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.

Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce the addition of Sarah Galeski to the firm’s corporate and commercial team in Ho Chi Minh City, in the role of counsel. With over 12 years of professional legal experience, including almost eight in Vietnam, Sarah focuses primarily on matters of employment and labor law, as well as compliance and dispute resolution. Sarah was previously the associate director of KPMG Legal in Ho Chi Minh City, and an associate with Baker & McKenzie. A native of Canada, where she is a licensed barrister and solicitor, Sarah began her legal career with Fraser Milner Casgrain in Vancouver (now Dentons Canada) before moving to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Sarah has been actively involved with the European Chamber of Commerce, serving terms as Co-Chair of the Human Resources & Training Sector Committee and as a member of EuroCham’s Executive Committee.

On February 4, 2021, partner Linh Thi Mai Nguyen, the head of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Vietnam trademark group, joined a panel of experts at a “Flash Briefing” webinar organized by the International Trademark Association (INTA) to discuss the proposed amendments to Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Law. Linh, a member of INTA’s Trademark Office Practices Committee, spoke primarily about the changes to Vietnam’s trademark office practice under the amended IP Law, which is currently in draft form and is expected to be issued later this year. This was the first Flash Briefing ever staged by INTA. The format is designed to provide quick online updates on timely issues for brand owners around the world.

As a result of the mass disruption brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers in Thailand are unsure of how to prepare for and deal with upcoming performance evaluations for tenured employees. To share insight on this key concern, Tilleke & Gibbins and the Thai Listed Companies Association (TLCA) will cohost a webinar entitled “Preparing for Performance Evaluations and Associated Termination Concerns during COVID-19.” Presented by Nuanchun Somboonvinij and Sasirusm (Roll) B. Chunhakasikarn, labor and employment attorneys in Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution group in Bangkok, the session will highlight the importance of, best practices for, and the implementation of regular performance evaluations; and explain the legal procedure for carrying out terminations of employment to help employers avoid unexpected consequences or unfair dismissal claims. The live broadcast will be held on January 28, 2020, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (GMT+7). If you’re interested in attending this webinar, which will be delivered in Thai, please send an email to [email protected].