On August 25, Joseph Tomkiewicz, partner and co-chair of Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional energy practice, joined the first day of the three-day Future Energy Asia 2021 forum to moderate a strategic session titled “Big Ideas: Clean Energy, Role of Oil & Gas, Innovations That Shape ASEAN’s Energy Transition.” Joined by leading companies in the oil and gas sector, including PTTEP, Baker Hughes, and Venture Global, Joseph led a session that handled questions about innovations such as the rapid growth of renewables amidst COVID-19 in ASEAN. During the session, he directed and fostered discussion of ASEAN’s drive toward fuel diversification, energy security, and decarbonization. Joseph and the panelists also analyzed strong demand growth for cleaner practices in the power and industrial sectors, considered how players in the energy industry are reshaping their strategies and focus, and highlighted innovations they have seen in policies, financing, technologies, and business models. The session showcased the development and innovation in today’s energy sector, and initiated discussions among high-level professionals in the industry.

On August 19, Sher Hann Chua, a consultant in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Bangkok and Yangon offices, presented a session to the Thailand chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) titled “An Overview of Intellectual Property: What to Focus on in the Contract and the Field.” Moderated by Joseph Tomkiewicz, partner and co-chair of Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional energy practice, the session focused on the intellectual property (IP) rights and issues that are most relevant to the oil and gas industry. In discussing IP rights and how they function in the energy sector, Sher Hann presented an overview of trademarks, patents, industrial designs, and copyright, before emphasizing the crucial role that IP plays in major commercial transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. She also analyzed classic IP pitfalls that parties makes when working with others under a contractual arrangement, and providing practical tips on how to avoid these missteps.

To provide an overview of NFTs and associated legal implications, Tilleke & Gibbins collaborated with True Digital Park to present a Thai-language session offering various Thai legal perspectives on the NFT phenomenon. During the webinar, Kobkit Thienpreecha, partner and director of the firm’s corporate and commercial group; Nopparat Lalitkomon, senior associate from the same department; and Suebsiri Taweepon, partner in the firm’s intellectual property (IP) department, shared their thoughts on why NFTs are trending, analyzed existing laws applicable to the novel assets, looked at governance concepts, and provided in-depth details on NFT-related IP issues. Regulators in Thailand—like many across the world—haven’t had sufficient time to consider and implement regulations to govern NFT activity. In the meantime, Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission has prohibited NFTs and several other digital assets in the country. A full video recording of the webinar (in Thai) is available on the Tilleke & Gibbins YouTube channel.

On August 5, Athistha (Nop) Chitranukroh and Peerapong Pornpipatkul of Tilleke & Gibbins’ corporate and commercial group in Bangkok were welcomed as keynote speakers for a session entitled “Legal Unfolded” under the Startup Starter Kit series. Hosted by Global Startup Thailand—an initiative cofounded by Startup Thailand and the National Innovation Agency (NIA)—the Startup Starter Kit series is designed to provide practical business advice to local and international entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on new opportunities in Thailand. During the session, Athistha and Peerapong led attendees through an in-depth look at common legal concerns for startups in Thailand, including extensive discussions on: local laws and legal issues to consider before fundraising; negotiating term sheets, share subscription agreements, and shareholders’ agreements; Thai cybersecurity and data protection laws; and potential exit strategies for entrepreneurs. For more information on the webinar, which was delivered in Thai, please visit the event page.