We are a full-service law firm based in Cebu City, Philippines, providing a comprehensive range of legal services to individuals and businesses.
We specialize in corporate law, family (and estate planning) law, tax law, contract law, labor law and others.
23/01/2026
✨ Welcome to the team! ✨
We are proud to welcome Atty. Mary Paulette Bilar as the newest Associate of Bathan & Associates Law Firm.
Her dedication to the practice of law, professionalism, and commitment to excellence make her a valuable addition to our growing team. We are confident that she will further strengthen our firm’s mission of providing competent, ethical, and client-centered legal services.
Here’s to meaningful collaboration, continued growth, and delivering even greater value to the clients we serve. Welcome aboard, Atty. Mary Paulette! ⚖️💼
07/01/2026
Congratulations to our former Head Paralegal, Atty. Ritche Pepito, who dedicated three years of excellent service to the firm. We wish you continued success in your new endeavor! We will see you around!
07/01/2026
Congratulations to our new lawyer, Atty. Aboyaniv Hassan!
07/01/2026
Congratulations to the new lawyers!
05/01/2026
WE ARE HIRING! 💼
BLBA Law is looking for a professional, reliable, and detail-oriented Legal Secretary to support our team.
If you have experience in administrative roles and a knack for organization, we want to hear from you.
Grateful to those who have helped shape Bathan Law to what it is today. Merry Christmas from Bathan Law!🎄
24/10/2025
We are hiring!
Our firm is looking for motivated Paralegals and Underbar Associates to join our team. If you’re passionate about the legal field and eager to take the next step in your legal career, we’d love to hear from you!
Under the 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞, a corporation is defined as "𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘢𝘸, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘸 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦."
This forms the basis of the 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, which establishes that a corporation has a juridical personality separate and distinct from its stockholders, directors, and officers.
The Doctrine of Separate Legal Personality was affirmed in 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐯. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐭𝐞 (𝐆.𝐑. 𝐍𝐨. 𝟐𝟏𝟏𝟓𝟑𝟓, 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓), where the Supreme Court held that a corporation’s obligations are its own, and its directors, officers, or employees are generally not personally liable.
Similarly, in 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌. 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐯. 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐞, 𝐈𝐧𝐜. (𝐆.𝐑. 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏𝟖𝟓𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕), the Court emphasized that stockholders enjoy limited liability, meaning corporate debts are not their personal debts, and their property is separate from the corporation’s.
Courts may, however, "𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙞𝙡" in cases of fraud or misuse to hold individuals accountable.
Atty. Maricris Bathan-Lasco talks about the process of applying for a marriage license and the documents required in applying for one.
Click the link below to know more!
Atty. Maricris Bathan-Lasco talks about how one can apply for a marriage license and the documentary requirements that are needed to be submitted. Atty. Bath...
06/10/2025
Our partner, Atty. Maricris Bathan-Lasco, recently shared her insights with fellow lawyers during the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) for the 9th compliance period, organized by the IBP Cebu Chapter. She delivered a comprehensive lecture on Recent Supreme Court Rulings on Annulment and Nullity of Marriages - a timely and relevant topic for family law practitioners.
We’re proud to see Atty. Bathan-Lasco contribute meaningfully to the legal community through her knowledge and dedication. 👩⚖️📚⚖️
04/10/2025
Our partner, Atty. Maricris Bathan-Lasco, explains what are the requisites of a valid marriage. Tune in to her youtube channel, MBL Classroom, to know more.
This is the beginning of a new series of video lectures discussing the FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES. This video covers Articles 1-6 of the Family Code, whe...
24/08/2025
Address
2nd Floor B. P. I. Bldg. , Magallanes Street Cebu City 6000
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The history of the firm can be traced way before 1952, when it was founded by Wenceslao Fernan. In the 1950s, the firm evolved into a partnership between Ramon L. Osmeña and Marcelo B. Fernan, bearing the name Fernan, Osmeña & Associates Law Firm. After two decades, the firm became M. B. Fernan & Associates, with Atty. Alicia E. Bathan as one of the associates then. With the appointment Marcelo B. Fernan as Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 1986, the firm became Bellaflor, Bathan and Associates.
When Marcelo B. Fernan became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and with the appointment of Atty. Rodolfo Bellaflor to the Judiciary, the law firm became “Bathan & Associates Law firm”, with Atty. Alicia E. Bathan as Senior and Managing Partner. Atty. Alicia Bathan was also the Dean of the College of Law of the University of San Jose Recoletos from 1985 to 2005. Following her retirement from the University of San Jose Recoletos, she became Dean of the College of Law of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation. She continues to be the Dean to this day.
Around 2004, with the admission of new partners, the firm became “Bathan, Reyes, Abadiano & Associates Law Firm”.
In 2007, the firm changed back to “Bathan & Associates law firm” and remains to be so up to the present as Atty. Alicia Bathan’s daughter and niece, Atty. Glynda Bathan-Baterina and Atty. Mae Elaine T. Bathan, respectively, joined her in the firm. In 2009, Atty. Maricris Bathan-Lasco, the youngest of the Bathan lawyers joined the firm. Atty. Maricris Bathan-Lasco is also passionate in the Academe and is a part-time Professor in the University of San Carlos’ School of Law and Governance. Atty. Glynda Bathan-Baterina is an environmental lawyer and is also the Deputy Executive Director of Clean Air Asia, an international non-governmental organization "that leads the global mission for better air quality and healthier, more livable cities in Asia”. Atty. Mae Elaine T. Bathan, while now very active in government service and has offered her expertise in another law firm in the country, she remains connected with the firm as Of Counsel.
Over the past years, Bathan & Associates Law firm’s clientele includes corporations, business establishments and individuals who have entrusted to the said law firm the handling of all legal matters and cases involving labor, corporate, civil, criminal and family laws among others.
