LLB, Ramkhamhaeng University
MSc, Thammasat University
BBA, Thammasat University
+66 2056 5888 
Darani Vachanavuttivong is a formidable enforcer of intellectual property rights (IPR), including trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Regarded as “a brilliant, hands-on lawyer who works extremely hard for her clients” (WTR 1000), Darani is currently recognized as a top IP practitioner by such publications as Asialaw Leading Lawyers (since 2003), The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (since 2003), and Chambers Asia-Pacific (since 2008). She has been named as one of the most accomplished female IP practitioners in the world by Managing Intellectual Property magazine, which includes Darani in its list of the “Top 250 Women in IP”
Darani helps clients protect IPR in some of the toughest jurisdictions in the world—Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Darani previously headed the firm’s trademark registration group and is well-versed in writing patents, having represented numerous patent clients and having attended several high-level courses on drafting patent specifications, including the South East Asian Patent Drafting Training Course and the Patent Agent Training Course organized by the Department of Intellectual Property, Bangkok.
A leading IP attorney and a leader in the IP field, Darani is the managing director of the Tilleke & Gibbins intellectual property group, which is consistently recognized as the preeminent IP practice in Southeast Asia. Darani, who is a licensed to practice law in Thailand, is actively engaged in the global intellectual property community, and currently sits as President of the ASEAN Intellectual Property Association (AIPA) and chair of the Asia-Pacific Sub-Committee of INTA’s Global Advisory Council. She has also served terms as President and Vice President of the Thailand group of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association; and as President of the Intellectual Property Association of Thailand.
Darani, who is a member of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and is a qualified patent agent, takes a realistic, no-nonsense approach to protecting intellectual property in Southeast Asia, and notes that, “protecting IPR should be viewed as an investment in the product and the company’s good name and as a critical line-item in any originator’s budget.”
- Acted on behalf of our client before the IP&IT Court and obtained a very favorable settlement just prior to the rendering of judgment in what has been widely regarded as the largest and most complex patent infringement case in Thai history. In this multijurisdictional case, our team not only secured a rare Anton Piller order to seize infringing goods, which enabled us to successfully prove infringement, but also formulated extensive strategies for protecting the validity of our client’s patent.
- Defended a leading Thai manufacturer of wood protection materials against an allegation of trademark infringement (claims totaled USD 1 million).
- Interviewed inventors and concerned parties to collect information for drafting patent and petty patent specifications. Determined novelty and inventive step through patent searches.
- Drafted a patent specification for a client in the electronic-money industry.
- 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.
- Responded in a timely and effective manner to news that a variation of our client’s trade name and trademark would be used in a major concert and festival sponsored by parties in both the private and public sectors. With only two weeks’ notice, we immediately commenced negotiations at all levels with the appropriate government agencies and the organizer. Our prompt and diligent actions were effective. Prior to the event, the hosts changed the name and mark of the event, and all advertisements were removed and corrected.
- Represented a food manufacturer in carrying out an international raid in Laos against trademark violations by local retailers, and coordinated with local authorities to carry out the raid, seize all counterfeit products, and destroy them.
- Provided strategic planning advice on the holding and assignment of trademark owners for trademarks registered worldwide.