kristine-bongcaron

Kristine R. Bongcaron

Partner | Head, Intellectual Property | Co-Head, Commercial Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution | Co-Head, Data Privacy and Security

Senior Partner
Phone: +63 2 8687 1195

KRISTINE R. BONGCARON

Key Practice

  • Dispute Resolution
  • Labor and Employment
  • Commercial Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Intellectual Property
  • Data Privacy and Security

Qualifications

  • Admission to Bar (2012)
  • University of the Philippines, Juris Doctor (2011)
  • University of the Philippines, B.A. Philosophy (2006)

Introduction

Kristine is actively involved a number of the Firm’s practice groups: Dispute Resolution, Commercial Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labor and Employment, Intellectual Property, and Data Privacy and Security. She Co-Heads the Commercial Arbitration Alternative Dispute Resolution and the Data Privacy and Security practice groups, and is the head of the Intellectual Property team.

Kristine’s dispute resolution practice is focused mainly on commercial litigation, debt restructuring (rehabilitation and insolvency), arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. She also specializes in the emerging area of data privacy. Kristine likewise handles cases on persons and family relations, as well as guardianship proceedings for the Firm.

Kristine is active in Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI), the first arbitral institution in the Philippines, where she is a trained arbitrator, trained mediator, accredited file counsel, and member. Kristine regularly takes part in PDRCI’s commercial arbitration training seminars either as a speaker or as a mock arbitration facilitator. Currently, she is a member of the Rules Revision Committee tasked to revisit and update the PDRCI’s arbitration rules. She also serves as PDRCI’s Data Protection Officer

Kristine is a trained arbitrator of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). She is a member of the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PiArb), and a member of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) and a trained Tribunal Secretary of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC).

Prior to joining the Firm in 2012, Kristine served as an intern for the Office of the Solicitor General. She graduated with a degree in B.A. Philosophy from the University of the Philippines in October 2006. She completed her Juris Doctor degree at the University of the Philippines in 2011 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2012.

Experience

Dispute Resolution

  • Acted as counsel to private companies in institutional and ad hoc arbitration proceedings against government instrumentalities and other private parties.
  • Acted as counsel to private companies arbitration proceeding before the Construction Industry Arbitration Center.

Debt Restructuring and Insolvency

  • Acted as counsel to a local creditor bank in the rehabilitation proceedings of a debtor company engaged in petroleum distribution in the Philippines.
  • Acted as counsel to a secured creditor private company in initiating a forced conversion of a rehabilitation proceeding to a liquidation proceeding, including the eventual liquidation and distribution of remaining assets of the insolvent debtor company.

Labor and Employment

  • Routinely advises companies across various industries on all employment matters, including the drafting or review of employee policies and manuals, human resource contracts, independent contractor arrangements, the conduct of disciplinary proceedings, implementing retrenchments and redundancy processes, including compliance with reportorial requirements of relevant regulatory agencies, and complying with regulatory compliances on safety and health standards.
  • Represents clients in various labor-related proceedings before the Department of Labor and Employment and the National Labor Relations Commission, including cases for illegal dismissal, suspension, and money claims.

Intellectual Property

  • Assists local and foreign clients in the registration and maintenance of marks in the Philippines, drafting of licensing agreements,, and enforcement of copyright and other intellectual property rights.

Data Privacy and Security

  • Represents and assists clients in proceedings before the National Privacy Commission, making mandatory breach reports, submitting other reportorial requirements, drafting and review of data privacy policies, data sharing agreements and contract clauses relating to data privacy compliance.

Speaking Engagements

  • Starting 2021, regular speaker and facilitator for PDRCI Training Webinars – Commercial Arbitration Training, Tribunal Secretary Training, Mediation Training
  • June 2022, speaker for the 2022 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Hosted by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines for Legal Ethics in the Technology Age: Discussion on Cyberlaw and Data Privacy in Relation to Intellectual Property
  • September 2022, speaker for Arbitration as a Career in the Philippines hosted by the PIArb

Accolades

The Asia Pacific Legal 500

  • Dispute Resolution – Next Generation Partner (2023), Rising Star (2020-2022); Recommended Lawyer (2021-2023)
  • Intellectual Property – Recommended Lawyer (2021, 2023)
  • Labor and Employment – Recommended Lawyer (2017, 2023)

Legal 500 Arbitration Power List

  • Southeast Asia 2022 – Recommended Lawyer

Appointments / Membership

  • Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines
  • Member, PDRCI Rules Revision Committee
  • Chair, PDRCI Data Privacy Committee
  • Data Protection Officer, PDRCI
  • Trained Arbitrator, PDRCI
  • Trained Mediator, PDRCI
  • Accredited File Counsel, PDRCI
  • Member, U.P. Women Lawyers Circle
  • Member, Philippine Institute of Arbitrators
  • Member, Dispute Resolution Board Foundation