Mila Federis is the co-founder and managing partner of Federis & Associates Law Offices (FEDERIS), a boutique law firm specialising in intellectual property that was recognised as the top trademark filer for 2009–2018 by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
Ms Federis has extensive experience in IP, having worked in IP-focused firms in both the United States and the Philippines prior to starting her own firm. At FEDERIS, she works with clients from a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, hotel, leisure, electronics, automotive, telecommunications and IT. She handles copyright, trademark, and design prosecution and enforcement, licensing, advertising, and privacy issues.
Ms Federis is an active participant in various professional organisations such as INTA, AIPPI and MARQUES. For INTA, she has organised a roundtable conference, moderated an INTA conference panel discussion, sat in a panel for the indigenous rights and traditional knowledge committee in the 2019 AIPA Conference, and represented at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation IP Rights Experts’ Group consultation. She also regularly contributes to various IP-focused publications, sharing her insights on the ever-changing Philippine IP landscape.
In addition to her professional activities, Ms Federis devotes time to pro-bono cases. She has acted as defence counsel for students accused in anti-subversion cases and seven women accused in a criminal case for malicious mischief. She is a passionate proponent of the firm’s annual gift to the Office of Legal Affairs at the University of the Philippines College of Law and regularly contributes to non-government organisations involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of street children.