Suebsiri Taweepon

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Partner

Biography

Suebsiri Taweepon is a partner in Tilleke & Gibbins’ intellectual property (IP) department and co-head of the firm’s technology industry group. He has been recognized as a top lawyer in the area of IP by publications such as The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, WTR 1000, IAM Patent 1000, Benchmark Litigation, Asialaw Leading Lawyers, World IP Review, and Asia IP.

He has extensive experience in both contentious and non-contentious IP matters, with a particular focus on tech-related matters, including intellectual property litigation, enforcement, licensing, managing portfolios, and registration of IP rights. Suebsiri is also regularly involved in government consultations and has a great deal of experience in anticounterfeiting matters and strategic investigation plans.

Suebsiri is president of the Intellectual Property Association of Thailand (IPAT), co-chair of the Emerging IP Rights Committee of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), and was appointed to be an advisor to the Committee on Considering the Draft Amendment to the Copyright Act at the Parliament of Thailand. He is also an adjunct lecturer on IP law at one of Thailand’s most prestigious universities and several others, a prolific author of legal publications, and a regular speaker at domestic and international conferences.

Suebsiri holds LLM degrees from Duke University and Thammasat University, and an LLB from Chulalongkorn University. He is a qualified lawyer in Thailand, a member of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and the Thai Bar Association, a licensed notarial services attorney, and a registered patent agent in Thailand.

Experience

Won Thailand’s highest-ever award for damages in an IP case at the Intellectual Property and International Trade Court against infringers of a client’s invention patents, with an award of over THB 106 million (approximately USD 3.5 million), plus interest, on behalf of a world-leading pioneer in the aquaculture industry.
Cooperated with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to execute sophisticated raid plans and successfully seized more than 1,000 fully assembled motorcycles worth more than THB 40,000,000 from a motorcycle factory in southern Thailand. The motorcycles were seized under the authority of the Thai Patent Act for the offense of criminal infringement of a well-known Japanese motorcycle company’s design patents.
Won a tremendous victory in one of the most complex patent litigation cases ever presented at the IP&IT Court on behalf of a U.S. multinational glass manufacturer. The case involved a Thai patent comprising various product and process claims in mirror-making technology. Our client was the defendant in a civil action brought by a top Japanese glass mirror maker, alleging infringement of its patent rights. In turn, our client filed a counterclaim asserting that the granted patent is invalid and should be revoked. After more than 30 days of hearings with testimonies of world-class experts from both sides, the Court rendered its judgment completely in favor of our client. The Court declared the plaintiff’s patent invalid and unenforceable.
Successfully defended and reached a favorable settlement on behalf of a large Thai automotive lighting company in patent litigation involving a French company in the same business of automotive lighting and the sale of automotive spare parts.
Advising and working in collaboration with the Software Industry Promotion Agency, a public organization under the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology of Thailand. Advised on IPR-related issues for more than 50 Thai software companies and organized three seminars with more than 150 attendees over the project’s three-year span.
Secured a victory for the top producer of welding electrodes in Thailand against a local infringer in a landmark passing-off case before the Supreme Court of Thailand. The client’s resounding success may be attributed to the defensive strategy of using multiple separate trademark registrations to collectively cover the entire package design.
Represented a top Italian fashion design company in a case before the IP&IT Court. The IP&IT Court cancelled the defendants’ 18 trademarks, awarded a substantial amount of compensation to the client, and issued a permanent injunction prohibiting the defendant from using marks similar to the client’s trademarks and trade name.
Advised a Fortune 500 health care services company and successfully secured its valuable trade secret from possible misappropriation by suspected infringers.
Provided strategic advice on trademark portfolio management and helped to combat several infringing logos on behalf of the world’s largest international coffeehouse chain company.
Advised and assisted a financial services company in protecting its computer software against unauthorized use and dissemination of copyrighted works.
Represented a leading U.K.-based sportswear and football equipment supplier in a civil case against its former Thai distributor. Obtained an Anton Piller order and seized a total of 96,000 counterfeit items that were produced in breach of the defendant’s contract with the client.
Represented multinational companies in complex patent litigation matters in both prosecuting against patent infringement and defending against the alleged use of equivalent technology.

