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Darani Vachanavuttivong

Managing Partner and Managing Director, Intellectual Property

Biography

Darani Vachanavuttivong is a formidable enforcer of intellectual property rights (IPR), including trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Regarded as “a brilliant, hands-on lawyer who works extremely hard for her clients” (WTR 1000), Darani is currently recognized as a top IP practitioner by such publications as Asialaw Leading Lawyers (since 2003), The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (since 2003), and Chambers Asia-Pacific (since 2008). She has been named as one of the most accomplished female IP practitioners in the world by Managing Intellectual Property magazine, which includes Darani in its list of the “Top 250 Women in IP.”

Darani helps clients protect IPR in some of the toughest jurisdictions in the world—Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Darani previously headed the firm’s trademark registration group and is well-versed in writing patents, having represented numerous patent clients and having attended several high-level courses on drafting patent specifications, including the South East Asian Patent Drafting Training Course and the Patent Agent Training Course organized by the Department of Intellectual Property, Bangkok.

A leading IP attorney and a leader in the IP field, Darani is the managing director of the Tilleke & Gibbins intellectual property group, which is consistently recognized as the preeminent IP practice in Southeast Asia. Darani, who is a licensed to practice law in Thailand, is actively engaged in the global intellectual property community. She recently served as president of the ASEAN Intellectual Property Association (AIPA) and chair of the Asia-Pacific Sub-Committee of INTA’s Global Advisory Council. She has also served terms as president and vice president of the Thailand group of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association; and as president of the Intellectual Property Association of Thailand.

Darani, who is a member of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and is a qualified patent agent, takes a realistic, no-nonsense approach to protecting intellectual property in Southeast Asia, and notes that, “protecting IPR should be viewed as an investment in the product and the company’s good name and as a critical line-item in any originator’s budget.”

Experience

  • Acted on behalf of our client before the IP&IT Court and obtained a very favorable settlement just prior to the rendering of judgment in what has been widely regarded as the largest and most complex patent infringement case in Thai history. In this multijurisdictional case, our team not only secured a rare Anton Piller order to seize infringing goods, which enabled us to successfully prove infringement, but also formulated extensive strategies for protecting the validity of our client’s patent.
  • Defended a leading Thai manufacturer of wood protection materials against an allegation of trademark infringement (claims totaled USD 1 million).
  • Interviewed inventors and concerned parties to collect information for drafting patent and petty patent specifications. Determined novelty and inventive step through patent searches.
  • Drafted a patent specification for a client in the electronic-money industry.
  • Represented a leading producer of smartphones as its “point of contact” with all government authorities, which involved crafting an overall government relations strategy, establishing and cultivating relationships with officials, responding to government investigations, monitoring potential policy and regulatory developments, and seeking legislative and regulatory change on our client’s behalf. We have also structured appropriate and effective solutions to the business and legal challenges faced by our client.
  • Responded in a timely and effective manner to news that a variation of our client’s trade name and trademark would be used in a major concert and festival sponsored by parties in both the private and public sectors. With only two weeks’ notice, we immediately commenced negotiations at all levels with the appropriate government agencies and the organizer. Our prompt and diligent actions were effective. Prior to the event, the hosts changed the name and mark of the event, and all advertisements were removed and corrected.
  • Represented a food manufacturer in carrying out an international raid in Laos against trademark violations by local retailers, and coordinated with local authorities to carry out the raid, seize all counterfeit products, and destroy them.
  • Provided strategic planning advice on the holding and assignment of trademark owners for trademarks registered worldwide.
ABOUT Darani

