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Sukontip Jitmongkolthong

Partner

Biography

Sukontip Jitmongkolthong is a partner in Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional intellectual property (IP) group specializing in the protection and enforcement of IP rights (trademark, patent, and copyright) in Thailand and across Southeast Asia, with a focus on the apparel, automotive, electronics, and fashion industries, among others. Sukontip’s legal expertise has earned her recognition as one of the region’s leading IP lawyers by Chambers Asia-Pacific (2022-), IAM Patent (2020-), Managing IP (2014-), and World Trademark Review (2017-). She has also consistently been recognized as one of the world’s leading IP lawyers in Managing IP’s annual “Top 250 Women in IP” publication (2020-2022).

Sukontip’s work includes prelitigation assistance in cancellations and appeals against Board of Trademarks decisions, preparing cease-and-desist/warning letters, mediation and negotiation, and coordinating with investigators, the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Special Investigations, and Customs in raid actions and other enforcement measures. Sukontip also frequently trains government authorities across the region on product identification and is steadfast in making sure they continue to monitor borders, ports, and marketplaces for counterfeit goods.

Sukontip previously served on the Anticounterfeiting Subcommittee of the International Trademark Association (INTA). She is a Thai-qualified lawyer and has completed the Barrister-at-Law requirements of the Thai Bar Association’s Institute of Legal Education.

Experience

  • Implemented a groundbreaking legal strategy to protect the trademark rights of a Japanese camera company against online sellers of counterfeit products, making Tilleke & Gibbins the first firm to successfully use Thailand’s Computer Crime Act to take down trademark-infringing websites.
  • Represented numerous brand owners in product identification seminars throughout the ASEAN region to raise awareness about the widespread threats and impacts of the trade in counterfeit goods, and educated and coordinated with government officers in suppressing intellectual property rights infringement.
  • Assisted a Thai food processing conglomerate to protect its famous packaging design in court by securing a landmark copyright and trade dress violation compensation award of more than THB 20 million (approximately USD 670,000).
  • Coordinated with our in-house investigation unit to uncover the source of counterfeit batteries sold through online marketplaces and trace the sellers’ whereabouts. Our assistance brought about a successful raid action, prevented the distribution of fake goods to end users, and continues to serve as a deterrent to other potential infringers in the market.
  • Represented a highly regarded Japanese automotive and motorcycle manufacturer in several related design patent infringement matters. This culminated in a civil suit filed with Thailand’s Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court against the infringers, in which we secured a resounding victory for our client. In its landmark ruling, the court awarded our client the largest civil lawsuit compensation amount to date for a design patent infringement case in Thailand at THB 68.65 million (about USD 2.11 million) plus interest and fees.
  • With in-house investigators, assisted a multinational bearings company in tracing counterfeit bearings sold in Bangkok and Chon Buri Provinces to the infringers’ premises, thereby discovering the exact location of the dealer. Our assistance brought about two successful raid actions against two targets and prevented the distribution of fake goods, which netting more than 7,000 counterfeit items and serving as a deterrent to other potential infringers in the market.
  • Assisted a world-renowned luxury jewelry and specialty accessories retailer in enforcing its trademark rights against a Thai company that was selling infringing products through various shops on social media and online platforms, with our actions including the filing of notices and takedown complaints to protect our client’s exclusive rights to profit from their globally recognized trademarks.
  • Acted for a leading global automobile manufacturer against counterfeit engines being sold on major social media platforms and through one of the world’s largest online marketplaces. After conducting investigations, our strategy of filing numerous notices and takedown requests for the removal of the infringing pages and posts dramatically decreased the amount of illegal online activities affecting our client.
  • Discovered that a company was using our client’s company name and trademark  without authorization. We sent a cooperation letter to the infringing company asking it to cease using our company’s name. Within one week of issuing the letter, the company agreed to change its name.
  • Protected the intellectual property rights of a famous drug company in regard to an osteoporosis drug product passed off by another pharmaceutical company. The Supreme Court ordered the cancellation of the infringing party’s mark.
  • Proved infringement and secured out-of-court settlements against several internationally connected companies that were infringing our client’s patents. Our proof was derived from our investigation of the Thai market, acquisition of the infringing products, and extensive infringement analyses. The settlements included monetary damages, public acknowledgement of infringement in local newspapers, and binding commitments to stop importing the infringing products into Thailand.
  • Represented a multinational pharmaceutical company in opposing the trademark registration of a mark for a generic nasal spray based on the mark’s similarity to a registered trademark. The Registrar rejected the trademark application.
  • Represented the top U.S. direct sales company in Thailand against a Thai company that filed a criminal case and a civil case seeking damages for alleged wrongful acts and loss of reputation.
  • Represented a leading Japanese electronics company in a patent infringement case against a Thai distributor which concluded in an amicable settlement through mediation in less than one year. The settlement included the seizure and disposal of existing counterfeit inventory, an agreement to stop the sale and marketing of counterfeit products, and a marketing awareness campaign educating the public on the differences between authentic and counterfeit products.
  • Acted on behalf of a Swedish bearing manufacturer in cooperation with the Department of Special Investigation to conduct a raid action against a local company that was distributing counterfeit bearings to unsuspecting consumers. The raid, which took place near Bangkok, resulted in the seizure of 16,530 counterfeit products, which included more than 300 fake bearings worth over THB 10 million.
  • Prepared and sent warning letters to three companies requesting that they stop using our client’s trademark on their products. All three companies complied with our demands and stopped the infringement.
  • Assisted a Thai food processing conglomerate to conduct its annual anti-counterfeiting campaign in Laos, which covers seven provinces including Vientiane, Champasak, Ta Kaek, Savannakhet, Salawan, Udomxai, and Luangprabang. The campaign targets shops selling counterfeit monosodium glutamate, and thus far, thousands of counterfeit products have been seized.
  • Provided assistance to a Thai agricultural machinery company to initiate an administrative action in Laos against retail shops selling counterfeit lubricant products in Vientiane and Savannakhet. The administrative action created consumer awareness of counterfeit products. In addition, hundreds of counterfeit lubricant products were seized, and the results of this administrative action were published in local newspapers in Laos.
ABOUT Sukontip

