Intellectual property in Thailand
Ananda Intellectual Property's specialist IP practice is rated for its 'professional and highly efficient team', which has wide-ranging expertise in IP litigation and commercial transactions. Managing partner Franck Fougere's areas of focus include patent and copyright litigation as well as trade mark strategy. Fougere represented L'Oreal in a major raid on fake cosmetics distributors in Thailand, where 600,000 fake items seized, valued at roughly $2.3m. Also recommended are Benjapol Kongsombut, who runs the firm's patent department, and Nuttakorn Sorakun, who heads the litigation department and acted for Hutchinson in invalidating three patents asserted by Nitto Denko; this case was among the most significant patent disputes ever filed in Thailand. Another name to note is Rujapa Prakongsri, who has experience of trade mark prosecution.
Practice head(s):
Franck Fougere
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Ananda Intellectual Property have a very professional team and provide a good service.’
‘Ananda are professional and highly efficient.’
‘Sound legal advice, timely responses to business related issues. Aside this, the firm is well-connected with different forums that have strong influence on the practice of IP. They are well updated with recent developments/trends. Their experience sharing is a big add-on.’
‘Partners are easily approachable even beyond normal working hours in urgent business needs, particularly Franck Fougere.’
‘The associates are always willing to help.’
‘Franck Fougere has a comprehensive and broad experience in the APAC region. His team is therefore particularly well-organised to handle complex IP issues.’
Key clients
Suzuki
Panasonic
Honda
Generali
Landmark Group
L’Oreal
Work highlights
- Represented Hutchinson in Thailand’s largest ever filed patent litigation. Successfully invalidated three patents.
- Represented L’Oreal in a raid on fake cosmetics conducted in Thailand.
Baker McKenzie is involved in a broad range of trade mark, copyright, and patent-related work, including portfolio management, registrations, commercial transactions and litigation. The team is jointly headed by Say Sujintaya and Dhiraphol Suwanprateep and includes Tanakrit Tangburanakij , who has established a well-known infringement and anti-counterfeiting practice, working with customs officials and other law enforcement agencies, and Nont Horayangura, who has handled a variety of IP litigation in the tech and telecoms space. Rising star senior associate Praewpan Hinchiranan has been recognised for her brand enforcement practice.
Practice head(s):
Say Sujintaya; Dhiraphol Suwanprateep
Other key lawyers:
Tanakrit Tangburanakij; Nont Horayangura
Testimonials
‘They have strong business acumen and give solid and practical solutions.’
‘They make the effort to understand our business and how we want solutions to be provided.’
Key clients
Apple Inc.
AstraZeneca
The Body Shop International Limited
Bose Corporation
Bridgestone Corporation
British American Tobacco
Brooks Brothers Group
Caterpillar
Estee Lauder Cosmetics
Ford Global Technologies
Work highlights
- Assisting After You Dessert Cafe, a Thai dessert cafe chain with franchising expansion into several APAC markets.
- Assisting Siam Gems with trademark registration in Thailand and overseas.
- Assisted Estee Lauder and L’Oreal with a joint raid campaign.
Tilleke & Gibbins' practice group advises across the spectrum of IP law, from regulation to commercialisation and management to litigation and enforcement. In particular, the team is most active in the tech, film and media sectors. The department is jointly led by Darani Vachanavuttivong and Alan Adcock. Vachanavuttivong advises Sundaram-Clayton on its global strategies for its varied IP portfolio, while Adcock, who focuses on patent work, has particular expertise in the agrochemical and pharmaceutical sectors. Also recommended are Nandana Indananda, who specialises in IP litigation, Sukontip Jitmongkolthong, who handles pre-litigation and enforcement matters and is particularly active in the automotive and electronics sectors, and Somboon Earterasarun, who also has experience in trade mark enforcement.
Practice head(s):
Darani Vachanavuttivong; Alan Adcock
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Experts on working with a foreign company which is not familiar with Thailand.’
‘Good and effective communication channel to the government, allowing us we have successfully met with right officials who are in charge.’
‘Wiramrudee Mokkhavesa is an IP lawyer who understands the subject matter thoroughly and can give us appropriate advice.’
Key clients
Ajinomoto
Alibaba
Align Technology
Bayer
Chevron
Panasonic
Philip Morris International
Toshiba Carrier Corporation
Work highlights
- Advising Bayer on the expansion of its trade mark and patent portfolio work.
- Represented Panasonic in a case before the Thai Supreme Court regarding product infringement.
Dej-Udom & Associates Attorneys-at-Law acts for Thai and international companies in contentious and non-contentious IP matters involving trade secrets, domain names, patents, trade marks, and copyrights. Key figures in the team include managing partner Dej-Udom Krairit, Dr Poondej Krairit, who leads the IP department and has expertise in patent and trade mark matters, and Punjaporn Koslkitiwong, who heads the IP litigation practice. Budsayamas Pooreesathian works on patent and trade mark prosecution as well as infringement matters.
