Firm Profile > Tilleke & Gibbins > Bangkok, Thailand

Customs and international trade Tier 1

Tilleke & Gibbins' customs and international trade practice is noted for advice and representation on customs classifications and valuations, anti-dumping compliance and import/export licensing. The team is jointly led by Michael Ramirez and Kasamesunt Teerasitsathaporn. The duo provide wide expertise on range of disputes in this area; Teerasitsathaporn works on customs disputes while Ramirez is well-regarded for his Thai customs and international trade market knowledge.

Intellectual property Tier 1

Tilleke & Gibbins serves its clients on all facets of IP from  registrations and commercialisation of IP assets to enforcement, including litigation and related regulatory advice. It is commended for providing 'wonderful support on multi-jurisdictional anti-counterfeiting' cases. Co-team head Darani Vachanavuttivong handles the enforcement of IP rights including trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Alan Adcock advises on IP acquisitions, technology transfers, and licensing. He has decades of experience in Thailand and across the ASEAN region. The 'exceptional' Wiramrudee Mokkhavesa is recognised for her experience in brand protection, IP enforcement, and anticounterfeiting matters. The firm is also responsible for regional and global IP portfolio management.  

Labour and employment Tier 1

Tilleke & Gibbins advises employers on labour management relations, staff restructuring and other staff retention issues. On the non-contentious side co-lead Pimvimol Vipamaneerut aids clients with labour expansion, immigration matters and labour protection. The contentious work is handled by co-lead Chusert Supasitthumrong who works on risk management and employment litigation and has extensive experience of of court actions including in the Supreme Court. The firm is present in the retail, aviation, logistics, electronics sectors.

Tax Tier 1

TMT Tier 1

Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Tilleke & Gibbins is known for its handling of corporate formations, reorganisations and restructuring. The firm has several notable partners including Charunun Sathitsuksomboon and Cynthia M. Pornavalai, who co- lead the team. Sathitsuksomboon works on the complete process of M&A while Pornavalai is notable in the firm's commercial and corporate group for assisting foreign investors on various matters such as portfolio management and business restructuring. Kasma Visitkitjakarn is active on manufacturing and insurance-related corporate and M&A work.  

Dispute resolution Tier 2

Tilleke & Gibbins is active not only in Thailand, but across the region, including in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Infrastructure, construction and financial services litigation forms part of the team's work which is headed up by Tiziana Sucharitkul. She is the co-managing partner of the firm who has helped drive the growth of the firm in recent years.  John Frangos serves as deputy director of the dispute resolution group and also leads the investigations practice. Thawat Damsa-ard is the primary litigator in the team, acting on a wide array of disputes.

Insurance Tier 2

Tilleke & Gibbins assists local and international insurers and reinsurers, brokers and agents as well as employers and employees. Athistha Chitranukroh heads up the team and has a 'strong expertise in insurtech and data privacy compliance'. She is serving a second two-year term as regulatory counsel to the Thai Insurtech Association. Eric Meyer is an 'excellent international lawyer' who works with reinsurers.  

Projects and energy Tier 2

Tilleke & Gibbins assists its domestic and global clients  on their operations in the Thai and Southeast Asia wider markets. Advice includes financing, licensing and investment hmatters. Joseph Tomkiewicz is co-leading the team and is recognised for his expertise in transactional and litigation matters relating to the energy industry. Supasit Boonsanong is noted for his advice to Thai government authorities on legislative amendments to the country’s petroleum laws while Cynthia M. Pornavalai is recommended for her work on commercial transactions in the energy industry.

Transport Tier 2

Tilleke & Gibbins acts for the principal stakeholders in the industry including ship-owners, port operators, shipyards, cargo owners, cargo interests and airlines. John Frangos is an expert on aviation and compliance/investigations and is the head of practice alongside Noppramart Thammateeradaycho and Santhapat Periera. The team works on transportation disputes and financing matters. It also advises on regulatory issues arising out of transportation matters, marine insurance and ship finance. Chinachart Vatanasuchart has departed the firm.

Banking and finance Tier 3

Tilleke & Gibbins has a client base made up of local and foreign banks, investment firms and financial institutions. The team is known for advising on the various use of financial instruments such as loans and property funds. Kobkit Thienpreecha is one of the co-leads of the practice group and acts for domestic and international clients on a range of banking and finance matters. Santhapat Periera also co-leads the team and moves between the firm's Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam offices. Cynthia M. Pornavalai is also noted for advice to clients regarding the effects of COVID-19 in the banking and finance sector.

Capital markets Tier 3

Tilleke & Gibbins undertakes a diverse range of capital markets matters including securities regulatory matters, derivatives and financial restructuring. Head of the corporate and commercial group Kobkit Thienpreecha leads the team, providing expertise on investment funds and IPO's for domestic and internationally-based clients. Santhapat Periera, a banking and financing expert, co-leads the team and advises on all forms of financial instruments.

Dispute resolution: international arbitration Tier 3

Tilleke & Gibbins acts for a range of international corporations across Asia in a variety of disputes including shipping, construction, energy, and infrastructure cases. Noppramart Thammateeradaycho is an established practitioner with years of experience in international arbitration, especially the handling of maritime insurance claims. He is co-leading the group with John Frangos who is active on compliance and aviation investigations while Michael Ramirez, also acting as co-lead, is present on cases involving product liability and employment matters.

Real estate and construction Tier 3

Tilleke & Gibbins assists domestic and multinational real estate developers, contractors and sub-contractors. The firm acts for clients across the region on a cross-border basis.  Cynthia M. Pornavalai leads the team and advises foreign clients investing into Thailand while Chaiwat Keratisuthisathorn is an expert in all facets of property law ranging from property acquisitions and lease agreements.    

Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

Tilleke & Gibbins acts for creditors, debtors, and other stakeholders on matters such as submitting debt repayment during business rehabilitation and bankruptcy processes and working on business renewal through reorganisation. Cynthia M. Pornavalai co-leads the team and is noted for her insolvency work while Thawat Damsa-ard is the firm's primary litigator working on bankruptcy matters. Prisna Sungwanna acts for major US companies in the automotive sector.