How we can help
Legal problems are far easier and less expensive to prevent than to litigate. Businesses that engage counsel proactively — to review contracts, structure transactions, and set up compliant HR policies — avoid the disputes that drag on for years.
Vivas & Nobles offers practical, commercially-minded legal support for businesses of all sizes, with retainer arrangements that give you access to experienced counsel whenever you need it.
Contract Drafting & Review
We draft and review contracts, agreements, and other commercial documents to protect your business interests and minimize legal risk — from supplier agreements to NDAs.
Corporate Compliance & Advisory
We advise businesses on their legal obligations under Philippine law, helping you stay compliant and avoid costly disputes before they arise.
Retainer Services
Retainer arrangements that give you access to our legal team for consultations, document review, contract drafting, and other day-to-day legal matters — without the cost of in-house counsel.
HR & Employment Documentation
We draft and review employment contracts, company policies, notices to explain, and other HR documents to keep your workforce management legally sound and defensible.
Published Fee Schedule
Retainers from ₱15,000 a month, and a Standard tier with 30% off every fee outside the retainer. No "it depends" — every rate is in writing. See the full corporate fee schedule.
What a legal retainer covers
A legal retainer gives a business ongoing access to counsel for a fixed monthly fee — day-to-day advice, review and drafting of contracts, employment and regulatory questions, and representation on covered matters — instead of paying case by case. It is preventive: most disputes a company faces are cheaper to avoid than to litigate.
Our fees are published, not quoted on request: retainers start at ₱15,000 a month for 10 hours of professional time, the ₱30,000 Standard tier carries 20 hours plus 30% off all fees outside the retainer, and litigation, regulatory appearances, and special projects have their own published rates. The full schedule is on our corporate legal fees page.
Starting and keeping a company compliant
Choosing the right vehicle matters. A sole proprietorship registers with the DTI, while a corporation or partnership registers with the SEC, and since RA 11232 a single individual may form a One Person Corporation. Registration is only the start — corporate housekeeping such as the General Information Sheet and annual filings keeps the company in good standing and its officers out of personal liability.
Contracts, intellectual property, and data
Most of a business's legal risk lives in its paperwork. We draft and review the contracts a company runs on — supplier and service agreements, leases, and non-disclosure agreements that are actually enforceable — and protect the brand by registering trademarks with IPOPHL. If you handle customers' personal information, the Data Privacy Act obliges you to register and comply, and the cost of getting that wrong is a National Privacy Commission complaint.
When disputes come, cheaper ways through them
Not every disagreement belongs in court. A well-drafted demand letter resolves many of them, and where a contract provides for it, arbitration or mediation is usually faster and more private than litigation. A retainer means these options are weighed early, while they are still cheap — and if a matter must be litigated, you already have counsel who knows your business.
Frequently asked questions
What does a legal retainer include?
Typically ongoing legal advice, review and drafting of routine contracts, guidance on employment and regulatory compliance, and representation on agreed matters, all for a fixed monthly fee. The exact scope is set in the retainer agreement, with major or litigation matters often billed separately.
Can one person form a corporation in the Philippines?
Yes. Since the Revised Corporation Code (RA 11232), a single natural person, trust, or estate may form a One Person Corporation, with no minimum capital requirement in most cases. It gives the owner limited liability without the need for additional incorporators.
Do I register my business with the DTI or the SEC?
A sole proprietorship registers its business name with the DTI. A partnership or corporation, including a One Person Corporation, registers with the SEC. All of them still need a local business permit from the city or municipality and registration with the BIR.
What is corporate housekeeping?
It is the ongoing compliance work that keeps a corporation in good standing: filing the General Information Sheet and audited financial statements, keeping minutes and stock records current, and meeting SEC and BIR deadlines. Neglecting it can lead to penalties and, in time, revocation of the registration.