Tilleke and Gibbins
Tilleke and Gibbins is the leading independent Southeast Asian law firm headquartered in Bangkok since 1890. Operates offices in Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, Vientiane, and Phnom Penh. Ranked top-tier by Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500 in Thailand across IP, dispute resolution, corporate, and life sciences. Particularly renowned for intellectual-property enforcement in Thailand, Vietnam, and the wider Mekong region. A primary counterparty for brand-protection programmes, parallel-import disputes, and patent litigation in Thailand. Competes with Baker McKenzie, Weerawong Chinnavat, and other international firms for high-value Thai mandates.
Snapshot
Headline numbers a buyer checks first.
Founded
1890
Bangkok headquarters
Oldest continuously operating law firm in Southeast Asia
Thailand lawyers
~150-200
2024
Chambers Asia-Pacific Thailand IP ranking
Band 1
2024
Regional offices
6
2024
Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, Vientiane, Phnom Penh
Profile overview
Tilleke and Gibbins is the leading independent Southeast Asian law firm headquartered in Bangkok since 1890. Operates offices in Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, Vientiane, and Phnom Penh. Ranked top-tier by Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500 in Thailand across IP, dispute resolution, corporate, and life sciences. Particularly renowned for intellectual-property enforcement in Thailand, Vietnam, and the wider Mekong region. A primary counterparty for brand-protection programmes, parallel-import disputes, and patent litigation in Thailand. Competes with Baker McKenzie, Weerawong Chinnavat, and other international firms for high-value Thai mandates.
Practice areas and capabilities
Intellectual property
IP enforcement — Thailand's leading IP practice
Ranked Band 1 Chambers Asia-Pacific for Thailand IP. Handles trademark registration, patent prosecution, copyright enforcement, trade-secret litigation, and border-control seizures. Active in counterfeit seizures in Bangkok markets (Patpong, MBK) and Customs IP enforcement. Thailand DIP (Department of Intellectual Property) interactions handled by a dedicated IP team of 40-50 professionals.
Corporate and M&A
Foreign-investment structuring and M&A
Foreign Business Act (FBA) structuring, BOI promotion applications, M&A due diligence, joint-venture drafting, and corporate governance for listed and private companies. A primary adviser for Japanese, European, and US multinationals entering Thailand. Knowledge of Thai nominee-shareholder restrictions and Alien Business Act carve-outs is a key differentiator.
Dispute resolution
Thai and international arbitration
Litigation before Thai Commercial Court and appellate levels; international arbitration (ICC, SIAC, THAC). Employment disputes, construction claims, IP infringement, and contract claims form the majority of the contentious caseload. THAC (Thai Arbitration Center) founding-era adviser.
Regional offices
Mekong-region network
Offices in Bangkok (headquarters since 1890), Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Yangon (Myanmar), Vientiane (Laos), and Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Regional capability provides Mekong-corridor coverage for clients managing cross-border supply chains, trademark registration, and dispute resolution across multiple jurisdictions from a single legal adviser relationship.
Top Thai law firm comparison
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 rankings. Sources: Chambers, Legal 500.
Type
Independent SEA firm
Thailand lawyers
~150-200
Chambers IP
Band 1
Chambers Corporate
Band 2-3
Baker McKenzie (Bangkok)
Type
International firm
Thailand lawyers
~120-150
Chambers IP
Band 1-2
Chambers Corporate
Band 1
Weerawong Chinnavat (WCV)
Type
Thai independent
Thailand lawyers
~100-130
Chambers IP
Band 2-3
Chambers Corporate
Band 1-2
Siam Premier (Clifford Chance alliance)
Type
Thai with international alliance
Thailand lawyers
~80-100
Chambers IP
Band 3
Chambers Corporate
Band 2
| Firm | Type | Thailand lawyers | Chambers IP | Chambers Corporate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tilleke and Gibbins | Independent SEA firm | ~150-200 | Band 1 | Band 2-3 |
| Baker McKenzie (Bangkok) | International firm | ~120-150 | Band 1-2 | Band 1 |
| Weerawong Chinnavat (WCV) | Thai independent | ~100-130 | Band 2-3 | Band 1-2 |
| Siam Premier (Clifford Chance alliance) | Thai with international alliance | ~80-100 | Band 3 | Band 2 |
Key developments 2025-2026
IP enforcement environment
Thailand's IP reputation improvement
Thailand has appeared on the USTR Special 301 Priority Watch List historically for IP enforcement gaps. Recent DIP and Customs enforcement improvements have reduced counterfeit levels in Bangkok street markets; Tilleke's anti-counterfeiting programme work for global brands (fashion, pharma, consumer goods) benefits from this improved enforcement environment.
Foreign investment surge
BOI-driven M&A and structuring work
Thailand's 2024-2025 BOI incentive package for EV, semiconductor, data-centre investments has generated a surge in foreign-investment structuring mandates. Tilleke's BOI practice and Foreign Business Act advisory work is the primary growth driver for corporate practice revenue in the near term.
Vietnam expansion
Fastest-growing regional office
Tilleke's Vietnam offices (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City) have grown rapidly as Vietnam's manufacturing FDI boom continues. IP filing volumes in Vietnam, M&A advisory for Japanese and Korean clients setting up factories, and labour-law work have made Vietnam Tilleke's second-largest office by revenue.
Where this profile is featured
Reports that reference this entity in their operator concentration or analysis.
Featured in
Customs HS-Code Reclassification: How Thai Importers Fight Tariff D...
Largest Thai-domestic customs-and-trade practice.
Featured in
Thai Legal Market: Foreign Law Firm Restrictions and Big-Five Local...
Largest Thai-domestic customs-and-trade practice.
Featured in
Thai Labour Law: Termination Economics and the 400-Day Severance Cap
Largest Thai-domestic customs-and-trade practice.
Featured in
Thai Trademark and IP Enforcement: From Patpong Counterfeits to DIP...
Largest Thai-domestic customs-and-trade practice.
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competitor
Chandler MHM
One of Thailand's largest full-service law firms, formed by the combination of Chandler and Thong-ek with Mori Hamada and Matsumoto's Bangkok practice.