Thomas J. Treutler, partner and managing director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Vietnam offices, was recently appointed co-chair of the IP Practice in the Far East Committee of AIPLA (American Intellectual Property Law Association). Thomas will serve a two-year term in this capacity, through October 2024. AIPLA, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2022, is a U.S.-based professional organization for intellectual property practitioners that provides professional support and promotes an effective and balanced IP system through advocacy, education, training, and community outreach. While the association’s primary constituency is American lawyers, AIPLA also welcomes international members and encourages the cross-border exchange of information on IP practices. The IP Practice in the Far East Committee, in particular, is a resource, forum, and network for AIPLA members interested in the IP laws and systems of Asian countries. In his role as co-chair, Thomas will help the committee build relationships with IP associations in countries in east Asia, including Vietnam, and provide research reports on the local IP laws and practices of those countries, while also sharing information on U.S. IP law and practice.

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 July 27, Dino Santaniello, head of Tilleke & Gibbins’ office in Laos, spoke at a breakfast talk on intellectual property law. The breakfast talk, which was held in a hybrid format to accommodate remote attendees, was organized in collaboration with Department of Intellectual Property, the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Laos (ECCIL), and the South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk. Dino was joined by the director of the Department of Intellectual Property in Laos, who discussed the benefits of trademark registration, principles and functions of a geographical indication. Dino then highlighted current enforcement measures as well as the importance of registered trademarks for international and Lao companies to ensure that brands are well-aware of their rights and protections under the law. The ECCIL promotes the interests of the European business community in Laos and serves its members by organizing events and networking opportunities and assisting European companies with market entry into Laos. For more details, please see the ECCIL website.

Michael Ramirez, a counsel in Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution group in Bangkok, will provide the Thailand legal outlook at a Thailand Regional Forum meeting to be held at Sasin School of Management on June 9, 2022. The event will be a special relaunch meeting of the Thailand Regional Forum, an initiative established by Dataconsult some 35 years ago. After a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the forum is restarting with Sasin School of Management as its new home. The Thailand Regional Forum at Sasin plans to hold regular meetings from July onward. The meeting will consist of forecasting panel presentations and roundtable discussions. In addition to Michael’s presentation of the legal outlook for Thailand, other speakers will offer insights into Thailand’s political, risk, economic, and human resources outlook in the coming year. Following the presentations, the speakers and attendees will participate in a roundtable discussions and Q&A to address any questions that came up during the session and to consider various potential scenarios. For more information on the Thailand Regional Forum, which offers memberships on a corporate basis, please see the Dataconsult website.