Thailand’s desire to increase its competitiveness as an investment destination has led to the passage of the Trade Secret Act 2002 (TSA). The TSA is the most recent law on the protection of industrial property rights in the Kingdom and complies with Article 39 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement). For all its virtues, however, the TSA contains a loophole that may undermine its central goal of preventing unfair competition in Thailand—the TSA does not explicitly vest ownership of a trade secret in a single owner.

This Q&A chapter provides an overview of litigation and dispute resolution procedures in Thailand. The chapter covers such topics as civil procedure, interim remedies, available defenses, joinder and consolidation, duties and powers of the courts, disclosure, rules of evidence, judgments and orders, and alternative dispute resolution. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of recent trends and developments concerning arbitration in Thailand.

Protection of personal data is a major concern in several jurisdictions. Our overseas clients often ask us about their obligations with respect to personal data they may have compiled, whether intentionally or inadvertently, with respect to their employees, customers, clients, or service users. Unfortunately, it is a common misconception that Thai law offers no protection to personal data. On the contrary, there are many sources of law that protect personal data and prohibit its disclosure, in certain circumstances.

Business competitiveness among rivals in similar industries is fierce and demanding. The current trend of business expansion is for stronger and financially healthier corporations to merge, acquire, and take over other corporations. Over the past few years, we have heard merger and acquisition (M&A) news or proposals on a daily basis. However, we do not hear as much about the details that make an M&A successful, especially when it comes to due diligence.

The 2011 update of this Q&A chapter provides a broad overview of product liability law and regulations in Thailand subsequent to the enactment of the Product Liability Act in 2008. The chapter addresses issues such as causation, defenses, procedures, time limits, remedies, and costs.This article first appeared in the ninth edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Product Liability; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London (www.iclg.co.uk).

The 105 Lyman’s Laws for Lawyers (LLL) of Tilleke & Gibbins (and for everyone else, too) which follow, my substantially revised, expanded and updated 2006 edition, are nothing more than courses of good conduct clients expect of their lawyers and are what clients pay for. Some readers will conclude that you already know what is written here. So for you LLL can serve as a refresher course. Many readers, however, are probably slow learners like me and still have much to gain from LLL compiled in one place.

The PLC Cross-border IP in Business Transactions Handbook is a multi-jurisdictional guide that brings together practical information on topical cross-border IP issues, country-specific Q&As on IP law and practice, and details of recommended IP lawyers and law firms in jurisdictions around the world.

Forming part of the PLC Cross-border IP in Business Transactions Handbook, this Q&A chapter on Vietnam’s main intellectual property rights gives an overview of the protection and enforcement of patents, trademarks, registered designs, unregistered designs, copyright, and confidential information.