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March 14, 2017

Tilleke & Gibbins Joins Thai Business Community in Pledging to Protect Wildlife and End Illegal Trade in Wildlife Products

On the occasion of Thai National Elephant Day on March 13, David Lyman, Chairman and Chief Values Officer of Tilleke & Gibbins, joined 14 top local business leaders in signing a pledge to oppose all use of illegal wildlife products, particularly elephant ivory, in order to reiterate their joint commitments to support wildlife conservation and end the illegal trade in wildlife products in Thailand.

The pledge, developed by WildAid, a San Francisco-based environmental nonprofit that is working to reduce global demand for wildlife products, has the following contents:

  • To lead by example in developing sustainable and socially responsible business practices.
  • Not to purchase, use, or give as gifts any illegal wildlife products and ivory.
  • To encourage friends, family, and employees never to purchase any illegal wildlife products.
  • To support efforts to conserve Thailand’s rich natural heritage and protect wildlife.

Joining David as signatories to the pledge was former deputy prime minister M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula , as well as top executives from Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited; Bangkok Rinvest Co., Ltd.; B. Grimm; Boon Rawd Brewery Co., Ltd.; GP Group; Hana Microelectronics Group; Kasikorn Bank PCL; Minor International Public Company Limited; Ocean Glass Public Company Limited; Sukosol Hotels Group; Thai Environmental and Community Development Association (Magic Eyes); The Navakij Insurance Public Company Limited; and TMB Bank Public Company Limited. The pledge has received positive mention in local media, and it is expected that the initial 15 signatories will soon be joined by other business leaders in Thailand as this conservation campaign progresses.

Although Thailand has been identified as a hub for the trafficking of ivory and other wildlife products from Africa to China, through their recent pledges, David Lyman and local business leaders are sending a clear message that they will stand together in the fight to end the illegal trade in wildlife products in Thailand.

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December 9, 2022
On December 8, Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution team in Bangkok delivered an in-person seminar on employment law at Latkrabang Industrial Estate. The event provided key legal updates on employment conditions and termination of employment. The first part of the presentation, which focused on employment conditions, was delivered by Chusert Supasitthumrong, partner and director of the firm’s dispute resolution department. During the session, he explained the scope of labor law in Thailand and shared ways employers can effectively change employment conditions and terms of employment.  He also touched upon labor disputes, submission of claims, negotiations, strikes and lockouts, and unfair termination and practices. The second topic, presented by Piyawat Vitooraporn, an associate of the same department, covered key considerations on termination of employment, including potential consequences, statutory termination payments, possible sanctions, and principles of unfair termination. This session at the Latkrabang Industrial Estate was part of a series of trainings and seminars that Tilleke & Gibbins’ employment specialists are organizing at industrial estates in Thailand to increase companies’ understanding of Thailand’s employment laws and the benefits of complying with these regulations.
December 8, 2022
Tilleke & Gibbins held the 2022 Annual Employment Law Forum Webinar Series from November 21 to December 7. The 2022 forum offered 7 sessions, covering a range of labor law applicable to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. In addition to the Thai-language sessions described below, the forum this year also featured several sessions in English. During the first week, dispute resolution team in Bangkok led the following sessions in Thai: On November 21, Chusert Supasitthumrong gave a presentation on an overview of unfair termination and unfair acts (video recording available here), and provided relevant recent case studies. On November 23, Chitchai Punsan highlighted criminal proceedings relating to Thailand’s Labor Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998). The session (video recording available here) covered potential responsible parties, different types of criminal offenses, and criminal proceedings. On November 24, Suruswadee Jaimsuwan and Pathanin Sornchangwat discussed complex procedural laws in labor disputes (video recording available here) with a focus on class actions and arbitration. On December 1, Pimvimol Vipamaneerutand Ketnut Pukahuta presented a Thai-language session on Termination of Employment in Thailand (video recording available here).
November 28, 2022
Suebsiri Taweepon, a partner in Tilleke & Gibbins’ intellectual property group in Bangkok, was elected president of the Intellectual Property Association of Thailand (IPAT) when the association’s board members convened an online voting session to select new leadership. Suebsiri was the unanimous choice of the 15 board members of IPAT. As president, Suebsiri will guide IPAT in setting its program of seminars and events related to current developments in intellectual property in the country. He will also represent the association and provide oversight in relation to IPAT’s participation in regional and international initiatives. Established in 1972, IPAT is a leading intellectual property association in Thailand, and Tilleke & Gibbins has played an active role in the ongoing development of the group for many years. Darani Vachanavuttivong, managing partner of Tilleke & Gibbins and managing director of the firm’s intellectual property practice, served on IPAT’s board from 2001 to 2019 and was president of the association from 2005 to 2009.
November 18, 2022
On November 17, Tilleke & Gibbins’ employment team in Bangkok continued its outreach to companies at Thai industrial estates by leading an employment law seminar at Hitech Ayutthaya industrial estate. Chusert Supasitthumrong, partner and director of Tilleke and Gibbins’ dispute resolution department in Bangkok commenced the first session by going over the basis of changing employment conditions and agreements according to the Labour Protection Act, conditions and requirements for strikes and lockouts, and illustrating the issues with case studies from his experience. The second presentation was delivered by Piyawat Vitooraporn, an associate from the same department. Piyawat covered termination of employment in Thailand, detailing potential legal consequences of terminating employees, statutory termination payments, and unfair termination. This session at Hitech Ayutthaya industrial estate is part of a series of trainings and seminars that Tilleke & Gibbins’ employment specialists are organizing at industrial estates in Thailand to increase companies’ understanding of Thailand’s employment laws and the benefits of complying with these regulations.