Spruson & Ferguson Philippines is honoured to receive the award for 2025 Top Patent Agent from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), for the firm's achievement as filing the highest volume of patent applications in the Philippines during the 2025 calendar year.
The award was formally presented at the 2026 Gawad Yamang Isip (GYI) Awards Night on 24 April, where Michael Adrian Gabriel, Patent Executive Manager of Spruson & Ferguson Philippines, accepted the honour on behalf of the firm.
Spruson & Ferguson's patent filings in the Philippines grew by more than 77% from financial year 2024 to financial year 2025, far outpacing overall patent market growth which sits at 8.3% according to statistics from IPOPHL. Over the last three years, our electrical/digital technology filings have also surged by over 600%, suggesting an emergence of the Philippines' as a digital innovation hub.
The award makes the Philippines the fourth major Asia Pacific jurisdiction in which Spruson & Ferguson is the top patent filer, alongside Singapore, Australia and Indonesia.
This success has been largely driven by a highly optimised operational framework that allows the team to handle high‑volume filings without sacrificing speed or technical accuracy.
"Moving to the number‑one ranking in the Philippines is a defining milestone, and a strong endorsement of our momentum in the local IP market," said Mr Gabriel. "As proud as we are of this recognition, our focus remains on sustaining excellence for our clients by continually strengthening our processes and staying closely aligned with IPOPHL developments."
Over the past 18 months, the firm has built robust internal systems and automated processes that allow the team to operate at a scale beyond traditional workflows, and that shift has been a major factor in achieving this recognition. Ultimately, however this recognition is the result of both technology‑driven processes and a collaborative team culture.
"This award reflects our ability to support innovators with scale, accuracy, and deep local expertise in one of Southeast Asia's rapidly expanding IP markets," says Duarte Lima, Managing Director Asia. "Congratulations to our team for their achievement and commitment to outstanding service and support for our clients."
Michael Adrian Gabriel accepting the Top Patent Agent Award at the IPOPH 2026 Gawad Yamang Isip (GYI) Awards, with Trade Mark Executive, Daisy Malaca-Gabriel – 24 April 2026
In conversation with Michael Adrian Gabriel
What trends or shifts in the patent landscape have shaped the firm's work most recently?
Recently, we've seen a major shift in the patent landscape driven by a surge in filings within the ICT sector. Rapid digital transformation across industries, covering everything from network infrastructure and digital platforms to FinTech and now AI, has significantly increased activity in this space.
As a result, the Philippines has become an increasingly important jurisdiction for global tech companies looking to secure their IP in Southeast Asia. These trends have shaped much of our recent work and contributed to the growing volume of applications we're handling.
How would you describe the team behind the patent practice, and what motivates them to maintain such a high standard of work?
I would describe the patent team as a highly synchronised, mission‑driven unit. Our alignment starts from our Managing Director, Duarte Lima through to the broader leadership group and every member of our team.
Everyone understands their specific role in the process, and that clarity allows us to operate with unmatched professionalism and cohesion, even under high‑volume demands. That alignment is what enables us to adapt quickly without ever losing sight of our common objective.
Our team is really motivated by a shared mindset built around a unified goal. We operate with the belief that our success is a collective responsibility. The combination of a clear purpose, open communication, and mutual accountability is what keeps our standards consistently high.
About the Gawad Yamang Isip Awards
Gawad Yamang Isip (GYI) is the Philippines' premier intellectual property award, conferred by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to recognise Filipinos and Filipino‑owned institutions that demonstrate outstanding ingenuity, creativity, and effective use of the IP system.
Read about the programme and award categories here.