JD, Syracuse University College of Law/Columbia Law School
MA, University of Hawai'i
BA, Wingate College
+66 2056 5871 
Alan Adcock is a partner and director in the Tilleke & Gibbins intellectual property and regulatory affairs groups, helping to oversee the firm’s client work in these areas across ASEAN. He is recognized as a leading intellectual property lawyer based on his handling of corporate IP matters, including licensing and acquisitions, and his knowledge in life sciences, fluency in Mandarin, and outstanding client service. Since 2005, Alan has received recognition by Asialaw Leading Lawyers as one of Asia's leading business lawyers in the area of intellectual property, and he has been named a top IP lawyer in Thailand by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and WTR 1000. Alan is also recognized as a leading IP strategist by IAM Strategy 300, an expert on patents in IAM Patent 1000, one of the world's foremost life sciences practitioners by IAM Life Sciences 250, and a leading life sciences regulatory lawyer by Who’s Who Legal. He heads the firm’s regional life sciences practice alongside Wongrat Ratanaprayul, director of the firm’s Indonesia office, as well as the firm's China desk, alongside Derrick Khoo.
Alan represents diverse clients, from pioneers in the life sciences to the biggest IP owners in the world, and helps them achieve the dual goals of profit and protection. He has extensive experience in IP acquisitions, strategic structuring, technology transfer, and IP licensing and securitization agreements. He has handled various IP infringements and regulatory infractions involving labeling, advertising, clinical trials, product handling/warehousing, product registration, taxation, and import/export violations across most of Asia.
Alan is also closely involved in Tilleke & Gibbins’ leading patent and trade secret litigation practice, focusing mainly on the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and material science sectors. He handles local pre-litigation strategy and litigation management for infringement and invalidation matters and works regularly with external counsel globally when strategic tasks or evidence issues reach outside Southeast Asia.
Alan serves as the Asia-Pacific liaison officer for the International Bar Association (IBA) Healthcare & Life Sciences Law Committee and is on the Steering Committee of the American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Franchising. He also is a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) Commercialization of Brands Committee and was recognized by INTA in 2016 and awarded their INTA Volunteer Service Award.
Alan is a past President of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) of Thailand, and a Co-Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand’s Healthcare Council. He is licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey and is admitted in the U.S. District Courts of Southern and Eastern New York.
- Conducted global intellectual property due diligence and advised on the transactional elements of a US$60 million equity participation by an international energy company in a U.S. company specializing in biobased chemicals. The collaboration will result in the establishment of bio-succinic acid production plants using natural raw feedstocks such as tapioca, cassava, maize, and other agricultural inputs for the downstream manufacturing of bio-based plastics.
- Assisted a client with a multijurisdictional acquisition of a major corn and palm oil brand with a deal value of USD 6,000,000, including the review and acceptance of the letter bid, preliminary due diligence, review of the disclosure statement, and the drafting, negotiation, and execution of the main acquisition agreement. We also provided all post-completion follow-up including trademark assignment recordals in more than 50 jurisdictions, release of various title encumbrances, transitional arrangements, rebranding, certification and labeling regulatory advice, and subsequent new agreements for supply and distribution.
- Helped a multinational food company comply with Thai FDA requirements. Advised the client on advertising and promotional materials in Thailand, with particular emphasis on the requirements of the FDA and the consequences of improper ad content.
- Acted on behalf of a major U.S.-based agrichemical manufacturer. The case involved termination of the client’s distributor for breach of contract and IP (patent and trademark) infringement. In addition, we represented the client in re-registration of its full range of products with the Thai Ministry of Agriculture.
- Represented a leading producer of smartphones as its "point of contact" with all government authorities, which involved crafting an overall government relations strategy, establishing and cultivating relationships with officials, responding to government investigations, monitoring potential policy and regulatory developments, and seeking legislative and regulatory change on our client’s behalf. We have also structured appropriate and effective solutions to the business and legal challenges faced by our client.
- Represented a multinational pharmaceutical company in its cancellation petition against a registered trademark based on the mark’s similarity to an International Nonproprietary Name (INN) issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Board of Trademarks withdrew the trademark.
- Protected the intellectual property rights of a famous drug company in regard to an osteoporosis drug product passed off by another pharmaceutical company. The Supreme Court ordered the cancellation of the infringing party’s mark.
- Represented a multinational pharmaceutical company in patent infringement litigation against a local generic company. Managed a major pharmaceutical-related patent during a trial on patent infringement.
- Acted as counsel to a major pharmaceutical company, which representation included liaising with the Thai FDA on marketing compliance issues, verifying that the client’s marketing activities were in compliance with the complex regulations governing pharmaceutical practice in Thailand, and preventing and mitigating risk and loss.
- Represented a leading pharmaceutical company on regulatory due diligence in its spin-off of high revenue product lines (over the counter antihistamines, cough relief syrups, tablets and elixirs) to another pharmaceutical company.
- Represented a multinational cosmetics manufacturer in negotiating a multi-million dollar tri-party agreement between the Department of Agriculture, a local Thai university, and the client to set up a joint research and development program for sourcing and uncovering botanical ingredients in Thailand for their new product range.