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Piyawat Vitooraporn

Senior Associate

Biography

Piyawat Vitooraporn is a senior associate in Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution group. He advises clients on a wide range of legal services related to civil and criminal disputes, including all stages of litigation and pre-litigation. His major areas of practice include white-collar crime, administrative and governmental disputes, computer and technology law, director and officer liability (civil and criminal), commercial litigation, and employment law. He has particular experience with high-value fraud and theft cases, advising on asset recovery and diplomatic issues relating to criminal prosecution in Thailand. He also has experience working with regulators and advising on compliance with Thai law with respect to online platform operations and online innovation.

Piyawat has completed the constitutional and administrative law training program organized by Tilleke & Gibbins and led by esteemed academics, former judges, and other accomplished legal practitioners in Thailand. He also regularly contributes to cyber law and employment law publications, among others, and is a regular speaker at Tilleke & Gibbins’ Annual Employment Law Forum.

Piyawat holds an LLB and an LLM from Chulalongkorn University. He has completed the barrister-at-law requirements of the Thai Institute of Legal Education, is a member of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, and is a licensed notarial services attorney.

Experience

  • Advised a well-known social media platform on compliance and regulatory matters relating to Thailand’s Computer Crime Act B.E. 2550 (2007) and other legal issues applicable to online service providers.
  • Successfully argued for the revocation of a court order to take down online content for a major international online petition platform.
  • Represented a European multinational company in asset recovery and criminal prosecution against perpetrators and a former employee who committed fraud against the company’s property, causing over USD 200 million in damages.
  • Successfully defended directors and employees of multinational companies against false allegations arising from a director dispute, and advised on counterclaims against submission of false complaints.
  • Advised a client on legal actions relating to wrongful acts involving cryptocurrency and digital assets.
  • Represented a major international client in a successful complex claim for compensation relating to wrongful acts and false certification.
  • Acted as part of team that successfully represented a major commercial client in criminal and civil labor cases, both at pre-litigation stages and in court. The outcome prevented a major disruption to the client’s business that would have had extremely costly repercussions.
  • Successfully defended a client at the Court of Appeal against an attempt to unlawfully execute a foreign judgement in Thailand.
  • Successfully advocated on behalf of a client in a complex cross-border family dispute at the Court of Appeal. Thanks to the zealous representation of the client, the order of the lower court was reversed.
  • Successfully advised clients in the pre-litigation stage of a high-value embezzlement and defamation case, leading to a satisfactory outcome.
ABOUT Piyawat

