Mila Federis is an intellectual property law practitioner in the Philippines. She has an extensive experience in intellectual property litigation, trademark prosecution, and trademark portfolio management. She has counseled clients on all aspects of IP issues involving trademarks, patents, copyright, trade secrets, data privacy, data security, franchising and licensing.

Her long and successful private practice in the field of IP has given Ms. Federis the expertise at providing her clients with practical and effective solutions to problems that involve the application of different aspects of intellectual property law and practice. Ms. Federis counsels clients on matters essential to business, assisting them in securing protection for the clients’ trademarks, patents, trade secrets, copyright as well as innovations to business processes and products.

She provides exceptional, effective and practical advice on the trademark application process in the Philippines, and helps companies develop well-constructed strategies in trademark clearance, prosecution, and maintenance.

Through the firm’s extensive network of foreign associates, Ms. Federis assists clients in securing protection for their trademarks worldwide. She has also assisted clients at strategic stages of brand building, from trademark clearance and registration to brand launching, advertising, brand collaboration, licensing and franchising.

Ms. Federis boasts a breadth of experience in representing clients in all types of intellectual property disputes. She has successfully represented clients from different industries in the enforcement of IP rights, litigating cases before the lower courts, appeals courts and administrative agencies.

Ms. Federis is able to provide incisive advice on the best course of action in all stages of IP litigation. Her litigation expertise has helped big multinational companies win cases for their big brands, small local start-ups, and regional enterprises. Some of her cases have yielded notable Supreme Court decisions that enriched the jurisprudence in Philippine IP law. And she has negotiated many favorable settlements when settling disputes is in the best interest of the clients.

Ms. Federis is a member of numerous professional IP organizations like the International Trademark Association (INTA), American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), International Property Organization (IPO), Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), to name a few. She is a contributor to INTA publications and resources, and she gives lectures on trademarks and designs at the IPOPHL summer boot camp and other educational events.

Described by various clients as exceptional, extremely competent, and a versatile practitioner, Ms. Federis’s practice speaks for itself. Her wealth of experience ensures the immense value she brings to the table as an IP practitioner.

At the firm, Ms. Federis counsels clients on all types of trademark, copyright and patent issues. She provides information on how the Philippine IP system works and shares her knowledge with clients about how to effectively navigate the system. Ms. Federis uses a strategic approach to obtain the maximum protection for clients’ intellectual property rights in the Philippines. Then, she utilizes creative methods to effectively enforce those rights.

Ms. Federis works with clients from a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, hotel, leisure, electronics, automotive, telecommunications and IT. Her extensive experience in an IP-focused practice involves copyright, trademark and design prosecution, enforcement, licensing, advertising and privacy issues. She manages a range of trademark work, from clearance to prosecution and maintenance. Her enforcement work includes cease and desist letter campaigns, raids, coordination with government officials and court actions.

Ms. Federis also works closely with the litigation team, preparing strategic approaches to resolving IP disputes. She formulates the theory and game plan, supervises the preparation of pleadings and argues difficult motions in court. She oversees settlement negotiations to ensure the protection of clients’ rights, while allowing contentious matters to be resolved under terms that allow clients to consider practical solutions that help in the timely execution of business plans.

Under her leadership, the litigation team has successfully obtained decisions conferring famous status on a number of trademarks, thereby ensuring wider legal protection for those marks and giving clients a stronger position against unauthorized users.

Ms. Federis graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Bachelor of Law from the University of the Philippines.

Over the past few years, Ms. Federis has been recognized as one of the top trademark practitioners in the Philippines and throughout Southeast Asia. The WTR 1000 cites Ms. Federis as a “standout practitioner” and applauds her “IP nous and international experience”. In the most recent edition of the publication, she was praised as the “go-to enforcement lawyer” in the Philippines.

Ms. Federis has also been recognized by other legal publications, including the Asialaw Leading Lawyers, Who’s Who Legal: Trademarks Edition, Legal’s Finest Patent Edition, Expert Guides, Global Law Experts and IP Law Experts.