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John Frangos

Partner and Director, Dispute Resolution

Biography

John Frangos is a partner and director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution and litigation group. Based in Bangkok, he works with clients and the firm’s disputes team on complex cases across Southeast Asia. He is especially active in leading the firm’s aviation practice as well as its compliance and investigations practice.

On the basis of his expertise in the aviation industry, coupled with his exceptional client service, John is ranked as a leading aviation and transport practitioner by Chambers Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, and Asialaw Profiles. Clients have described him as “absolutely one of the best aviation lawyers in Thailand,” and as “super responsive, incredibly knowledgeable, and really focused on getting the best outcome as quickly as possible” (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021).

With many years’ experience 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, which shape the legal environment that businesses must navigate.

John serves as the Thailand chapter head for the New York State Bar Association and a committee leader for the Aerospace Council of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand. He was previously a commissioner on the Anti-Corruption Commission for the Thailand chapter of the International Chamber of Commerce. In that capacity, he assisted the Thai government by providing his expertise and comments on its anticorruption laws. John has also worked with the Vietnamese government to propose amendments to regulations on aircraft registration and repossession.

John is admitted to the New York bar.

Experience

  • 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 anti-corruption investigation in Thailand.
  • Advised a global energy services firm on defending an anti-corruption 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 anti-corruption investigation related to attempted bid tampering.
  • Advised a U.S. educational organization on criminal matters related to fraudulent standardized test taking in Thailand.
  • Assisted a multinational vehicle manufacturer on designing and implementing an anti-corruption 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 anti-corruption 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 anti-corruption 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.
ABOUT John

Industries

Aviation

Practices

Compliance and Investigations

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Location

Languages

    English

Education

    MIA, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University

    JD, New York Law School

    BA, Stony Brook University

Insights

November 15, 2022
Litigation is usually the last resort in resolving disputes. Most parties to a dispute try to avoid litigation altogether, fearing that seeking recourse with the courts or arbitration will lead to a disruption in commercial relationships, result in increased legal expenses, and generally lengthen the period in which the dispute remains unresolved. While some of these concerns may indeed be legitimate, sometimes litigation is the only means for a party to obtain relief. For parties contemplating such recourse, it is reassuring to know that the Thai court system is generally an accessible, unbiased, and balanced vehicle for the resolution of disputes. Civil Litigation in Thailand aims to introduce some of the fundamentals of Thai civil court procedures and practices. While it is not an in-depth study, this brief guide covers the main issues concerning civil litigation in Thailand as either a plaintiff or a defendant. The full guide is available through the button below.
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June 30, 2022
On June 29, 2022, Tilleke & Gibbins collaborated with K&L Gates Straits Law LLC to offer a timely webinar entitled “Current Climate for Investments: Concerns for Investment Structuring & Disputes in Southeast Asia.” During the session, two attorneys from Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution group in Bangkok—John Frangos, partner and director, and Eric Meyer, consultant, highlighted different global pressures affecting investment in Southeast Asia, and pointed out key considerations for investors in relation to their future investments. Together with the speakers from K&L Gates, John and Eric provided an introduction to investment treaties in several jurisdictions and potential disputes that could arise due to the current investment climate. Toward the end of the session, the speakers summarized the key issues and highlighted ways to mitigate the existing risks. A recording of the webinar can be viewed below.
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June 1, 2022
On May 31, 2022, Tilleke & Gibbins continued its collaboration with Anderson Mori & Tomotsune to offer a webinar entitled “Compliance Considerations in Thailand: What Companies Should Know.” During the session, which was translated into Japanese by Chieko Tsuchiya, a consultant in Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution department in Bangkok, John Frangos, partner and director of the department, addressed the following areas: The importance of compliance in Thailand; Key principles that make an effective compliance program, including the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s internal guidelines, risk assessments, policies and procedures, communication mechanisms, and audits and evaluations; and Case studies and practical considerations on how companies can reduce risks of wrongdoing activities.
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April 1, 2022
Thailand Legal Basics, a valuable primer for foreign investors, explores all aspects of living and doing business in Thailand. Written by specialists at Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok, it is the only comprehensive English-language guide to the Thai legal system with a focus on the concerns of foreign business and investment.
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Awards & Rankings

