On March 29–31, Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution experts offered a three-episode Thai-language webinar series covering key legal information related to white-collar crime. In the first episode, titled “White-Collar Crime: Theft and Forgery,” Kasamesunt Teerasitsathaporn, a partner in Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution group, focused on tools available in Thailand for fighting the most common types of white-collar crime—theft and forgery—including the penalties that can be imposed. The following day, Chusert Supasitthumrong, partner and specialist in labor and employment law, continued with a presentation entitled “Investigating White Collar Crimes,” in which he addressed a wide range of offenses that can occur in a company. He also provided practical guidelines for companies to identify potential internal criminal breaches, and outlined steps the can take to confirm or dismiss the allegations. In the final episode, titled “Prosecuting White Collar Crime,” Suruswadee Jaimsuwan, a counsel in the firm’s dispute resolution department, provided an overview of what employers can do to bring cases against employees who commit financial and economic crimes, and offered a detailed discussion of criminal court proceedings. The recordings of all three sessions (in Thai) are available on the Tilleke & Gibbins YouTube channel.

On March 26, Tilleke & Gibbins and the Thai Listed Companies Association (TLCA) teamed up to offer a Thai-language webinar entitled “Business Rehabilitation: Steps and Procedures after Filing an Application for Debt Repayment.” Alongkorn Tongmee, senior associate; Jamorn Pornponwat, associate; and Nuanchun Somboonvinij, senior associate, jointly presented their insights in the webinar, which aimed to help creditors of Thai companies properly navigate the debt recovery process in Thailand and understand what to expect after filing a debt repayment application. The speakers discussed the following topics: Standard rehabilitation proceedings in Thailand; Classification of creditors in proceedings; and How rehabilitation plans are considered and approved. A full video recording of the webinar (in Thai) is available on the Tilleke & Gibbins YouTube channel.

On March 22, John Frangos, partner and deputy director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution group, together with aviation lawyers and bankruptcy specialists on the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Aerospace Council and Legal Committee, presented a webinar entitled “Bankruptcy Issues in the Aviation Industry.” In the session, John discussed airline bankruptcy, addressed debtor and creditor rights in Thai bankruptcy reorganization proceedings, explained how other aviation industry stakeholders have fared in Thai bankruptcy reorganization proceedings, and offered a comparative look at how other countries handle airline bankruptcies. As co-head of Tilleke & Gibbins’ dedicated aviation practice, John is well versed in the procedural and technical issues surrounding aviation-related disputes in Thailand, Vietnam, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. He is frequently sought out by foreign and domestic media to comment on high-profile aviation disputes.

On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military declared a state of emergency in the country and took control of the government, arresting State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and other senior government officials from the National League for Democracy. The seizure of power, and the government’s subsequent actions to suppress public protest and dissent, have received widespread international condemnation.  The USA, Canada, and the UK have reacted by imposing economic sanctions on certain companies and individuals, and more sanctions are expected as the situation in Myanmar evolves. These sanctions pose a major concern for foreign investors with interests in Myanmar—concern which is exacerbated by the lack of clarity about the current situation on the ground. To address these issues, Lex Mundi is bringing together leading legal authorities on the topic from Myanmar, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom for a special webinar on March 23, 2021. The speakers, which include Tilleke & Gibbins counsel Ross Taylor, will discuss the situation on the ground in Myanmar; how the sanctions imposed this time differ from previous restrictions on Myanmar under earlier regimes; the impact of the sanctions imposed by each country; and the practical impact of sanctions on companies with operations in or relating to Myanmar. The session will be followed by a Q&A with all speakers, where attendees will be able to address any specific queries they might have. For more details and to register for this free webinar, please visit the event information page.