On October 28, Darani Vachanavuttivong, as president of the ASEAN Intellectual Property Association (ASEAN IPA), led a forum focusing on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a proposed free trade agreement among the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and several other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Joined by a Malaysian minister of domestic and consumer affairs, a representative from Malaysia’s International Division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, and a senior officer at Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property, the session addressed the salient features of the RCEP, its importance, and some of its most significant implications for related industry and business operators within ASEAN.

On October 26, Tilleke & Gibbins collaborated with CCPIT Patent & Trademark Law Office in China to organize a Chinese-language webinar titled “Practical Trademark Strategies for Chinese Investors in Thailand.” Presenting in Chinese, Sher Hann Chua, a consultant in the firm’s Bangkok and Yangon offices, covered the following topics in Chinese to equip Chinese investors and brand owners to gain better understanding of relevant Thai regulations: Trademark registration procedures, examination criteria and application strategies; Trademark enforcement framework; and Trademark licensing and brand commercialization strategies.

On October 20, 2021, Nitikar Nith, an associate in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Cambodia office, participated in the Women and Leadership Roundtable, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham). The panel discussion, which was facilitated by a moderator from AmCham, featured six female leaders from different sectors to share their perspectives on how women can advance in their careers and excel in leadership roles in businesses or organizations. The roundtable also aimed to increase the visibility of accomplished local female role models for others in the business world. The event was extremely well received, with many watching the roundtable via live stream and significant media coverage following in the subsequent days. As reported in the Khmer Times, the panelists stressed the importance of engagement and self-empowerment in forging a successful career and being a leader to others in the field. The Cambodia Investment Review echoed these sentiments about empowerment and noted that the speakers also emphasized passion and contribution to society as guiding elements in the career-building process. The roundtable was streamed live, and a recording is available on the AmCham Facebook page.

On October 13, Alan Adcock, partner and deputy director of the firm’s intellectual property and regulatory affairs groups in Bangkok, and Thomas J. Treutler, managing director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ offices in Vietnam, represented the firm in the virtual IP Life Sciences Conference 2021. Life sciences specialists from around the world attended the conference, which was organized to provide patent owners in the life sciences industry with pertinent information and updates relating to patent disputes and litigation in key jurisdictions. During their presentations on local Thai and Vietnamese legal regulations, Alan and Thomas offered insights on policies and risks relating to injunctions in patent disputes, the most successful patent litigation strategies in each respective country, and the cost of litigation versus the practical business benefits of patent protection.