Practices

Compliance and Investigations

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Employment

Location

Languages

    Thai

    English

Education

    LLM, Chulalongkorn University

    LLB, Chulalongkorn University

Insights

April 4, 2024
On March 18, 2024, the president of the Supreme Court of Thailand announced the establishment of a specialized Technology Crime Division within the Criminal Court of Thailand. This represents a significant commitment to cybercrime within the Thai judiciary and a step forward in Thailand’s ability to investigate cybercrime. The rise in cybercrime investigations in recent years has made it increasingly difficult for Thailand’s traditional criminal courts to consider and issue enforcement orders in support of ongoing investigations in a timely manner. The new Technology Crime Division addresses this challenge. This new division has jurisdiction over cybercrime and technology-related crime, fraud or extortion using computers, and criminal offenses relating to personal data protection laws. In addition, this new division has jurisdiction over all requests from competent law enforcement officers seeking court orders under the Computer Crimes Act B.E. 2550, the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562, and the Cybersecurity Act B.E. 2562. The Technology Crime Division will have trainees and judges with expertise in technology and cybercrime—not only to facilitate expert prosecution of cybercrime but also to offer critical and time-sensitive support to law enforcement investigations of alleged cybercrime. The Technology Crime Division is not yet operational. The president of the Supreme Court is expected to announce the division’s opening date in the coming months. For more details on Thailand’s measures for dealing with cybercrime, please contact Michael Ramirez at [email protected] or Piyawat Vitooraporn at [email protected].
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December 15, 2023
As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has published an updated edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand for 2023. This guide outlines the key factors for starting and operating a business in the Thai market. Issues covered include: Investment incentives Financial facilities Exchange controls Import and export regulations Structures for doing business Requirements for the Establishment of a Business Operation of the Business Cessation or Termination of the Business Labor legislation, relations, and supply Tax Immigration requirements This publication is part of Lex Mundi’s Country Guides series prepared by member firms in more than 100 jurisdictions worldwide. The guides serve as a useful resource for planning international business strategy and researching new markets. The full Guide to Doing Business in Thailand is available through the button below.
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August 23, 2023
Introduction The idea of the metaverse rose to prominence in the public discourse in 2021, most notably when Facebook renamed itself Meta and announced a new focus on launching a virtual, immersive world. The initial excitement around the metaverse has since faded, with worsening economic conditions having a particularly acute effect on companies in the technology sector. When Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in March 2023 that artificial intelligence (AI) was the company’s “single largest investment,” many took this as a sign of the company shifting focus away from the metaverse. However, there remains significant interest in the metaverse from both businesses and consumers. Zuckerberg himself reaffirmed Meta’s focus on the metaverse, highlighting how developments in AI will improve virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology. Meanwhile, Roblox, a metaverse gaming platform, announced that in Q1 2023, its number of daily active users had increased to 66 million. Most recently, the announcement by Apple of its new ‘Vision Pro’ AR headset is reported to have renewed interest in the metaverse among developers. A particular area of interest in the developing metaverse is digital fashion and retail. In its Metaverse Fashion Trends Report 2022, Roblox found that nearly three in four users aged 14 to 24 spend money on digital fashion items. Roblox itself has partnered with fashion brands Burberry, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, and others, to offer experiences and items for use on the platform. In March 2023, Decentraland, a metaverse platform with a decentralized governance structure, hosted the Metaverse Fashion Week, featuring brands such as Adidas, Coach, and DKNY. As businesses continue to invest and look for opportunities to expand into the metaverse, whether through traditional e-commerce or more innovative digital asset offerings, it is important that they consider the ways in which new and existing laws apply
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July 7, 2023
Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce the release of Employment Law Basics in Southeast Asia. This publication serves as an indispensable resource for businesses navigating the complex landscape of employment law in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Authored by Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional team of employment law specialists, the guide provides a detailed overview of key employment law topics essential for businesses operating or planning to expand their operations in Southeast Asia. From employment contracts to termination procedures, each topic is examined in depth to ensure businesses are well-equipped to comply with local regulations and protect their interests. Key topics covered in the guide include: Employment contracts Probationary period Minimum wage Social security and statutory payments Working hours Leave and holidays Work rules Termination Foreign employees Data protection Remote work AI and automation Our guide offers multinational corporations establishing a presence in the region and local enterprises alike practical insights and actionable advice tailored to the unique regulatory environments in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. To access the full guide, please download the PDF below.
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Awards & Rankings

