MIA, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
JD, New York Law School
BA, Stony Brook University
+66 2056 5790 
John Frangos is a partner and regional practice head of Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution and litigation group. Based in Bangkok, he works with clients and the firm’s disputes teams on complex cases in Thailand, Vietnam, and across Southeast Asia. He is especially active in leading the firm’s compliance and investigations practice and aviation industry group.
John’s experience includes guiding foreign investors on cross-border litigation and arbitration, construction and infrastructure disputes, aircraft repossessions and aviation-related lease disputes, internal and government investigations, and bankruptcy matters. With nearly two decades of living and working in Thailand and Vietnam, John brings strong knowledge of local business practices and customs. He also has a deep understanding of the region’s political and economic landscapes that shape the legal environment that investors must navigate.
John is ranked as a leading practitioner by Chambers Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Benchmark Litigation, and Asialaw Profiles. Clients have described him as “super responsive, incredibly knowledgeable, and really focused on getting the best outcome as quickly as possible” (Chambers Asia-Pacific).
John, who is qualified in New York, serves as the Thailand chapter head for the New York State Bar Association. He is also an active member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and the International Bar Association. He regularly presents and writes on topics related to disputes in Southeast Asia.
- Advised a UK investment fund in a dispute over a bond-issuance in Thailand.
- Assisted a Korean conglomerate on a construction dispute and arbitration in Thailand involving the collapse of a logistics warehouse.
- Advised a leasing company on the first hostile aircraft repossession in Vietnam.
- Advised a European aerospace and defense company on a contract dispute against the Thai military.
- Advised a European telecommunications company on investigating a major internal procurement fraud in Thailand.
- Advised a global aircraft leasing company on the successful repossession of a Boeing 737 passenger jet from a Thai airline before the Intellectual Property & International Trade Court in Bangkok and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
- Advised an American beverage company on an internal anticorruption investigation in Thailand.
- Advised a global energy services firm on defending an anticorruption investigation by the Thai government.
- Advised an international e-commerce firm on handling multiple Thai criminal investigations related to alleged regulatory violations.
- Advised an aircraft manufacturer on a joint venture dispute in Thailand.
- Assisted a global aircraft leasing company on resolving a lease default dispute with a Thai airline.
- Advised an Asian regional airline on a complex breach of contract claim against its Thai business partner.
- Counseled a global aircraft leasing company on the successful repossession of a Boeing 767 passenger jet from a Thai airline before the Intellectual Property & International Trade Court in Bangkok and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
- Advised a global oil and gas consulting firm on an internal anticorruption investigation related to attempted bid tampering.
- Advised a US educational organization on criminal matters related to fraudulent standardized test taking in Thailand.
- Assisted a multinational vehicle manufacturer on designing and implementing an anticorruption compliance program in Thailand.
- Advised an American precious metals company on all aspects of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), as well as Thai and Vietnamese anticorruption compliance in its joint venture transactions and general business dealings in Thailand and Vietnam.
- Advised an international consulting firm on designing and implementing a corporate compliance program across its Southeast Asia operations.
- Designed and implemented a special intensive anticorruption training program for the board of directors of a large Thai company.
- Advised a major American software company on defending numerous employment termination cases in Thailand resulting from a global merger.
- Represented multiple aircraft and engine leasing companies on significant damage claims against Thai airlines.
- Advised a global automobile manufacturer on a significant customs dispute in Thailand.
- Advised one of the world’s largest oil field service companies on a full range of labor and employment issues under Thai law.
- Advised a major international food and beverage company on its internal investigation of an employee’s misappropriation of company assets in Thailand.
- Advised several global auto makers and auto-parts suppliers on product liability claims in Thailand.