Andrew Stoutley, chief operating officer of Tilleke & Gibbins, provided a lengthy quote to Asian Legal Business (ALB) for a recent feature on how law firms in Southeast Asia are increasingly using data analytics and information to drive their business strategy. The article featured contributions from a number of partners and executives from firms across Southeast Asia on the different ways that their firms are applying data to their operations and incorporating information and analytics into their strategic decision-making processes. In his contribution, Andrew explained that as technology has become central to virtually all operations at Tilleke & Gibbins, metrics and data have been harnessed to inform decisions at all levels. To illustrate this, he gave the example of a broad strategic planning process that the firm has undertaken to lay out strategy for the coming years. Identifying and gathering key quantitative and qualitative data points was crucial to the process, which considers every element of the firm’s planned operations for the next several years. Andrew went on to discuss the importance of determining how best to share the data with the relevant stakeholders, such as through visualizations or dashboards that allow staff to monitor the progress of operations. The other informants for the article reported a similar uptick in reliance on data—such as in competitive intelligence, billing, and matter management—and emphasized the necessity for firms to recognize the value of data as a resource that must be protected and used wisely. The full article is available on page 4 of the September 2021 issue of ALB.

On September 14, Dino Santaniello, head of Tilleke & Gibbins in Laos, spoke in a webinar titled “Starting a Business in Laos.” The webinar, which was hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce in Laos (ECCIL), featured four business and legal experts sharing insights on how entrepreneurs, investors, and multinationals can set up a company and obtain work permits in Laos. In his presentation, Dino focused on the legal framework for business establishment in Laos and offered some practical tips on how the process is conducted locally. Together, the speakers highlighted the significant opportunity available to business operations in Laos, and discussed the competitive advantages and challenges of carrying out business activities in the jurisdiction. They also discussed taxation and financial best practices, such as opening a corporate bank account. The well-attended webinar attracted many entrepreneurs, investors, executives, and others interested in potentially setting up business operations in Laos.

On August 16, Tilleke & Gibbins collaborated with the Thai Listed Companies Association (TLCA) to organize a Thai-language webinar titled, “Temporary Business Shutdown during the COVID-19 Outbreak” to assist business that have opted to temporarily shut down in order to alleviate financial difficulties due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand In this webinar, Chusert Supasitthumrong, partner, and Piyawat Vitooraporn, associate, both in Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution group, discussed the criteria for temporary business shutdown under section 75 of the Labor Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998), addressed employers’ right to government subsidies, and offered suggestions to business owners about how they can benefit from various relief measures. A 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.