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John Frangos

Partner and Deputy Director, Dispute Resolution

Biography

John Frangos is a partner and deputy director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution and litigation group. From the firm’s head office in Bangkok, he assists clients on complex disputes in Southeast Asia. He co-leads the firm’s compliance and investigations practice and leads the firm’s aviation practice.

On the basis of his expertise in the aviation industry, coupled with his exceptional client service, John is ranked as a leading aviation practitioner by Chambers Asia-Pacific. 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). He is also ranked as a “Next Generation Partner” in the area of transport in the 2021 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific.

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 International Chamber of Commerce – Thailand. In that capacity, he assisted the Thai government by providing his expertise and comments on its anti-corruption 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 19, 2021
On November 18, 2021, John Frangos, partner and deputy director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution department, spoke in an online session for the Practising Law Institute (PLI) titled “Investor-State Dispute Settlement: Strategic Enforcement of Arbitral Awards.” The session was part of a three-day PLI program on international investment law and settlement of disputes between investors and the state, organized to provide legal and investment professionals with an overview of the relevant law and practice in the area of international investment disputes, and to facilitate consideration of dispute resolution mechanisms such as international arbitration proceedings against states under international investment agreements. In his session, John was joined by experts from Africa and the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe. Each outlined strategic enforcement of arbitral awards in their respective region, and shared insights on how enforcement of arbitral awards can bring a conclusion to long-running international investment disputes with state actors. In attendance were attorneys and others investor representatives from around the world who were looking to better understand the process of international arbitration proceedings in investor-state disputes. For more details on the program, please visit the PLI website.
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October 14, 2021
As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has published an updated edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand for 2021. This guide outlines all of the key factors for starting and operating a business in the Thai market. Issues covered include: Investment incentives Financial facilities Exchange controls Import and export regulations Structures for doing business Requirements for the Establishment of a Business Operation of the Business Cessation or Termination of the Business Labor legislation, relations, and supply Tax Immigration requirements This publication is part of Lex Mundi’s Guides to Doing Business series prepared by member firms in more than 100 jurisdictions worldwide. The guides serve as a useful resource when planning an international business strategy or researching a new market.
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August 2, 2021
Lawyers from Tilleke & Gibbins’ Bangkok office have authored the Thailand chapter of the 2021 edition of Chambers & Partners Aviation Finance & Leasing Guide. John Frangos, partner and deputy director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution practice; Santhapat Periera, partner in the firm’s corporate and commercial department; and Nuanchun Somboonvinij, senior associate in the firm’s dispute resolution group, provided the Thailand update for the publication, which covers the most important legal developments affecting aircraft lessors, lessees, and financiers in 32 jurisdictions worldwide. The guide provides in-depth details on the legal regimes affecting all aspects of aircraft sale and purchase, aircraft and engine leasing, and aircraft debt finance, including sale and lease agreement terms; taxation; lease registration and enforcement; lease assignment/novation; insurance and reinsurance; debt structuring; securities; liens; and many others that affect the day-to-day operations of leading players in the aviation industry. Chambers and Partners’ Global Practice Guides provide in-house counsel with expert legal commentary focusing on practical legal issues affecting business, and enable readers to compare legislation and relevant procedures across a range of key jurisdictions. The full Chambers & Partners Aviation Finance & Leasing Guide—including the Thailand chapter—is available for free on the Chambers and Partners website, and the Thailand chapter be downloaded as a stand-alone PDF through the button below.
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July 6, 2021
An article in Global Restructuring Review on the Thai court’s approval of Thai Airways’ business rehabilitation plan features insights from John Frangos, partner and deputy director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution department. The article reports that the airline’s rehabilitation plan has received court approval, over objections from two of the creditors. This step will now allow the airline—which has received over 13,000 debt repayment claims—to implement plan under the control of five administrators. John, who co-leads the firm’s regional aviation practice, explained a number of issues to the article’s author, including the Thai government’s unwillingness to bail out the financially troubled company, the challenges facing Thai Airways (and the Thai aviation industry as a whole) during the pandemic, and the historic nature of this bankruptcy case. John is representing many creditors of Thai Airways, and he shared their general reaction to the rehabilitation plan, noting that most were not necessary happy with it but did not object because they figured it was “the best deal they are going to get.” The full article is available on the Global Restructuring Review website.
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Awards & Rankings