Industries

Life Sciences

Practices

Intellectual Property

Regulatory Affairs

Locations

Languages

    Thai

    English

Education

    LLB, Ramkhamhaeng University

    MSc, Thammasat University

    BBA, Thammasat University

Insights

December 9, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins is proud to announce that four litigation cases handled by the firm have been selected among the nine Distinguished Judgment Awards granted by Thailand’s Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court (IP&IT Court) for the period from October 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025. This recognition highlights the complexity, novelty, and legal significance of these cases, which were chosen based on stringent criteria including new legal issues, high evidentiary volume, and intricate legal arguments. Among these four cases, one was singled out as the “Most Distinguished Judgment” – the landmark trademark squatting case involving the trademark rights of our client, Thailand’s largest state-owned energy conglomerate, and its subsidiary. In this case, the defendants had filed 52 trademark applications mimicking our client’s marks, making it the largest trademark squatting dispute in Thai history. On April 30, 2025, the IP&IT Court ordered the cancellation of multiple infringing trademarks, setting a benchmark for IP enforcement against trademark squatters in Thailand. The other three recognized cases demonstrate Tilleke & Gibbins’ breadth of expertise in IP litigation: Patent infringement and invalidation involving trade secrets misappropriation. Trade dress infringement of a unique packaging. Landmark Luckin Coffee case involving trademark infringement and invalidation. The IP&IT Court handles approximately 200 IP civil litigation cases each year, and our IP litigation team has typically been involved in 25–30% of them, reflecting our dominant role in shaping IP jurisprudence in Thailand.
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November 21, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins has contributed the Thailand chapter to Asia IP’s ASEAN Guide to IP Protection 2025, an annual reference covering key developments and practical considerations for intellectual property systems across Southeast Asia. The chapter offers an overview of Thailand’s current legal framework for the protection of trademarks, patents, industrial designs, and copyrights. It summarizes registration requirements, recent regulatory updates, and procedural considerations relevant to rights holders and practitioners. The chapter offers actionable insights for rights holders at every stage of the IP lifecycle and addresses practical strategies for managing portfolios, anticipating enforcement challenges, and maximizing the value of IP assets. The authors also highlight recent trends and developments in Thai IP law, ensuring that readers are equipped with the latest knowledge to inform their decisions. The complete Thailand chapter can be downloaded through the button below, and the chapter is also available on the Asia IP website.
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May 2, 2025
Attorneys from Tilleke & Gibbins have updated the latest edition of Doing Business in Thailand, a Q&A-style guide from Thomson Reuters Practical Law that offers an overview of key legal considerations for companies operating in jurisdictions worldwide. The contribution outlines the country’s legal and regulatory framework for foreign investment and business operations and reflects the latest legislative developments. The chapter addresses the following core topics: Legal system: Structure of the courts and the codified nature of Thai law. Foreign investment: Business restrictions under the Foreign Business Act, sector-specific regulations, exchange control rules, and investment incentives. Business vehicles: Overview of partnerships, private and public limited companies, and other legal entities. Employment: Labor protections, employment contracts, foreign worker requirements, and termination procedures. Tax: Corporate and personal income tax, indirect taxes, and tax obligations for residents and non-residents. Intellectual property: Registration and enforcement of patents, trademarks, designs, and copyrights. Data protection: Key provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act and related compliance obligations. Competition law: Regulatory framework under the Trade Competition Act. Anti-bribery and corruption: Relevant legislation and enforcement mechanisms. E-commerce and digital business: Legal regime for online transactions and digital platforms. Marketing and advertising: Consumer protection laws and regulations affecting advertising and marketing practices. Product regulation and liability: Safety standards, liability regimes, and roles of enforcement authorities. Practical Law, a legal reference resource from Thomson Reuters, publishes a range of guides for hundreds of jurisdictions and practice areas. The insurance and reinsurance guide is a valuable resource for legal practitioners, covering numerous jurisdictions worldwide. To view the latest version of the guide, please visit the Practical Law website and enroll in the free Practical Law trial to gain full access.
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Awards & Rankings

