduardo A. Martinez – A-List (Top100) Philippine Lawyer

Announcements

Atty. Eduardo A. Martinez, Senior Partner and Head of the Firm’s Dispute Resolution Practice Group, is once again recognized as one of The Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers 2021 (The A-List) by the Asia Business Law Journal for the second time in a row.
 
This recognition of Atty. Martinez is a testament to the Firm’s commitment to its clients, as “comments submitted to Asia Business Law Journal suggest that clients demand lawyers who master novel concepts in the ever-changing industry, apart from extensive legal knowledge, and are equipped with a forward-thinking approach to solving complex problems.”
 
In compiling the A-List, Asia Business Law Journal stated that the “the A-List is based on extensive research conducted by Asia Business Law Journal. To identify the top 100 lawyers in the Philippines, we turned to thousands of in-house counsel in the Philippines and around the world – as well as partners at international law firms – and asked them to tell us which lawyers should make the cut, and why.”
 
Atty. Martinez specializes in dispute resolution, labor, immigration, intellectual property, and domestic relations and succession law cases, with extensive experience as a litigator both in trial and appellate levels.

See The Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers 2021 here.

Senior Partner Eduardo A. Martinez Named A-List (Top100) Lawyer by Asia Business Law Journal

Announcements

Atty. Eduardo A. Martinez, Senior Partner and Head of the Firm’s Dispute Resolution Practice Group, has been recognized in Asia Business Law Journal’s The A-List: The Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers 2020.
 
Asia Business Law Journal recently revealed the A-List of the Philippine legal profession, following extensive research and nominations received from in-house counsels in the country and from partners of Philippine-focused international law firms.
 
Atty. Martinez, named by Asia Business Law Journal as an A-List Lawyer, specializes in dispute resolution, labor, immigration, intellectual property, as well as legal proceedings involving domestic relations and succession law cases. His extensive experience as a litigator specifically allowed him to gain expertise in trial and appellate practice.
 
The A-List can be found on Asia Business Law Journal’s website at https://www.vantageasia.com/asia-business-law-journal/lawyers/philippines-lawyers-2020/#Eduardo-Martinez.

MVGS Nominated as “Philippines Firm of the Year” in Asialaw Awards 2021

Announcements

We are pleased to announce that MVGS is nominated for the coveted “Philippines Firm of the Year” citation in the asialaw Awards 2021.
 
The asialaw Awards 2021 will celebrate leading firms across 23 jurisdictions, 11 legal expertise categories and 7 industry expertise categories based on submissions for the upcoming edition of Asialaw Profiles. Asialaw features comprehensive analysis on Asia’s regional and domestic firms and leading lawyers from the region. See full shortlist here  AsialawAwards2021MVGS.
 
This achievement reflects the Firm’s strong overall ability to service its clients during the challenging period of 2020-2021, a key criteria to Asialaw’s research and ratings.
 
Winners will be announced during the virtual ceremony on  30 September 2021.

How Tax Authorities of Southeast Asian Countries Deal with COVID-19

Announcements

Author Atty. Mary Elizabeth M. Belmonte  

           Atty. Harlem P. Ma-at

On 19 May 2020, MVGS attended the seminar conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited entitled “The State of Tax Administration in Southeast Asia: the Regulators’ Perspective.” The panel of speakers are public officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. They discussed the tax administration processes for each country in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the panel shared how their respective governments are helping taxpayers deal with the current environment in terms of tax compliance and tax controversies. Each speaker also highlighted how their respective tax agencies are adopting and utilizing technology in their tax compliance processes during this new and evolving landscape brought by the pandemic.

Read more: How Tax Authorities of Southeast Asian Countries Deal with COVID-19

Tax Compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic

Several tax authorities of  Southeast Asian countries provided taxpayers some tax compliance reliefs and incentives. In Indonesia, the Directorate General of Taxes (Indonesian: Direktorat Jenderal Pajak; also known as DJP) reduced the income tax rate and simplified the filing of income tax returns for corporate taxpayers. On the other hand, DJP extended the deadlines for the filing of income tax return for individual taxpayers. In Malaysia, the Government issued the PRIHATIN Stimulus Package which granted taxpayers several benefits such as a two-month extension to file their tax returns, waiver of penalty on deferment of tax payment, tax deduction for COVID-19 related donations, and priority of tax refund and clearance application. In the Philippines, pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Bayanihan Act), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) extended the deadlines for filing of the tax returns and granted tax-exemptions to donations made in relation to COVID-19. In Singapore, similar extensions and deferment of payments were also made by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) in addition the waiver of tax penalties for those affected by COVID-19. Notably, the IRAS also granted interest-free installment tax payment plan to certain corporate taxpayers.

Dealing with Tax Audits and Controversies

Special rules or procedures were also adopted by the tax authorities in dealing with tax audit and proceedings during the pandemic. In Indonesia, new tax audits were suspended while the on-going audits are being done thru a work from home mechanism. Thus, Indonesian tax officials do not need to conduct site visit or be physically in-contact with taxpayers. In Malaysia, the Inland Revenue Board adopted similar policies by except for tax audits involving severe non-compliance, tax evasions, and aggressive tax planning. In the Philippines, the BIR suspended the statute of limitations and extended the deadline for submission of protest letters, position papers, appeals, and similar letters and correspondences. Like the Philippines, Singapore also exercised more flexibility and leniency in considering requests to extend the deadline to file objections to assessments, respond to audit queries, or step-down on supporting documents required for on-going audits. The IRAS, in granting the requests, considers the past compliance behavior of the taxpayer, the complexity of the case, and whether industry where the taxpayer belongs is affected by the pandemic.

Adopting in the evolving landscape of Information Technology

The spread of COVID-19 compelled tax authorities across Southeast Asia to adopt or utilize the increasingly complex nature of information technology. In Indonesia, in line with its work from home mechanism for ongoing audits, documents are now submitted digitally and discussions are held through encrypted virtual meetings. In Malaysia, digital offices and work from home set-up are also implemented. The Inland Revenue Board even expanded their “desk audit and profiling” by using their online database and utilizing third-party information from its data sharing system comprising of public and private companies. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the digital transformation project of the BIR is still on-going. In addition, the BIR conducts tax audits using an audit software that matches third party information. In Singapore, the IRAS proactively promotes digital service channels for communication instead of face-to-face meetings. It also implemented secured communication channels for its taxpayers such as online chat, myTaxPortal, and AskJamie, a virtual assistant. Taxpayers were also encouraged to work with tax agents by submitting correspondences via encrypted emails or authenticated platforms.

Undeniably, the world is changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that taxpayers and tax authorities must be resilient and innovative in dealing with the “new normal” to enable the economy to grow or even flourish. The current climate may require governments to pass on legislations such as stimulus packages or additional tax reliefs and incentives to taxpayers. On the part of the taxpayers and tax officials, it can be as simple as the observance of social distancing. Measures such as online filing of tax returns and payment of taxes, reduction of face-to-face meeting, less site visits, adoption of computer-aided audit tools, and high utilization of the digital mechanism will undoubtedly go a long way in fighting this novel corona virus.

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