Teodoro Kalaw IV (Teddy) is Senior Partner at the firm of Kalaw & Hofilena Law Firm in Metro Manila, Philippines. His expertise spans IP strategy, IP litigation and copyright law. He advises corporations, family offices, and overseas entities.
His business has grown and evolved in tandem with the Philippines’ IP market.
“When I started in IP in 1998, the year the IPOPHL was established, my billable time for my first three years as an associate was mostly enforcement actions and litigation as a private prosecutor. Today about half of my practice in IP is advising clients about proactive ways to create value in their businesses through a more strategic understanding of their intangible assets, and not just about how these are protected with IP.”
His career has mirrored the evolution of the Philippines IP market. Since he entered the profession in 1998, the country’s economy has expanded dramatically. It is now one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic growth markets with a GDP over US$500 billion, helping to drive a growing need for IP services.
A best practice to share with FICPI members
As a boutique IP firm, Kalaw & Hofilena has focused on helping clients understand how intangible IP assets create commercial value.
Reflecting on the reasoning for this, Teodoro notes:
“We have found that when we demonstrate that IP is more than a cost driver for businesses, they become much more open to other IP-related services beyond registration and enforcement work.
This focus on strategic IP, together with having a select and stable client portfolio through the years has enabled us to thrive while mitigating the competitive pressures faced by peer firms which tend to concentrate on competing for registration work primarily on price.”
The future for independent IP attorneys
When considering how independent IP may develop in the years ahead, Teodoro shares his plans:
“We are actively exploring and assessing the risks of how digital technology (not just AI) will greatly streamline registration work for industrial property across the world, particularly in the patents field over the next decade. The knowledge that the majority of FICPI members are primarily patent practitioners was a key driver for me to join FICPI.”
“The Philippines’ economy is seven times larger than it was when I set up my firm and the country is now recognised as a key jurisdiction for IP protection in the region. This growing recognition of intangible assets as an economic driver has created significant opportunities. In the Philippines, understanding of IP is growing fast and it’s no longer seen as a defensive tool. We foresee interest ramping up again once the local financial sector becomes more open to securitizing intangible assets.”
Adding value to clients
Increasingly working with foreign investors and brands who view the region as an attractive growth market and appreciate strategic IP counsel, Teodoro explains,
“Overseas investors respect our local IP knowledge. We were engaged last year by a client to value the IP of one of its business models that involved a hybrid Japanese convenience store and restaurant concept already operating in several locations.”
Kalaw & Hofilena’s valuation played a major role in convincing that firm to retain the model (in lieu of discontinuing the convenience store and just focusing on the restaurant) but also to develop the concept into a franchise operation.
Value of FICPI membership
Since joining FICPI in 2024, Teodoro has been an active member, holding roles in the Practice Management Committee and the Study & Work Committee’s IP Enforcement & ADR Group (CET 7). He also serves as FICPI’s Executive Committee Delegate for the Philippines and President of the FICPI-Philippines section for the second term.
Describing what makes FICPI special for him, Teodoro says:
“Hands down what I value most about FICPI is the opportunities it gives me to benchmark my IP practice against other independent practitioners. That encourages me to go beyond my comfort zone to explore other areas of IP services for my firm, such as patent work.
“I especially appreciate the interaction that I have with other members at the Practice Management Committee and the ideas I have obtained to make the business side of my own firm more productive and efficient.”
PMC President Anne Lévy nominated Teodoro for Member of the Month. She comments:
“Teddy joined the PMC in October 2025, after we met in Naples and he attended the PMC reception and presentations. He is our first member from the Philippines. He showed a special interest in the standard-related topics and ISO56005, therefore deciding to join PMC Group 5 relating to Governance, Risk and Compliance. We are pleased to have Teddy on board.”
Final word – outside of work
Despite his extensive academic accomplishments, Teodoro continues to study and this summer passed the oral defence of his PhD dissertation proposal at the University of the Philippines on the reaction to the regulatory adoption of western norms of corporate governance by Filipino family firms.
He hopes to defend his thesis and graduate next year.
Family is very important to him and he is reminded of their history when he passes the National Library in Manila, situated on the street named after his great grandfather, Teodoro M. Kalaw.
“Among his other contributions, my great grandfather was instrumental in passing legislation that created what is today our National Library, and he invested a portion of his professional life organising that institution.”
Education & training
- 2015: Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership [MSt.], Wolfson College, University of Cambridge
- 2012: Master of Business Administration [MBA], Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University & the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Business School (joint program)
- 2010: Master in Public Administration [MPA] / Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence, National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines
- 2001: Master of Laws [LL.M.], Harvard Law School, Harvard University
- 1997: Juris Doctor [JD] with 2nd Honors, Ateneo Law School, Ateneo de Manila University
- 1993: Bachelor of Science in Management [BS Mgt.], Major in Legal Management, College of Arts & Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University
Professional background
- 2019 - date: Senior Partner, Kalaw & Hofilena Law Firm
- 2005 – 2019: Senior Partner, Kalaw Sy Selva & Associates Law Firm
- 2003 – 2014: Past Secretary-General & Legal Counsel, IP Coalition
- 2002: Seconded Associate, Tokyo Aoyama Law Firm (Baker & McKenzie Tokyo)
- 1998 – 2005: Senior Associate, Quisumbing Torres Law Firm (Baker & McKenzie Manila)
- 1997 – 1998: Chief Judicial Staff Officer / Law Clerk, Chambers of Justice Vicente V. Mendoza