November 11, 2021
On November 10, 2021, Tilleke & Gibbins was awarded a CSR Recognition at the 2021 AMCHAM CSR Excellence Awards, hosted online by the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Thailand. This is the second consecutive year that the firm was recognized at these awards, which celebrate companies in Thailand with sustainable business practices such as good governance, social responsibility, business integrity, stakeholder engagement, and demonstrated delivery of positive impacts on the society and environment. The awards bring together AMCHAM member companies each year to highlight exceptional corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects by American and Thai companies, with the aim of encouraging businesses to recognize the value of giving back to the community. This year, winning companies received a certificate marking the recognition, along with congratulatory letters from the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy and the president of AMCHAM Thailand. More details on the AMCHAM CSR Excellence Awards and a full list of this year’s honorees are available on the AMCHAM Thailand website.
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September 17, 2021
The 2022 edition of Asialaw Profiles lists a total of 24 Tilleke & Gibbins practitioners in the highly regarded guide to leading law firms and legal practitioners in Asia. The guide seeks to rank legal professionals from Asia-based firms on the strength of their client services and legal capabilities, based on in-depth global surveys of corporate management, in-house counsel, and private-practice lawyers. In the individual listings, the lawyers are classified as “Rising Stars,” “Notable Practitioners,” “Distinguished Practitioners,” and “Elite Practitioners.” Of the 24 ranked Tilleke & Gibbins professionals, 14 are recognized for their work in Thailand, 4 for Vietnam, 2 for Myanmar, 2 for Cambodia, and one each for Indonesia and Laos. Below are the firm’s lawyers who have been recognized for each category this year, according to practice area and jurisdiction: Elite Practitioners Alan Adcock – Intellectual property – Thailand Darani Vachanavuttivong – Intellectual property – Laos and Thailand Nandana Indananda – Intellectual property – Thailand Thawat Damsa-ard – Dispute resolution – Thailand Thomas Treutler – Intellectual Property – Vietnam Distinguished Practitioners Athistha Chitranukroh – Insurance – Thailand Chusert Supasitthumrong – Dispute Resolution, Labor and Employment – Thailand Cynthia M. Pornavalai – Corporate and M&A – Thailand Dino Santaniello – Corporate and M&A – Laos Jay Cohen – Corporate and M&A – Cambodia Kien Trung Trinh – Labor and employment – Vietnam Loc Xuan Le – Intellectual property – Vietnam Pimvimol (June) Vipamaneerut – Labor and employment – Thailand Tiziana Sucharitkul – Dispute resolution – Thailand Wongrat Ratanaprayul – Intellectual property – Indonesia Notable Practitioners Chaiwat Keratisuthisathorn – Real Estate – Thailand John Frangos – Aviation – Thailand Kobkit Thienpreecha – Capital Markets, Corporate and M&A Nwe Oo – Corporate and M&A – Myanmar Santhapat Pereira – Banking and finance, Corporate and M&A – Thailand Vinh Quoc Nguyen – Corporate and M&A Yuwadee Thean-ngarm –Intellectual property – Myanmar Rising Stars David Mol – Intellectual property – Cambodia Suebsiri Taweepon – Intellectual Property – Thailand For more details and to browse the full rankings, please visit the Asialaw website.
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September 17, 2021
The 2022 edition of Asialaw Profiles was officially released on September 17, 2021, and Tilleke & Gibbins received some of its best regional rankings yet in this detailed and comprehensive guide to the services of leading Asian law firms. Asialaw Profiles 2022 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. Tilleke & Gibbins achieved rankings in 42 out of 45 possible industries and practice areas across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, plus a further three for the firm’s intellectual property boutique in Indonesia. Among these, Asialaw placed Tilleke & Gibbins in the highest possible tier in 20 categories. In Thailand, Tilleke & Gibbins continues to be the only firm ranked in all 18 possible categories. This includes improved rankings for Real Estate, Infrastructure, Aviation, and Labor and Employment—the last two of which feature Tilleke & Gibbins as the sole firm in the top tier. 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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September 17, 2021
The 2021 edition of the prestigious Asia Women in Business Law Awards was announced on September 15, with Tilleke & Gibbins winning the prize for Thailand Firm of the Year. Each year, Euromoney hosts the Asia Women in Business Law Awards to recognize firms that are strongly committed to gender issues and women’s advancement in the law. The awards are a celebration of women in the legal profession throughout the Asia-Pacific region, and shine a spotlight on top individual lawyers as well as firms whose success is driven by women. The awards further recognize gender diversity initiatives, innovation, mentoring, work-life balance, pro bono work, and talent management. With its record of providing an equitable environment that supports and rewards high performers regardless of gender or other status, Tilleke & Gibbins is a regular contender in the awards, which it last won in 2019 when it was named Vietnam Firm of the Year. To browse the complete list of winners of the Asia Women in Business Law Awards 2021, please visit the awards website.
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