September 13, 2024
The 2024 edition of the IFLR1000 Asia-Pacific rankings, released by International Financial Law Review (IFLR), highlights Tilleke & Gibbins’ continued excellence in financial and corporate transactional work. The firm has retained its strong rankings across multiple jurisdictions and practice areas, reaffirming its position as a leading firm in the Asia-Pacific region. This year, Tilleke & Gibbins received firmwide rankings in key jurisdictions, including: Thailand Banking & Finance – Tier 3 Capital Markets: Debt – Tier 3 Capital Markets: Equity – Tier 3 M&A – Tier 2 Project Development – Tier 2 Restructuring & Insolvency – Tier 3 Vietnam Banking & Finance – Other Notable M&A – Tier 3 Project Development – Tier 3 Cambodia Financial & Corporate – Tier 2 Project Development – Tier 2 Laos Financial & Corporate – Tier 2 In addition to these firmwide rankings, Tilleke & Gibbins had several standout individual recognitions, with 10 lawyers honored in the 2024 individual rankings, including new entries for John Frangos, Niti Muangkote, Santhapat Periera, and Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen. The full list is as follows: Charunun Sathitsuksomboon – Highly Regarded, M&A, Thailand Charuwan Charoonchitsathian – Rising Star, M&A, Thailand David Mol – Rising Star, Corporate and M&A, Cambodia Jay Cohen – Highly Regarded, Banking, Cambodia John Frangos – Notable Practitioner, Restructuring & Insolvency, Thailand (new ranking) Niti Muangkote – Rising Star, Financial & Corporate, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand (new ranking) Saithong Rattana – Notable Practitioner, Project Development and M&A, Laos Santhapat Periera – Highly Regarded, Banking, M&A, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand (new ranking) Supasit Boonsanong – Highly Regarded, Project Development, Thailand Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen – Highly Regarded, M&A, Vietnam (new ranking) To see the full set of IFLR1000 rankings for Tilleke & Gibbins’ jurisdictions, please see the Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and
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September 12, 2024
Tilleke & Gibbins has once again secured impressive rankings in the recently released Asialaw 2024 rankings. The firm has maintained its position as a top legal service provider across multiple jurisdictions, earning a total of 39 rankings in practice and industry groups, 19 of which are in the highest tiers. The firm’s performance continues to reflect its exceptional client service and legal expertise across Southeast Asia. Tilleke & Gibbins is recognized in all available categories for Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, demonstrating the firm’s strong presence across the region. In the individual rankings, 22 of the firm’s practitioners have been recognized, including three notable promotions and three new entries: Charunun Sathitsuksomboon (Thailand), newly ranked as a Notable Practitioner for Corporate and M&A. Linh Thi Mai Nguyen (Vietnam), promoted to Distinguished Practitioner for Intellectual Property. Loc Xuan Le (Vietnam), promoted to Elite Practitioner for Intellectual Property. Niti Muangkote (Laos), a new entry as a Rising Star for Banking and Finance. Prisna Sungwanna (Laos), newly ranked as a Distinguished Practitioner for Corporate and M&A and Banking & Finance. Suebsiri Taweepon (Thailand), promoted to Distinguished Practitioner for Intellectual Property and Technology and Telecommunications. Client feedback remains a key component of the Asialaw rankings, with Tilleke & Gibbins earning high praise for its responsiveness and commercial awareness. The firm’s sector-specific knowledge also continues to stand out, with clients expressing their appreciation of the firm’s understanding of their businesses’ operational contexts. For more details and to browse the full rankings, please visit the Asialaw website.
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July 19, 2024
Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted for six awards at the Asialaw Awards 2024. The nominations highlight the firm’s outstanding performance and leadership in Southeast Asia’s legal landscape. The firm has received the following nominations: Regional Corporate/M&A Firm of the Year Cambodia Firm of the Year Laos Firm of the Year Thailand Firm of the Year In addition to the firm nominations, two individuals from Tilleke & Gibbins have been recognized for their exceptional contributions: Prisna Sungwanna – Laos Female Lawyer of the Year Charunun Sathitsuksomboon – Thailand Female Lawyer of the Year The Asialaw Awards celebrate the leading law firms and legal professionals across the region, recognizing excellence in practice and service. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on September 26. For more information on the Asialaw Awards 2024 and to browse a full list of the winners, please visit the Asialaw website.
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May 10, 2024
Benchmark Litigation has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 rankings for the top dispute resolution firms in the Asia-Pacific region, showcasing Tilleke & Gibbins’ continued success in both Thailand and Vietnam. The Benchmark Litigation rankings include two jurisdictions where Tilleke & Gibbins is active—Thailand and Vietnam. Full details of the firm’s rankings are below: Thailand Intellectual Property – Tier 1 Commercial & Transactions – Tier 2 Government & Regulatory – Tier 2 Labor & Employment – Tier 2 Trade & Customs – Tier 2 Vietnam Intellectual Property (Foreign Firms) – Tier 1 Labor & Employment (Foreign Firms) – Recommended (top tier in this category) Commercial & Transactions (Foreign Firms) – Tier 2 Energy & Construction (Foreign Firms) – Tier 2 International Arbitration – Highly Recommended (second-highest tier in this category) In the rankings of individual practitioners, a total of ten Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers were singled out for recognition: Alongkorn Tongmee – Trade & Customs Chusert Supasitthumrong – Labor & Employment Linh Duy Mai Noppramart Thammateeradaycho – Shipping Nuttaphol Arammuang – Intellectual Property Suebsiri Taweepon – Intellectual Property Suruswadee Jaimsuwan Thawat Damsa-ard – Commercial and transactions Tiziana Sucharitkul – Commercial and Transactions, Government and Regulatory K. Loc – Intellectual Property Benchmark Litigation provides coverage of litigation and disputes markets around the world, based on interviews with dispute resolution specialists and clients, as well as analysis of the market’s most important cases and firm developments. To learn more about the rankings and to browse the results, please visit the Benchmark Litigation website.
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