Practice head(s):
Dej-Udom Krairit; Poondej Krairit; Punjaporn Koslkitiwong
Other key lawyers:
Domnern Somgiat & Boonma Law Office Ltd is particularly noted for IP litigation and enforcement matters, and also advises on a significant portion of trade mark and patent applications made in Thailand. Managing partner Rutorn Nopakun specialises in IP litigation, and Nathapong Tongkaew heads the trade mark prosecution practice. Other names to note include Chakrapat Mongkolsit, Prabjote Busdee and Apiwatt Kongsoowan.
Practice head(s):
Rutorn Nopakun; Nathapong Tongkaew; Chakrapat Mongkolsit; Prabjote Busdee; Apiwatt Kongsoowan
LawPlus Ltd.'s IP team handles IP litigation, licensing, and filing matters primarily involving trade marks, though the team also has experience of patent mandates. Managing partner Kowit Somwaiya has a 'wide range of knowledge on intellectual property matters', and is particularly highly regarded for his trade mark work. Prasantaya Bantadtan has acted for clients in the telecoms, automotive and healthcare sectors in relation to trade mark registration and enforcement matters. Raweewan Somwaiya focuses on non-contentious IP work including portfolio management and trade mark registrations and renewals.
Practice head(s):
Kowit Somwaiya; Prasantaya Bantadtan
Testimonials
‘A boutique firm equipped with skills honed from large or international firms.’
‘The team at LawPlus is so excellent and the best in Thailand.’
‘Kowit Somwaiya is an experienced trade mark attorney who provides practical and sound advice.
‘When working with Prasantaya Bantadtan, I know I am assured that my client’s matters are in good hands.’
‘Kowit Somwaiya has a wide range of knowledge on Intellectual property and e-commercial transactions.’
Satyapon & Partners Limited enjoys a strong reputation in the Thai IP market. On the contentious side the firm is adept at IP litigation, while on the non-contentious side the firm advises on a variety of commercial agreements and also handles prosecution work. Key figures include managing partner Satyapon Sachdecha, Sukhprem Sachdecha, who heads the patents and litigation team, Kritsana Mingtongkhum, who leads the trade mark practice, and head of copyright and design Kritchawat Chainapasak.
Practice head(s):
Satyapon Sachdecha; Sukhprem Sachdecha; Kritsana Mingtongkhum
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Panasonic
Anglo American
Pernod Ricard
NFL Properties
World Wildlife Fund
Yamaha Motors
Work highlights
- Represented Panasonic in regards to the infringement of patent rights. Investigated the infringement which led to a raid and criminal charges brought against Zeberg, a local manufacturer and distributor of electrical devices in Thailand.
- Acted for the Government of Chile in a GI dispute regarding the registration of alcoholic beverage Pisco.
- Acted for the Government of Japan, specifically the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on GI prosecution and enforcement.
- Drafting and re-negotiating global licensing portfolio on behalf of Bangsue Chia Meng Rice Mill.
ZICO IP advises clients across the Asia Pacific region on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters involving copyrights, geographical indications, patents, trademarks and industrial designs. A name to note in the practice group is Nuttaphol Arammuang, who is regularly involved in patent infringement and invalidation cases, and also handles IP portfolio management and commercial licensing matters. Another key figure is Titirat Wattanachewanopakorn, who has expertise in anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting matters across numerous industry sectors including automotive, entertainment and consumer products.
Practice head(s):
Nuttaphol Arammuang; Titirat W
Key clients
Nestle
Chubb
SCG
Wheel Pros
Wahl
Jim Thompson
Work highlights
- Assisting Thai Union Manufacturing, a global frozen/processed seafood and canned tuna company, regarding trademark registration in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
- Advising Chubb, the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer, regarding their trademark portfolio management in Southeast Asia.
- Assisting Heritage Snacks & Food, a food manufacturing and exporter, regarding trademark registration in Asia.
- Advising Wheel Pros on a cross border investigation and enforcement action against infringement of Wheel Pro’s car wheels.
- Advising Super Brands Company, the overseas subsidiary company of ThaiBev, a Thai Beverage business, regarding their trademark portfolio and prosecution work in several countries.
Most active in the energy, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors, Rouse has experience of a wide variety of trade mark, copyright and patent matters. The wider IP team is headed by litigation and prosecution lawyer Fabrice Mattei, while Nuttachai Unaratana heads up the trade mark group and has experience of contentious and non-contentious matters. Manoon Changchumni and Anuchsa Boonchan are also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Fabrice Mattei
Other key lawyers: