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Bio

Atty. Somera is a highly respected veteran in the intellectual property practice with over thirty years of experience and heads V&A Law's Intellectual Property Department.

Following the end of his term as V&A Law's Managing Partner in 2015, Atty. Somera has focused his efforts into diversifying the Firm's IP portfolio, and sharpening the Department's expertise in patent and trademark litigation, and copyright protection, which have served to distinguish V&A Law from its counterparts in the Philippines.

Atty. Somera has held and continues to occupy key positions in local and international IP and legal organizations. He served as Governor for the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Southern Luzon Region. He was a council member of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association, and was a member of its several standing committees. Atty. Somera also served as a councilor for the ASEAN Intellectual Property Association and is a notable figure in the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property. He was a former officer of the Licensing Executive Society of the Philippines and a former President and Chairman of the Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines.

Atty. Somera is also an accredited Mediator for appellate cases in the Court of Appeals of the Philippines, having completed his training at the Philippine Judicial Academy of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Credentials
  • Education
    • Juris Doctor — University of the Philippines College of Law (1985)
    • B.S. Business Economics — University of the Philippines Diliman (1981)
Organizations
  • Local
    • Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) – Makati Chapter
    • Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines (IPAP)
    • Licensing Executives Society-Philippines (LESP)
  • Foreign
    • International Trademark Association (INTA)
    • International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
    • ASEAN Intellectual Property Association (AIPA)
    • Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)
Awards
  • Asia Business Law Journal
    • The A-List: The Philippines Top 100 Lawyers (2020–2025)
  • Asialaw Profiles
    • Elite Practitioner (2024–2025)
    • Distinguished Practitioner (2021–2023)
      • Intellectual Property
  • Chambers Asia-Pacific
    • Band 1 (2020–2026)
      • Intellectual Property
  • Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
    • Leading Partner (2024–2026)
    • Recommended Lawyer (2022–2026)
  • IAM
    • IAM Global Leader (2026)
      • Patent
    • IAM Patent 1000 Recommended Individuals
      • Gold (2026)
  • IP Stars
    • Trademark Star (2025-2026)
      • Trademark
  • WTR 1000 Recommended Individuals
    • Gold Tier
      • Enforcement and Litigation (2021–2025)
      • Prosecution and Strategy (2025)
    • Silver Tier (2021)
      • Prosecution and Strategy
  • Benchmark Litigation
    • Litigation Star (2021–2026)
  • AsiaIP
    • Top 40 List of Asia IP’s Philippines IP Experts (2020–2021)
Client Testimony

“Bienvenido Somera is a charismatic colleague with serious contacts in the Philippines, always open for questions.”

Intellectual Property Respondent — Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2026 Guide

“Bienvenido Somera’s legal expertise in the field of IP and his commitment to achieving favourable outcomes for his clients’ cases are highly commendable. He and his team’s dedication and hard work to serve the best interest of their client went above and beyond expectations.”

Cecilia Santos | First Vice President- Legal Services Group, BDO Unibank — Asia Business Law Journal: The 2025 A-List

“Bienvenido Somera has notable experience handling the range of IP matters, from the commercialisation of novel IP, to protecting copyrights and litigating patent and trademark matters.”

Editorial Commentary — Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025 Guide

“Bienvenido Somera is a senior partner in the Firm’s office in Manila. He remains a highly regarded practitioner in the IP Sphere and is well regarded for his litigation and enforcement work.”

Chambers Review, Individual Editorial — Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026

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