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September 26, 2023

Tilleke & Gibbins Joins Drew Network Asia to Fuel Strategic Expansion and Legal Excellence

On September 26, 2023, Tilleke & Gibbins joined Drew Network Asia (DNA), a network of blue-chip law firms in Southeast Asia, expanding the network to a total of nine countries and 824 fee earners in Southeast Asia.

Formed in March 2020, DNA brings together some of the most influential and well-established law firms in Southeast Asia, namely Drew & Napier from Singapore, Makarim & Taira S. from Indonesia, Shearn Delamore & Co. from Malaysia, and Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad (MVGS) from the Philippines. The addition of Tilleke & Gibbins further expands the network’s regional footprint in Southeast Asia, which now boasts a total headcount of over 1,600 in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

“We are delighted to become a part of DNA,” said Tiziana Sucharitkul, Managing Partner of Tilleke & Gibbins, “because being part of this network provides a platform for our clients to access the top lawyers in the region who will facilitate their legal needs and strategic ambitions in Southeast Asia. For over 130 years, Tilleke & Gibbins has been helping enterprises around the world achieve their business goals in Southeast Asia, and we are excited to continue our commitment to serving our clients as part of this network. We look forward to working hand in hand with the best lawyers in the region to enable this and to deliver the finest seamless legal advice and representation to our clients.”

Cavinder Bull SC, CEO, Drew & Napier said, “We are excited to have Tilleke & Gibbins join the network. DNA was created to enable pillar firms to service their clients’ multijurisdictional needs. With DNA covering almost the whole of Southeast Asia, we now have the capability to provide clients with seamless and integrated legal services of the highest quality throughout the region.”

“With the addition of Tilleke & Gibbins, we have significantly amplified our regional presence. I believe that DNA will become a formidable option for multijurisdictional legal work in the region.” said Dhinesh Bhaskaran, Managing Partner of Shearn Delamore & Co.

Maria Sagrado, Managing Partner, Makarim & Taira S. said, “The addition of Tilleke & Gibbins to the DNA family marks a significant milestone for our network, and underscores our unwavering pursuit of excellence. Together, we will leverage on our combined strengths to drive positive change to the legal industry.”

“We welcome Tilleke & Gibbins into our dynamic network which now has presence in almost the whole of Southeast Asia. By uniting our expertise and resources in DNA, we are poised to meet the needs of our clients more effectively and gain a competitive edge over other networks.” said Manuel Z. Gonzalez, Managing Partner of MVGS.

DNA is a cross-border ‘firm of firms’ that operates as a united collective, bringing both international perspectives and local expertise to the table. DNA operates as a one-stop shop in handling complex and time-sensitive multijurisdictional transactions or disputes.

Each DNA member firm upholds a stellar reputation that is built on consistently delivering premium legal advice alongside a world-class service experience. This unwavering commitment is recognized by clients and peers and has earned DNA firms top rankings in the world’s most prestigious legal publications.

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

August 3, 2022
On August 6, Thawat Damsa-ard, a partner in Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution department, will give a speech to incoming law students at Thammasat University Lampang Campus in northern Thailand. Thawat’s address will be part of the orientation activities for new students in the university’s Faculty of Law. Thawat will discuss important concepts such as legal philosophy and thought at the intersection of law, language, and human behavior. He will also complement the theoretical and academic side of his talk with insights and anecdotes from his broad experience preparing cases, serving clients, and litigating in the courtroom. Thawat is widely recognized for his successful record as a litigator and is a sought-after speaker and panelist on issues surrounding litigation and legal ethics in Thailand. He is a strong supporter of legal education and frequently shares his insights and professional observations with students and new lawyers.
August 1, 2022
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.
August 1, 2022
Following the success of the Future Energy Asia Exhibition and Summit event preview held at the firm’s Bangkok Office on June 16, Tilleke & Gibbins participated in the official three-day forum at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre on July 20-22, 2022 Under the theme “Decarbonizing ASEAN’s Energy Transition and Transformation,” Joseph Tomkiewicz, partner and chair of the firm’s regional energy industry team (and member of the conference committee), moderated a strategic panel discussion titled “Global Leaders Panel: Decarbonisation & GHG Commitment – Gas and LNG as Cleaner Fuels to Bridge ASEAN’s Energy Transition.” Together with distinguished speakers, Joseph led the session through noteworthy strategies and initiatives toward significant transformation of the industry. On the last day, Sher Hann Chua, a consultant in the firm’s intellectual property group, delivered a presentation titled “Harnessing the Power of Your Intellectual Property in Energy Industry Joint Ventures.” Tilleke & Gibbins also welcomed thousands of energy professionals to the firm’s booth over the course of three days to exchange potential ideas for future collaboration and business opportunities in the electric vehicle, LNG, renewables, and power sectors in ASEAN.
July 13, 2022
On July 12, 2022, Nopparat Lalitkomon, a senior associate in Tilleke & Gibbins’ corporate and commercial group in Bangkok, spoke at an event on the principles of Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). The session was organized in collaboration with True Digital Park and True Digital Group (TDG). Presenting along with the head of data privacy for TDG, Nopparat addressed the following issues to equip startup companies with essential knowledge to fully comply with the law. Data minimization; Managing data security; Data breach prevention; Principles of data protection officer roles; Data subject rights; Key consideration when setting up an application; and New sub-regulations under the Personal Data Protection Act; The event closed with an FAQ session.