July 27, 2026
Darani Vachanavuttivong, managing partner and managing director of the firm’s intellectual property (IP) practice, has been recognized in the ALB Asia Top Female Lawyers 2026 list published by Asian Legal Business (ALB). The annual list honors 20 outstanding female lawyers from across Asia who have demonstrated exceptional legal expertise, leadership, and impact in their respective fields. Notably, Darani is the only lawyer from Thailand included in this year’s ranking. This marks Darani Vachanavuttivong’s fourth appearance on ALB’s prestigious list. Her continued inclusion reflects her longstanding contributions to the legal profession, leadership within the intellectual property field, and the strong reputation she has earned among clients and peers throughout the region. Widely recognized as one of Southeast Asia’s leading intellectual property practitioners, Darani has played a key role in shaping and strengthening IP protection and enforcement strategies for clients across a broad range of industries. According to ALB, the ranking celebrates women who are helping shape the future of the legal profession through excellence in practice, leadership, innovation, and meaningful contributions to their communities. The selection process considers factors including professional achievements, significant matters handled, client feedback, market reputation, and broader contributions to the legal industry. For more information on the ALB Asia Top Female Lawyers 2026 list, please see the July 2026 issue of ALB.
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July 16, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce that two of the firm’s leading intellectual property practitioners have been recognized in the Managing IP Top 250 Women in IP 2026 rankings. Darani Vachanavuttivong, managing partner and managing director of the firm’s intellectual property department, and Wongrat Ratanaprayul, head of the Tilleke & Gibbins’ office in Jakarta, were both selected for inclusion in this year’s list, which highlights outstanding female IP professionals from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional expertise, leadership, and contributions to the profession. Darani continues to be the only lawyer in Thailand included in the ranking, underscoring her longstanding reputation as one of the country’s foremost intellectual property practitioners. Wongrat is one of only three lawyers in Indonesia recognized in this year’s edition. The Managing IP Top 250 Women in IP ranking recognizes leading female intellectual property lawyers worldwide based on their expertise, professional achievements, and contributions to the development of intellectual property practice. To read the announcement and view the full Top 250 Women in IP 2026 list, please visit the Managing IP website.
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June 11, 2026
A total of 11 Tilleke & Gibbins intellectual property practitioners have been recognized in World Trademark Review‘s WTR Global Leaders 2026, an exclusive ranking of the world’s top trademark professionals. This marks an increase from eight practitioners in 2025 and highlights the strength and depth of the firm’s IP team across Southeast Asia. The firm’s recognized practitioners are: Cambodia David Mol Sokmean Chea Indonesia Wongrat Ratanaprayul (New ranking) Myanmar Yuwadee Thean-ngarm Thailand Alan Adcock Darani Vachanavuttivong Somboon Earterasarun Suebsiri Taweepon (New ranking) Nuttaphol Arammuang (New ranking) Vietnam Linh Thi Mai Nguyen Loc Xuan Le WTR Global Leaders draws on research from the WTR 1000 and WTR 300 to identify the very best trademark practitioners worldwide, bringing together a select group of professionals recognized for their expertise, insight, and contributions to the field. The full list of ranked individuals in the private practice category can be viewed here.
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June 10, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins was again recognized as a top-tier intellectual property law firm in Southeast Asia in the 2026 edition of Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars rankings Firm Rankings In this year’s firm rankings, Tilleke & Gibbins secured the following positions: Cambodia General IP – Recommended (top tier awarded for this category) Indonesia Patent – Tier 2 Trademark – Tier 2 Thailand Patent – Tier 1 Trademark – Tier 1 Vietnam Patent – Tier 1 Trademark – Tier 1 Individual Rankings In addition to the firm rankings, 12 Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers were recognized individually as IP Stars: Cambodia David Mol – Rising Star Sokmean Chea – Rising Star Indonesia Rochmali Zultan – Rising Star Wongrat Ratanaprayul – Patent Star, Trademark Star Thailand Alan Adcock – Patent Star, Trademark Star Darani Vachanavuttivong – Patent Star, Trademark Star Kasama Sriwatanakul – Rising Star Sukontip Jitmongkolthong –Trademark Star Vietnam Linh Duy Mai – Rising Star Linh Thi Mai Nguyen – Trademark Star Loc Xuan Le – Patent Star, Trademark Star Trung Nguyen – Trademark Star The annual IP Stars rankings are based on extensive independent research, including client and peer feedback, market analysis, and recent case highlights. For more information and to browse the full rankings, please see the IP Stars website.
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