September 19, 2022
In the recently released 2023 edition of the annual Asialaw Profiles guide, Tilleke & Gibbins dominates the rankings with a slate of recognitions that confirms the strong reputation of the firm’s various regional practices. Asialaw Profiles 2023 rates top domestic and international firms operating in Asian jurisdictions and headquartered in Asia, looking at firms’ performance and client service in both legal practices areas and various industries. In these detailed and comprehensive guide to the services of leading Asian law firms, Tilleke & Gibbins achieved a total of 45 industry and practice group rankings—20 of which are in the top tier—across Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Tilleke & Gibbins attorneys also received 25 individual rankings, with new recognitions for Linh Thai Mai Nguyen for intellectual property in Vietnam and Onunya Chanpen for capital markets in Thailand. In Thailand, Tilleke & Gibbins continues to be the only firm ranked in all 18 possible categories. The firm is also ranked in all available categories in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. For more details and to browse the full rankings, please visit the Asialaw website.
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August 26, 2022
International Financial Law Review (IFLR) has released the final installment of the 2023 edition of its annual IFLR1000 rankings of leading law firms in domestic and cross-border financial and transactional matters across the globe. Tilleke & Gibbins’ performance was consistent with last year’s results, as for the third consecutive year the firm’s regional corporate and commercial team was awarded 15 distinct practice rankings across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Tilleke & Gibbins was ranked in the following practice areas: Thailand—Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Development, Restructuring and Insolvency Vietnam—Banking and Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Development Myanmar—Financial and Corporate and Project Development Cambodia—Financial and Corporate, Project Development Laos—Financial and Corporate, Project Development In addition to the firmwide rankings, Tilleke & Gibbins’ representation in the individual has doubled, with five more attorneys listed in addition to the five retaining their rankings from previous years. The following 10 lawyers were recognized with individual rankings for their expertise in financial or transactional matters in their respective jurisdictions: Charunun Sathitsuksomboon – Thailand – M&A Dino Santaniello – Laos – Corporate and M&A David Mol – Cambodia – Insurance, Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences Derrick Khoo – Myanmar – Financial and Corporate Jay Cohen – Cambodia – Energy, Aviation Joseph Tomkiewicz – Thailand – Coroporate and M&A, Project Development Onunya Chanpen – Thailand – M&A, Project Development Saithong Rattana – Laos – Project Development, M&A Santhapat Periera – Laos – Banking, Energy, M&A Yuwadee Thean-ngarm – Myanmar – Banking and Finance, M&A IFLR1000 ranks the world’s leading corporate and financial law firms, covering the core transactional practice areas of Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Development, and Restructuring and Insolvency. Please visit the IFLR1000 website to review the full rankings for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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May 26, 2022
Tilleke & Gibbins has been named the winner in three categories of the Asian Legal Business (ALB) SE Asia Law Awards 2022. Announced at a ceremony in Singapore on May 25, the awards recognize the top legal service providers in Southeast Asia over the past year. The honors that went to Tilleke & Gibbins cover two practice categories and one country category: Medical and Healthcare Law Firm of the Year Regional Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year Thailand Law Firm of the Year The wins in the Medical & Healthcare and Thailand Law Firm of the Year categories are first-time victories for Tilleke & Gibbins at the annual ALB SE Asia Law Awards ceremony, while the win in the Regional IP Firm of the Year category marks the second victory for the firm in three years. The ALB SE Asia Law Awards are an annual awards ceremony that recognizes outstanding law firms and lawyers in the Southeast Asian region. Winners of these highly regarded awards are determined by an independent panel of judges consisting of at least 25 legal industry leaders. For more information on the ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2022, and to browse a full list of winners and nominees, please visit the ALB website.
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May 6, 2022
Asian Legal Business (ALB) released the list of finalists for their upcoming ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2022, and Tilleke & Gibbins has come away with 15 nominations. The ALB SE Asia Law Awards are an annual awards ceremony that recognizes outstanding law firms and lawyers in the Southeast Asian region. Tilleke & Gibbins’ 15 nominations are therefore representative of the consistently strong performance of the firm through the region. The firm has been shortlisted in the following categories: Country Categories Thailand Law Firm of the Year Vietnam Law Firm of the Year Regional Practice Categories Aviation Law Firm of the Year Construction Law Firm of the Year Data Privacy and Protection Law Firm of the Year ESG and Sustainability Law Firm of the Year Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year Labor and Employment Law Firm of the Year Litigation Law Firm of the Year Maritime Law Firm of the Year Medical and Healthcare Law Firm of the Year Real Estate Law Firm of the Year Restructuring and Insolvency Law Firm of the Year Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Law Firm of the Year Individual Categories Darani Vachanavuttivong – Managing Partner of the Year (Emerging Markets) Congratulations to T&G team members across departments and jurisdictions on this well-deserved slate of recognitions, which showcases the true strength of our firm’s full-service capabilities across Southeast Asia. The winners will be announced on May 25, 2022, at an in-person gala to be held at the Grand Hyatt in Singapore. For more information on the ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2022, and to browse a full list of nominees in all categories, please visit the ALB website.
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