The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) announced the appointment of Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz as the agency’s new director-general.
Da Costa-Villaluz is a distinguished lawyer with nearly three decades of experience in intellectual property (IP) law. She has handled complex cases involving trademarks, patents, copyrights, and commercial law throughout her career.
Prior to her appointment, da Costa-Villaluz was the founder of BDCV Law and previously a partner at Poblador Bautista & Reyes Law Offices, where she built a distinguished career in IP litigation, enforcement and corporate governance.
Recognized for her expertise, da Costa-Villaluz was named a “Trademark Star” by Managing IP in 2021 and 2022 and featured in Asia IP Informed Analysis as an “IP Expert” in 2023 and 2024.
She also received accolades from Legal 500 for her exceptional work in IP prosecution.
Da Costa-Villaluz graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in 1996, ranking 9th in her class. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of the Philippines.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed as director general of IPOPHL and to have the opportunity to serve alongside the dedicated team. We will continue to work closely with IP rights holders to leverage the intellectual property system to foster creativity, innovation, and inclusive prosperity,” she said.
