Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam has dropped sharply in recent years. After peaking in 2008 at a record high of USD 64 billion, registered FDI capital fell to approximately USD 13 billion in 2012. In a country where FDI plays an important role for growth, a dramatic decrease in FDI undoubtedly raises concerns for the Vietnamese central government.

Published by Law Business Research, Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration provides an overview of arbitration law in 55 jurisdictions worldwide. In the book’s Thailand chapter, Kornkieat Chunhakasikarn and John King of the Tilleke & Gibbins dispute resolution group examine a number of key issues relating to arbitration, such as Thailand’s Arbitration Act and its relationship to the UNCITRAL Model Law, domestic arbitration institutions, requirements for arbitration agreements, arbitral proceedings, and interim measures.

In association with Lex Mundi, Practical Law Company has now published the latest edition in its series of guides on how to do business in jurisdictions worldwide. The Thailand chapter, written by attorneys at Tilleke & Gibbins, provides an overview of the legal system and key laws for foreign companies doing business in the Kingdom. Presented in a question-and-answer format, the chapter examines the rules governing foreign investment, business vehicles, employment, tax, competition, intellectual property, marketing agreements, e-commerce, data protection, and product liability.

Marking an unprecedented milestone in the fight against unfair competition, a state attorney-general in the United States has taken legal action against a Thai manufacturer that produced and exported products while using stolen IT to unfairly lower its operating costs and undercut competition.In October 2012, the Massachusetts Attorney General exercised her authority to enforce the state’s unfair competition law by requiring a Thai seafood processor to use licensed IT in its business operations. She announced a landmark settlement with the company.

The Use of Social Media in the Workplace provides overviews of the uses, risks, and benefits of social media in the workplace and its legal implications in multiple jurisdictions.

A common market for financial services will be one of the major components of the ASEAN Economic Community when it takes effect at the end of 2015. This will represent a significant change for securities regulation in Thailand, where the Securities and Exchange Act, subject to some exceptions, places substantial restrictions on the offering of foreign securities in Thailand.

The Minister of Labor has issued a new Ministerial Regulation under the Labor Protection Act, which extends certain protections to domestic workers (i.e., housemaids and nannies). The Ministerial Regulation came into force on November 9, 2012.This article provides an overview of the new regulation and guidance to employers of domestic workers in Thailand to ensure that they are compliant with the new regulation.Holiday and Weekly Leave

The Thai government is searching for new solutions to battle intellectual property infringement on the internet, both utilizing existing laws and enacting new legislation. To this end, the Cabinet recently approved a draft of the proposed amendment of the Copyright Act which provides additional measures to copyright owners in combating online piracy.The Existing Legal Framework