Tilleke & Gibbins held the 2022 Annual Employment Law Forum Webinar Series from November 21 to December 7. The 2022 forum offered 7 sessions, covering a range of labor law applicable to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. In addition to the Thai-language sessions described below, the forum this year also featured several sessions in English. During the first week, dispute resolution team in Bangkok led the following sessions in Thai: On November 21, Chusert Supasitthumrong gave a presentation on an overview of unfair termination and unfair acts (video recording available here), and provided relevant recent case studies. On November 23, Chitchai Punsan highlighted criminal proceedings relating to Thailand’s Labor Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998). The session (video recording available here) covered potential responsible parties, different types of criminal offenses, and criminal proceedings. On November 24, Suruswadee Jaimsuwan and Pathanin Sornchangwat discussed complex procedural laws in labor disputes (video recording available here) with a focus on class actions and arbitration. On December 1, Pimvimol Vipamaneerutand Ketnut Pukahuta presented a Thai-language session on Termination of Employment in Thailand (video recording available here).

Suebsiri Taweepon, a partner in Tilleke & Gibbins’ intellectual property group in Bangkok, was elected president of the Intellectual Property Association of Thailand (IPAT) when the association’s board members convened an online voting session to select new leadership. Suebsiri was the unanimous choice of the 15 board members of IPAT. As president, Suebsiri will guide IPAT in setting its program of seminars and events related to current developments in intellectual property in the country. He will also represent the association and provide oversight in relation to IPAT’s participation in regional and international initiatives. Established in 1972, IPAT is a leading intellectual property association in Thailand, and Tilleke & Gibbins has played an active role in the ongoing development of the group for many years. Darani Vachanavuttivong, managing partner of Tilleke & Gibbins and managing director of the firm’s intellectual property practice, served on IPAT’s board from 2001 to 2019 and was president of the association from 2005 to 2009.

On November 17, Tilleke & Gibbins’ employment team in Bangkok continued its outreach to companies at Thai industrial estates by leading an employment law seminar at Hitech Ayutthaya industrial estate. Chusert Supasitthumrong, partner and director of Tilleke and Gibbins’ dispute resolution department in Bangkok commenced the first session by going over the basis of changing employment conditions and agreements according to the Labour Protection Act, conditions and requirements for strikes and lockouts, and illustrating the issues with case studies from his experience. The second presentation was delivered by Piyawat Vitooraporn, an associate from the same department. Piyawat covered termination of employment in Thailand, detailing potential legal consequences of terminating employees, statutory termination payments, and unfair termination. This session at Hitech Ayutthaya industrial estate is part of a series of trainings and seminars that Tilleke & Gibbins’ employment specialists are organizing at industrial estates in Thailand to increase companies’ understanding of Thailand’s employment laws and the benefits of complying with these regulations.

On October 19, Chusert Supasitthumrong, partner and director of the firm’s dispute resolution department, and Suruswadee Jaimsuwan, counsel from the same department, offered an in-person seminar on labor law to assist companies in coping with ongoing issues and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic climate. After being welcomed by AMATA Corporation’s corporate communications senior section manager, Chusert began by giving attendees an overview of employment legal issues and concepts, such as employer-employee agreements, principles of labor demands, and strikes and lockouts. In the second part of the session, Suruswadee focused on termination of employment, highlighting notable consequences employers may face when terminating employees, rules for statutory termination payments, and unfair termination. This session at the AMATA City Chonburi Industrial Estate is part of a series of trainings and seminars that Tilleke & Gibbins’ employment specialists are organizing at industrial estates in Thailand to increase companies’ understanding of Thailand’s employment laws and the benefits of complying with these regulations.