On April 22, Tilleke & Gibbins, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Fangda Partners, and the Thai Arbitration Institute, offered a webinar titled “Reporting from Thailand: The RCEP and Global Investment Arbitration Trends.” The webinar was held in response to the recent coming into effect of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free-trade agreement among the ten member states of ASEAN along with Australia, China, Japan, and South Korea. Noppramart Thammateeradaycho, counsel in the firm’s dispute and resolution group in Bangkok, represented Tilleke & Gibbins in the webinar and addressed several key considerations—particularly in relation to the effects of the RCEP on international arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution procedures. Noppramart led attendees through the core elements of RCEP investment facilitation, explained the agreement’s comprehensive dispute resolution mechanisms; and also discussed effective ways to promote arbitration in Thailand under the RCEP. With her extensive experience in international arbitrations, along with her expertise in international trade and shipping law, Noppramart is well positioned to discuss the likely effects of the RCEP on trade-related disputes and dispute resolution in Thailand and the region.

On April 21, Tilleke & Gibbins collaborated with Anderson Mori & Tomotsune to offer a Japanese-language webinar on insolvency proceedings in Thailand. Presented by Chieko Tsuchiya, a consultant in the dispute resolution department in Bangkok office, the webinar session addressed the following areas of discussion: Comprehensive overview of bankruptcy and business rehabilitation procedures in Thailand; Rehabilitation case studies; and Practical tips on what measures to take if a business partner goes bankrupt. The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, in which Alongkorn Tongmee, an experienced litigator in same department, assisted Chieko in fielding many queries on this topic from the floor. Together, the two attorneys were able to provide guidance and advice on attendees’ insolvency-related questions.

On April 20, three attorneys from Tilleke & Gibbins’ corporate and commercial group—Gvavalin Mahakunkitchareon, associate; Nopparat Lalitkomon, senior associate; and Pongpalin Chantrapirom, associate—offered a Thai-language webinar entitled “Personal Data Protection Compliance Preparation.” During the session, the three speakers gave a comprehensive overview of Thailand’s data protection regulatory regime to assist attendees in complying with the Personal Data Protection Act BE 2562 (PDPA), which will come into full effect on June 1, 2022. In particular, the speakers covered the following topics: Key principles of personal data collection; PDPA compliance considerations for insurance companies; Notification of data collection and data processing in accordance with the law; Managing personal data collected prior to the effective date of the PDPA; Penalties for noncompliance with the PDPA; and Comparative case studies involving the EU’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). A recording of the webinar (in Thai) is available on the Tilleke & Gibbins YouTube channel.

On April 8, Nopparat Lalitkomon, senior associate in the firm’s corporate and commercial group in Bangkok, took part in a webinar titled “Be Ready for Thai PDPA,” cohosted by Cisco Systems. The virtual event aimed to assist businesses in preparing for enforcement of Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which takes full effect on June 1, 2022. In his presentation, which was titled, “Get Ready for PDPA: Timeline, Regulations and What’s to Come,” Nopparat outlined the key principles of the PDPA and its related regulations, and highlighted necessary steps that Thai companies need to take as the deadline draws closer. At the conclusion of the session, He provided attendees with practical advice they can use to help their companies effectively manage their internal system to comply with the PDPA in June.