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Biography

Dr. Jakkrit Kuanpoth champions intellectual property protection as an advisor to the firm’s IP group.

An esteemed expert on intellectual property rights and other related global issues, Jakkrit’s knowledge and advice has been sought by organizations such as the World Intellectual Property Organization, the World Health Organization, the Ford Foundation, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the International Centre on Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD). Jakkrit has also sat on various Parliamentary and National committees at the request of the Thai government. He has also completed the Barrister-at-Law requirements of the Institute of Legal Education, Thai Bar Association.

Jakkrit is both a legal practitioner and an academic, with continuing teaching responsibilities in intellectual property law at the University of Wollongong in Australia. He has penned authoritative texts on patent rights in pharmaceuticals, patent rights in developing countries, TRIPS and intellectual property, TRIPS and free trade, biotechnology, globalization, economic development, and geographical indications.

Jakkrit, a recognized expert in compulsory licensing and the effects thereof, counsels developing countries to be “extremely cautious in undertaking measures, such as compulsory licensing, that could be detrimental to the development of new drugs.”

Experience

  • Short-term consultant. “Informal Inter-country Consultation on Public Health and Intellectual Property Rights for Selected Pacific Island Countries,” The World Health Organization (Western Pacific Regional Office), Nadi, Fiji, March 2009.
  • Chief Investigator and Coordinator. “A Joint Research Agenda of Intellectual Property and Sustainable Development for Asia,” ICTSD-UNCTAD Project on IPRs and Sustainable Development, 2004-2006.
  • Chief Investigator. “Devising New Kinds of International and National Systems for the Protection of Traditional Medicines,” The World Health Organization (South East Asian Regional Office), 2003.
  • Short-term consultant. “Trade and Intellectual Property Rights in Mongolia,” The World Health Organization (Western Pacific Regional Office), Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia, December 2004.
  • Consultant. “IP Protection for Pharmaceuticals in ASEAN Countries,” ASEAN Secretariat and the Rockefeller Foundation, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2004.
  • Short-term consultant. “Combating Counterfeit Drugs in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region,” The World Health Organization (Western Pacific Regional Office), Hanoi, Phnom Penh, and Bangkok, 2003.
  • Short-term consultant. “TRIPS and Public Health in Myanmar,” The World Health Organization (South East Asian Regional Office), Rangoon, Myanmar, 2003.
ABOUT Jakkrit

Location

Languages

    Thai

    English

Education

    PhD, University of Aberdeen

    LLM, University of Warwick

    LLB, Ramkhamhaeng University

Insights

August 20, 2026
As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has released the latest edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand, providing an overview of the legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations for companies establishing or expanding operations in Thailand. The 2026 edition offers practical insight into the country’s business environment, investment framework, and operational requirements. The guide covers a wide range of topics relevant to foreign and domestic investors, including: Investment incentives and promotion schemes Financial facilities and banking regulations Exchange controls and money transfers Import and export regulations Business structures and incorporation options Requirements for establishing a business Operational and compliance considerations Business cessation and insolvency procedures Employment and labor laws Taxation Immigration and visa requirements Prepared by Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers across multiple practice areas, the publication outlines key aspects of doing business in Thailand, including foreign investment restrictions, regulatory compliance obligations, corporate structures, employment requirements, and recent legal and economic developments affecting investors. The publication forms part of Lex Mundi’s Country Guides series, a global collection of jurisdiction-specific reference materials prepared by member firms around the world. Together, these guides help companies evaluate opportunities, compare regulatory environments, and plan international business activities across multiple markets. The full Guide to Doing Business in Thailand 2026 is available through the button below.
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.
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.

Awards & Rankings

September 23, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has received eight nominations for the Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2026, recognizing the strength of the firm’s intellectual property practice across Southeast Asia. The firm has been shortlisted in the following categories: Asia-Pacific Firm of the Year (Domestic) Cambodia Firm of the Year Indonesia Firm of the Year Thailand Patent Firm of the Year Thailand Trademark Firm of the Year Vietnam Patent Firm of the Year Vietnam Trademark Firm of the Year In addition, Darani Vachanavuttivong, managing partner and managing director of the firm’s intellectual property practice, has been shortlisted for Asia-Pacific Practitioner of the Year (General Law Firms). The eight nominations reflect the continued recognition of Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional capabilities in intellectual property protection, commercialization, and enforcement. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on November 5, 2026. For more information, please see the full Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2026 shortlist.
September 23, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has received 14 nominations for the Asialaw Awards 2026. The nominations span jurisdiction-level, practice-area, and individual categories across the region. At the jurisdiction level, Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted in three categories: Cambodia Firm of the Year Laos Firm of the Year Thailand Firm of the Year The firm has also been shortlisted for four regional practice awards: Aviation and Shipping Firm of the Year Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year Technology and Telecommunications Firm of the Year Seven individual nominations recognize lawyers from the firm’s offices in Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam: Prisna Sungwanna, Laos Female Lawyer of the Year Pimvimol Vipamaneerut, Thailand Female Lawyer of the Year Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen, Vietnam Female Lawyer of the Year John Frangos, Aviation and Shipping Lawyer of the Year, Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year Pongpalin Chantrapirom, Dispute Resolution Rising Star of the Year Chusert Supasitthumrong, Labour and Employment Lawyer of the Year The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on November 5, 2026. For more information on the Asialaw Awards 2025 and to browse a full list of the nominees, please visit the Asialaw website.
September 11, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been named TMT Firm of the Year at the Asia Legal Awards 2026, presented by Law.com International. The winners were announced at an awards ceremony in Singapore on September 10, 2026. The TMT Firm of the Year award recognizes Tilleke & Gibbins’ work in the technology, media, and telecommunications sector, where its lawyers advise clients on complex legal and regulatory matters arising from technological development and the rapidly evolving digital economy. The Asia Legal Awards recognize significant transactions, cases, and legal work across Asia. Presented by Law.com International and open to law firms with offices in the region, the awards honor the firms, teams, and individuals demonstrating innovation, impact, and excellence in the legal industry. For more information, please see the full list of Asia Legal Awards 2026 winners and finalists.
August 13, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized in the inaugural Asia Top Cybersecurity & Data Law Firms 2026 list from Asian Legal Business (ALB), published in the magazine’s August 2026 edition. The new ranking highlights leading law firms across Asia with dedicated cybersecurity, privacy, and data regulation practices, recognizing firms with a proven track record of advising clients on complex cybersecurity and data law matters. Tilleke & Gibbins is one of only 21 firms included in the inaugural list, reflecting the firm’s strength in data privacy, cybersecurity, technology, and regulatory matters throughout Southeast Asia. According to ALB, the firms selected for inclusion are recognized for their capabilities in areas such as privacy compliance, incident response, digital investigations, and technology-enabled client service. The recognition underscores the continued growth and regional prominence of Tilleke & Gibbins’ data privacy and cybersecurity practice, which advises clients across a broad range of industries on data protection compliance, cybersecurity preparedness and response, technology transactions, digital platform regulation, and emerging regulatory developments. This latest honor reflects the firm’s commitment to helping clients navigate an increasingly complex digital and regulatory landscape and reinforces its reputation as a leading adviser on technology, privacy, and cybersecurity issues across the region.

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