Industries

Automotive

Consumer Products

Practices

Intellectual Property

Locations

Languages

    Thai

    English

Education

    LLM, Chulalongkorn University

    LLB, 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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August 21, 2025
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.”
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June 17, 2025
On January 9, 2025, the Lao official gazette published the newly amended Decision on Trade Inspection Implementation No. 0019/MOIC, dated January 6, 2025. This decision aims to establish principles and rules for trade officers to inspect, fine, and take measures against violators of trade laws and their related regulations on business competition, business operations, and intellectual property rights to protect consumers and business operators in Laos. Changes in Trade Inspection Procedures Previously, trade inspection officers, operating independently under the central Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) or the provincial-level Department of Industry and Commerce (DOIC), were responsible for administrative raid actions focusing exclusively on intellectual property issues. However, following the enactment of Decision No. 0019/MOIC, trade inspection officers will now be grouped into the Trade Officers Unit, which will also include business competition officers and consumer protection officers. This unit will conduct and participate in raids, considering not only intellectual property laws but also competition and consumer protection laws when imposing penalties on infringers. Trade Inspection Authority Levels Trade inspection implementation is overseen by authorities at three levels: Central level: Department of Business Competition and Trade Inspection, MOIC. The MOIC handles trade inspection work covering all provinces in Laos. Provincial level: DOIC offices in provinces and Vientiane handle trade inspections covering two or more districts. District level: Office of the Industry and Commerce offices in districts. Violations Individuals, legal entities, and organizations violating the newly amended trade inspection decision, the Decree on Trade Inspection, or other related regulations will be educated about the issue, warned, disciplined (for government servants), fined, subject to compensation for damage incurred, or punished by the relevant laws, depending on the gravity of the violation. Trade Violations Violations of trade laws and regulations concerning business operations will result in fines and additional measures. Examples include:
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Awards & Rankings

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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June 4, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has reinforced its position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading patent practices in the newly released IAM Patent 1000 2026, earning top-tier firm rankings in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, alongside 23 individual recognitions across the region. The firm achieved Gold rankings in Thailand and Vietnam and a Highly Recommended ranking in Indonesia—the highest tier available in the jurisdiction—highlighting the strength and consistency of its regional patent practice. This marks the firm’s 14th consecutive year in the top tier for Thailand, seventh consecutive year for Vietnam, and third straight year ranked among Indonesia’s leading firms. The firm’s strong regional performance is further reflected in the individual rankings, with the following Tilleke & Gibbins practitioners recognized for their expertise in patent law: 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 IAM Patent 1000 identifies the world’s leading patent firms and practitioners through extensive qualitative research based on feedback from clients, peers, and industry stakeholders. For more details, please see the IAM Patent 1000 rankings for Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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May 14, 2026
Asian Legal Business (ALB) has published the ALB Asia IP Rankings 2026, the latest edition of its annual guide recognizing leading intellectual property firms across the region. Continuing the approach introduced last year, the rankings present a unified table in each jurisdiction, combining patent and trademark/copyright work to provide a more holistic view of the IP market. Tilleke & Gibbins has retained strong rankings in all three jurisdictions covered by the survey: Thailand: Tier 1 Vietnam: Tier 1 Indonesia: Tier 2 The rankings are based on work conducted between February 2025 and February 2026, covering both ongoing and completed contentious and noncontentious matters. ALB’s research draws on firm submissions, client feedback, editorial resources, and market input to identify the region’s leading IP practices. Tilleke & Gibbins’ IP team has maintained a strong track record across all ranked jurisdictions since the inception of the ALB IP Rankings in 2018. To view the full rankings, please see the May 2026 issue of ALB.
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