ABOUT Suebsiri

Languages

Thai

English

Education

LLM, Duke University

LLM, Thammasat University

LLB, Chulalongkorn University

Insights

September 24, 2025

Beyond Takedowns: Tackling Online IP Infringement in Thailand

Online shopping in Thailand is more accessible than ever, with global platforms, local social media shops, and entertainment-driven social commerce enabling instant purchases. However, this convenience comes with rising concerns over digital intellectual property (IP) infringement, including counterfeit goods, pirated content, and unauthorized brand usage. At first glance, online platforms appear to offer quick solutions. Most major e-commerce sites, social media channels, and social commerce platforms provide “notice and takedown” systems, where IP owners can file complaints and request the removal of listings that infringe IP rights, such as trademarks and copyrights. These tools are certainly useful, as seeing a fake product vanish from a platform feels like progress. But the reality is less reassuring. The counterfeit goods themselves remain in warehouses, markets, or shops, ready to be resold. Sellers whose accounts are taken down often return within days under new names or accounts. In other words, a takedown is like cutting weeds without pulling out the roots: they always grow back. While notice and takedown tools are widely available and can be managed internally by most IP owners, their impact is often short-lived. IP owners seeking more effective, lasting protection need to take a more strategic and multilayered approach. The same applies to online piracy. Unauthorized streaming websites that offer free access to movies, TV shows, or sports broadcasts have become widespread in Thailand. To combat this, rightsholders can request website blocking under the Computer Crime Act, through the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and the courts. Once requests are approved, internet service providers are ordered to block access to infringing sites. Blocking orders can be effective in disrupting large-scale piracy operations, but they also face limitations—pirate sites frequently reappear under new domains. Strategic Protection Whether the infringing material is physical counterfeit goods or intangible streaming content,

August 21, 2025

Tilleke Adopts Harvey to Accelerate AI-Powered Legal Services across Southeast Asia

Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce that the firm has adopted Harvey, a leading enterprise-grade AI platform for the global legal industry. The firm is proceeding with a rollout of Harvey’s legal AI solutions, which are supported by robust security and confidentiality protections, across the firm’s full-service regional practice in Southeast Asia. This initiative builds on the firm’s recent deployment of Microsoft Copilot and represents another advancement in Tilleke & Gibbins’ commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced legal service delivery. Under the program, legal professionals across the firm’s offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam will have access to the full Harvey platform, equipping them to deliver practical, impactful, and results-driven legal services for clients throughout the region. The firm will also develop bespoke agentic workflows within Harvey tailored to the firm’s core practices and the unique requirements of Southeast Asian legal markets. Commenting on the initiative, Managing Partner Tiziana Sucharitkul stated, “At Tilleke & Gibbins, we have consistently invested in developing and adopting technology to improve the speed, precision, and overall excellence of our legal services. The firm’s decision to invest in Harvey exemplifies our commitment to innovation, further differentiating Tilleke & Gibbins within Southeast Asia’s legal landscape.” Managing Partner Darani Vachanavuttivong remarked, “By combining the deep regional expertise of our lawyers with Harvey’s market-leading domain-specific AI, we are empowering our regional team to streamline drafting, research, and review processes for complex legal matters, all while maintaining the high standards of quality and security our clients expect from us.” Harvey’s Chief Business Officer John Haddock added, “It’s clear Tilleke & Gibbins is investing heavily in innovation, and it’s clear their global clients will benefit significantly from their focus and investment. The Harvey team is thrilled to support the firm’s journey with our platform.”

July 30, 2025

AI Model Training and Copyright in Thailand: Key Challenges and Potential Solutions

Artificial intelligence (AI) model training and data scraping are essential processes in the development of modern AI systems. AI model training involves using large datasets to teach machine learning algorithms to recognize patterns, make predictions, or generate new content. Data scraping refers to the automated extraction of information from websites or digital sources, often to assemble the vast datasets required for effective AI training. As these practices become more widespread, questions about the legality of using third-party content—especially copyrighted works—have become increasingly important. In Thailand, the legal landscape for AI developers is shaped primarily by the Copyright Act, which presents unique challenges due to the absence of a fair-use exception. This article examines the copyright-related risks and legal uncertainties facing AI developers under Thailand’s current copyright law and practices, offering strategic guidance for navigating this complex environment. Copyright Risks in AI Scraping and Training Thailand’s Copyright Act does not provide a broad fair use or fair dealing exception, unlike some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. This absence has significant consequences for AI developers: No general defense for AI training: Any use of copyrighted material for AI model training is presumed to be infringing unless a specific, narrow statutory exception applies or explicit permission is obtained from the rights holder. There is no general legal basis for using copyrighted works in AI training without authorization. Increased rights clearance burden: Developers must identify and secure licenses for every copyrighted work included in their training datasets. Given the scale and diversity of data required for effective AI models, this process can be both impractical and costly. Legal ambiguity and litigation risk: The lack of clear statutory guidance or case law leaves developers in a legal gray area. There is no established precedent clarifying whether certain uses of copyrighted material for

May 2, 2025

Practical Law: Doing Business in Thailand 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 12, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Strengthens Position in IFLR1000 Asia-Pacific 2025/2026

The 2025/2026 edition of the IFLR1000 Asia-Pacific rankings, released by International Financial Law Review (IFLR), highlights Tilleke & Gibbins’ continued excellence in financial and corporate transactional work. The firm has maintained its strong rankings across multiple jurisdictions and practice areas while achieving notable upgrades and new recognitions, reaffirming its position as a leading firm in the Asia-Pacific region. This year, Tilleke & Gibbins received firmwide rankings in key jurisdictions, including: Thailand Banking & Finance—Tier 3 Capital Markets: Debt—Tier 3 Capital Markets: Equity—Tier 3 M&A—Tier 2 Project Development—Tier 2 Restructuring & Insolvency—Tier 3 Vietnam Banking & Finance—Tier 4 M&A—Tier 3 Project Development—Tier 3 Cambodia Financial & Corporate—Tier 2 Project Development—Tier 2 Laos Financial & Corporate—Tier 2 In addition to these firmwide rankings, Tilleke & Gibbins had several standout individual recognitions, with 12 lawyers honored in the 2025/2026 individual rankings—an increase from last year’s 10. This year’s results include upgraded rankings for John Frangos and new rankings for Charupat Boon-Long, Derrick Khoo, Prisna Sungwanna, and Saravut Krailadsiri. The full list is as follows: Charunun Sathitsuksomboon—Highly Regarded, M&A, Thailand; Women Leader Charupat Boon-Long—Rising Star, M&A, Thailand (new ranking) David Mol—Rising Star, Corporate and M&A, Cambodia Derrick Khoo—Rising Star (Partner), Financial and Corporate, Thailand (new ranking) Jay Cohen—Highly Regarded, Banking, Cambodia John Frangos—Highly Regarded, Restructuring & Insolvency, Thailand (upgraded ranking) Niti Muangkote—Rising Star, Financial & Corporate and Project Development, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand Prisna Sungwanna—Highly Regarded, Financial & Corporate, Laos (new ranking) Saithong Rattana—Notable Practitioner, Project Development and M&A, Laos Santhapat Periera—Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance and M&A, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand Saravut Krailadsiri—Notable Practitioner, Thailand (new ranking) Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen—Highly Regarded, M&A, Vietnam To see the full set of IFLR1000 rankings for Tilleke & Gibbins’ jurisdictions, please see the Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam pages

September 3, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Shortlisted for Multiple Honors at Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted for several major honors at the upcoming Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, reflecting the firm’s exceptional intellectual property work across the region. The firm has been shortlisted for Asia-Pacific Firm of the Year (Domestic), a prestigious category that highlights regional leadership among Asia-headquartered firms. Tilleke & Gibbins has also been recognized in six firm-of-the-year categories: 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 Managing Partner Darani Vachanavuttivong has also been nominated for Asia-Pacific Practitioner of the Year in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the intellectual property field. For more information on the Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2025 and to browse a full list of the nominees, please see the Managing IP website.

July 2, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Recognized in 2025 Managing IP Rankings

Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized once again as a leading intellectual property firm in Southeast Asia in the 2025 rankings from Managing IP. In the newly released patent rankings, the firm achieved top-tier recognition in both Thailand and Vietnam, reflecting the strength of its patent practice in these key jurisdictions. The firm was also ranked among the leading patent firms in Indonesia. In addition to the patent rankings, Managing IP published its general intellectual property rankings for Cambodia, with Tilleke & Gibbins listed among the recommended firms for IP work in the country. Managing IP is a respected global publication covering the intellectual property industry. Its annual rankings are based on extensive research, including market feedback, client input, and case analysis. For more details on Managing IP and its various rankings, please visit the Managing IP website.

June 3, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Earns Top-Tier Rankings in IAM Patent 1000 2025

Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) has released the 2025 edition of the IAM Patent 1000, which spotlights the leading patent firms and practitioners worldwide. Tilleke & Gibbins was honored to again be ranked as a top-tier firm in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Notably, this marks the 13th consecutive year for Thailand and the sixth consecutive year for Vietnam of being placed in the highest category. The firm’s strong regional patent practice is further reflected in the individual rankings, where the following 23 Tilleke & Gibbins practitioners have been recognized as being at the top of the field in their respective jurisdictions: Indonesia Irene Djalim Melinda Ambrizal Wongrat Ratanaprayul Thailand Alan Adcock Atthachai Homhuan Darani Vachanavuttivong Jakkrit Kuanpoth Napagate Triratana Nattriya Supmoon Nuttaphol Arammuang Peeyakorn Suparugbundit San Chaithiraphant Somboon Earterasarun Suebsiri Taweepon Sukontip Jitmongkolthong Wong Vorravitwattana Vietnam Dat Thanh Nguyen Giang Hoang Bach Hien Thi Thu Vu Hung Tuan Nguyen Linh Duy Mai Loc Xuan Le Thanh Phuong Vu The rankings are based on in-depth research and market analysis conducted by IAM’s team of researchers, which factors in “depth of knowledge, market presence, and the level of work on which [firms and individuals] are typically instructed … as well as positive peer and client feedback.” For more details, please see the IAM Patent 1000 rankings for Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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