Leading full-service Southeast Asian law firm Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce the promotion of two outstanding lawyers to the firm’s partnership. Nopparat Lalitkomon leads the firm’s data privacy and cybersecurity practice in Thailand and Vietnam. His expertise in technology, media, and telecommunications has earned him recognition as a “Rising Star” by The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific and as an “Up and Coming” lawyer by Chambers Asia-Pacific. Nopparat is a trusted advisor to domestic and multinational companies alike, advising clients across industries on a wide range of tech-focused matters in Southeast Asia, including cybersecurity, data protection, e-commerce, e-payments, e-transactions, fintech, gaming, and insurtech. He also advises clients on general corporate and commercial matters, including banking, direct marketing, foreign direct investment, investment incentives, labor and employment, M&A, and joint ventures. Nopparat hold degrees from Thammasat University and the University of Glasgow, and is a member of the Thai Bar Association. Wongrat Ratanaprayul is the director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Indonesia operations, based in Jakarta. Wongrat is recognized as a leading practitioner in Indonesia by IAM Patent 1000 and WTR 1000, and in 2023 she was named to Managing Intellectual Property’s list of the Top 250 Women in IP globally. She advises clients on all aspects of IP prosecution in Indonesia, as well as in multiple jurisdictions throughout Southeast Asia, to ensure efficient and effective IP portfolio management. Wongrat’s practice benefits from her exceptional breadth of expertise and her international reach. Wongrat is a particularly adept patent practitioner, and is much sought-after in highly technical fields including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, automotive, electronics, and computer-related technology. She is also a leader in regional pharmaceutical patent litigation. Furthermore, Wongrat oversees the firm’s regulatory affairs practice in Indonesia, serving clients in pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and related industries with respect to product registration and compliance. Wongrat

Thomas J. Treutler, partner and managing director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Vietnam offices, was interviewed for an Asia IP article on the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the realm intellectual property enforcement. The provocatively titled “Will AI bring the death of IP enforcement work?” explores the impact of AI in the IP space, and the delicate balance between helping and replacing IP professionals. In the article, Thomas is quoted as saying that “AI-powered algorithms can be trained to detect and monitor IP infringements more rapidly than a single human can, as they are able to analyze vast amounts of data on online platforms, social media and ecommerce marketplaces. This can preliminarily help rights owners and IP agents in data scraping to identify potential targets.” However, he further explained, “taking legal action requires human actions; for example, filing a complaint with the police or handling litigation proceedings in court. Therefore, it will not replace IP professionals in enforcement actions.” The full article can be read at the Asia IP website. Asia IP  is a publication of the Apex Asia Media Group, an independent publisher based in Hong Kong. The magazine aims to provide informed analysis of IP–related issues for Asian and international law firms.  

Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce the addition of Nuttaphol Arammuang as a partner in the firm’s industry-leading intellectual property (IP) practice in Bangkok. In his practice, Nuttaphol focuses on providing strategic counsel and representation to corporate clients seeking to protect their IP rights. He works closely with clients to develop comprehensive strategies tailored to their specific needs, helping them to capitalize on their valuable assets and navigate the complex landscape of IP law. Drawing on his extensive experience in IP litigation, Nuttaphol will play a key role in representing clients in high-stakes disputes and advocating for their rights in the courtroom. Additionally, he will collaborate with the firm’s cross-practice, multijurisdictional teams to offer innovative solutions that address evolving challenges and opportunities in the realm of IP. “Nuttaphol’s expertise in IP litigation will further empower our clients to protect and maximize the value of their intellectual assets in today’s complex IP landscape,” said Darani Vachanavuttivong, managing partner of Tilleke & Gibbins. “We are delighted to have him join us in advocating for our clients’ rights and crafting innovative solutions in the dynamic field of IP.” Prior to joining Tilleke & Gibbins, Nuttaphol led teams of IP practitioners for several years as IP practice head and managing partner of the Thailand offices of two prominent regional law firms. Throughout his career, Nuttaphol has successfully handled a wide range of IP litigation cases, including pharmaceutical patent disputes, patent infringement, design infringement, trademark and trade dress infringement, passing off, trademark invalidation, copyright litigation in the context of new media and technology, and obtaining preliminary injunctions and Anton Piller orders. His in-depth knowledge and strategic approach have earned him a strong reputation in the legal community. As an accomplished IP practitioner, Nuttaphol Arammuang is recognized as a leading lawyer for IP in

With Myanmar’s new Trademark Law set to come into force on April 1, enabling legislation has now been issued to grant certain courts jurisdiction to hear claims under the law. This provides trademark owners with an avenue to file claims under the Trademark Law for the first time, and is a very positive indication that no further delays to implementation are likely. The Trademark Law grants the Supreme Court of Myanmar the power to establish an Intellectual Property Rights Court. The Supreme Court can also assign new jurisdiction to existing courts pending the establishment of the Intellectual Property Rights Court. The enabling legislation, which takes the form of five notifications issued by the Supreme Court, accordingly confers jurisdiction on several existing courts. This includes the jurisdiction to hear criminal and civil complaints and appeals against decisions of the trademark authorities. The High Court of Yangon Region and the High Court of the Regions and States are also given appellate jurisdiction to hear appeals against the orders, decisions and judgments of other appointed courts. No further information has been given on whether or when a separate Intellectual Property Rights Court will be established. This development confirms that brand owners—who previously had no recourse to specialized courts in Myanmar regarding the enforcement of their trademark rights—will soon be able to pursue cases. Moreover, the issuance of these notifications gave a strong confirmation that the Trademark Law would indeed take effect on April 1, as planned. As we explained in a previous update, a date for the “grand opening” has yet to be announced, meaning it will still be some time before marks that were refiled during the “soft opening” will be given a filing date and before applications for all other marks can be filed. However, it is expected that the