Partner

Atty. Anna Melissa D. Arao is a Partner at Gancayco, Balasbas & Associates, where she leads the firm's Intellectual Property Department and maintains a broad litigation and advisory practice. With nearly two decades of experience in both the private and public sectors, she brings deep expertise in Intellectual Property Law, Civil and Criminal Litigation, Immigration Law, Estate Planning, Land Transfer and Conversion, as well as regulatory compliance before agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Known for her meticulous case handling and strategic legal insight, she represents both individual and corporate clients before courts, quasi-judicial bodies, and administrative agencies.

Since joining the Firm in 2008 and becoming Partner in 2016, Atty. Arao has gained extensive experience in litigation, legal advisory, and complex transactions. As Head of the IP Department, she oversees trademark and patent prosecution, copyright protection, portfolio management, licensing, enforcement actions, oppositions, and IP litigation. Her work includes guiding clients on IP strategy, risk management, commercialization, and compliance with both local and international standards.

Atty. Arao's career is also distinguished by her government service at the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) under the Office of the President, where she rose to Director IV of the Investigation Office. She supervised investigators, reviewed evaluation and investigation reports, managed fact-finding and preliminary investigations, issued policy recommendations, coordinated with government agencies, and handled complex administrative cases.

During this time, she was likewise appointed Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairperson, where she ensured transparent and compliant procurement processes under R.A. No. 9184. In this role, she presided over BAC meetings, oversaw procurement planning, supervised bid evaluations and post-qualification and ensured proper documentation.

Her background in procurement, investigation, and administrative governance enhances her private practice, particularly in matters involving government compliance, administrative law, and regulatory requirements.

Atty. Arao has participated in numerous local and international trainings, including WIPO-IPOPHL mediation programs, Anti-Money Laundering Council courses, multiple Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA) council meetings, and arbitration and IP-focused conferences, strengthening her expertise in IP enforcement, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance.

She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Santo Tomas (Manila) and completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. A member of the Philippine Bar, she remains active in professional organizations such as the Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines (IPAP) and the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA).