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Alan Adcock

Partner and Director, Intellectual Property

Biography

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 co-chair of the International Bar Association Healthcare & Life Sciences Law Committee and is on the International Division Steering Committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising. He 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 of Thailand. He is licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey and is admitted in the US District Courts of Southern and Eastern New York.

Experience

  • Conducted global intellectual property due diligence and advised on the transactional elements of a USD 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.
ABOUT Alan

Industries

Life Sciences

Practices

Antitrust and Competition

Corporate/M&A

Customs and International Trade

Intellectual Property

Regulatory Affairs

Location

Languages

    English

    Chinese

Education

    JD, Syracuse University College of Law/Columbia Law School

    MA, University of Hawai'i

    BA, Wingate College

Insights

August 20, 2026
As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has released the latest edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand, providing an overview of the legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations for companies establishing or expanding operations in Thailand. The 2026 edition offers practical insight into the country’s business environment, investment framework, and operational requirements. The guide covers a wide range of topics relevant to foreign and domestic investors, including: Investment incentives and promotion schemes Financial facilities and banking regulations Exchange controls and money transfers Import and export regulations Business structures and incorporation options Requirements for establishing a business Operational and compliance considerations Business cessation and insolvency procedures Employment and labor laws Taxation Immigration and visa requirements Prepared by Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers across multiple practice areas, the publication outlines key aspects of doing business in Thailand, including foreign investment restrictions, regulatory compliance obligations, corporate structures, employment requirements, and recent legal and economic developments affecting investors. The publication forms part of Lex Mundi’s Country Guides series, a global collection of jurisdiction-specific reference materials prepared by member firms around the world. Together, these guides help companies evaluate opportunities, compare regulatory environments, and plan international business activities across multiple markets. The full Guide to Doing Business in Thailand 2026 is available through the button below.
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December 9, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins is proud to announce that four litigation cases handled by the firm have been selected among the nine Distinguished Judgment Awards granted by Thailand’s Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court (IP&IT Court) for the period from October 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025. This recognition highlights the complexity, novelty, and legal significance of these cases, which were chosen based on stringent criteria including new legal issues, high evidentiary volume, and intricate legal arguments. Among these four cases, one was singled out as the “Most Distinguished Judgment” – the landmark trademark squatting case involving the trademark rights of our client, Thailand’s largest state-owned energy conglomerate, and its subsidiary. In this case, the defendants had filed 52 trademark applications mimicking our client’s marks, making it the largest trademark squatting dispute in Thai history. On April 30, 2025, the IP&IT Court ordered the cancellation of multiple infringing trademarks, setting a benchmark for IP enforcement against trademark squatters in Thailand. The other three recognized cases demonstrate Tilleke & Gibbins’ breadth of expertise in IP litigation: Patent infringement and invalidation involving trade secrets misappropriation. Trade dress infringement of a unique packaging. Landmark Luckin Coffee case involving trademark infringement and invalidation. The IP&IT Court handles approximately 200 IP civil litigation cases each year, and our IP litigation team has typically been involved in 25–30% of them, reflecting our dominant role in shaping IP jurisprudence in Thailand.
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November 21, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins has contributed the Thailand chapter to Asia IP’s ASEAN Guide to IP Protection 2025, an annual reference covering key developments and practical considerations for intellectual property systems across Southeast Asia. The chapter offers an overview of Thailand’s current legal framework for the protection of trademarks, patents, industrial designs, and copyrights. It summarizes registration requirements, recent regulatory updates, and procedural considerations relevant to rights holders and practitioners. The chapter offers actionable insights for rights holders at every stage of the IP lifecycle and addresses practical strategies for managing portfolios, anticipating enforcement challenges, and maximizing the value of IP assets. The authors also highlight recent trends and developments in Thai IP law, ensuring that readers are equipped with the latest knowledge to inform their decisions. The complete Thailand chapter can be downloaded through the button below, and the chapter is also available on the Asia IP website.
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Awards & Rankings

September 30, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been named a finalist in two categories at the IFLR and International Tax Review (ITR) Asia-Pacific Awards 2026. The firm is shortlisted for Thailand National Firm of the Year at the IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards, which recognize innovative cross-border transactions and the firms, teams, and transactions shaping the region’s legal and financial landscape. Tilleke & Gibbins is also shortlisted for Thailand Tax Firm of the Year at the ITR Asia-Pacific Tax Awards. The awards recognize leading firms and practitioners across the region for their work in direct tax, indirect tax, tax disputes, and transfer pricing. The winners will be announced at a joint awards ceremony on November 12, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong. For more information, please see the full shortlists for the IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2026 and the ITR Asia-Pacific Awards 2026.
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September 24, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has earned firm and individual recognition across Southeast Asia in the inaugural edition of the Copyright 1000, a new guide to the world’s leading copyright professionals published jointly by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) and World Trademark Review (WTR). The firm’s offices in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam were each recognized in the rankings. These results highlight the strength of Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional copyright practice and its capabilities in helping clients protect, commercialize, and enforce their copyright assets across Southeast Asia. Six Tilleke & Gibbins practitioners also received individual recommendations: Indonesia Wongrat Ratanaprayul Thailand Alan Adcock Somboon Earterasarun Suebsiri Taweepon Vietnam Linh Duy Mai Loc Xuan Le Dedicated exclusively to copyright law and practice, the Copyright 1000 rankings identify leading firms and practitioners across key jurisdictions worldwide. The rankings are based on qualitative research assessing factors such as depth of expertise, market standing, and the sophistication of firms’ and practitioners’ work. For more information, please see the full Copyright 1000 rankings.
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September 23, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has received eight nominations for the Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2026, recognizing the strength of the firm’s intellectual property practice across Southeast Asia. The firm has been shortlisted in the following categories: Asia-Pacific Firm of the Year (Domestic) Cambodia Firm of the Year Indonesia Firm of the Year Thailand Patent Firm of the Year Thailand Trademark Firm of the Year Vietnam Patent Firm of the Year Vietnam Trademark Firm of the Year In addition, Darani Vachanavuttivong, managing partner and managing director of the firm’s intellectual property practice, has been shortlisted for Asia-Pacific Practitioner of the Year (General Law Firms). The eight nominations reflect the continued recognition of Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional capabilities in intellectual property protection, commercialization, and enforcement. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on November 5, 2026. For more information, please see the full Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2026 shortlist.
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September 23, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has received 14 nominations for the Asialaw Awards 2026. The nominations span jurisdiction-level, practice-area, and individual categories across the region. At the jurisdiction level, Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted in three categories: Cambodia Firm of the Year Laos Firm of the Year Thailand Firm of the Year The firm has also been shortlisted for four regional practice awards: Aviation and Shipping Firm of the Year Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year Technology and Telecommunications Firm of the Year Seven individual nominations recognize lawyers from the firm’s offices in Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam: Prisna Sungwanna, Laos Female Lawyer of the Year Pimvimol Vipamaneerut, Thailand Female Lawyer of the Year Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen, Vietnam Female Lawyer of the Year John Frangos, Aviation and Shipping Lawyer of the Year, Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year Pongpalin Chantrapirom, Dispute Resolution Rising Star of the Year Chusert Supasitthumrong, Labour and Employment Lawyer of the Year The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on November 5, 2026. For more information on the Asialaw Awards 2025 and to browse a full list of the nominees, please visit the Asialaw website.
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