Partners

Darani Vachanavuttivong

Managing Partner and Managing Director, Intellectual Property

Key Practices

Qualifications

  • LLB, Ramkhamhaeng University
  • Msc, Thammasat University
  • BBA, Thammasat University

Darani Vachanavuttivong is a formidable enforcer of intellectual property rights (IPR), including trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Regarded as “a brilliant, hands-on lawyer who works extremely hard for her clients” (WTR 1000), Darani is currently recognised as a top IP practitioner by publications such as Asialaw Leading Lawyers (since 2003), The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (since 2003), and Chambers Asia-Pacific (since 2008). She has been named as one of the most accomplished female IP practitioners in the world by Managing Intellectual Property magazine, which includes Darani in its list of the “Top 250 Women in IP.”

Darani helps clients protect IPR in some of the toughest jurisdictions in the world –Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Darani previously headed the firm’s trademark registration group and is well-versed in writing patents, having represented numerous patent clients and having attended several high-level courses on drafting patent specifications, including the Southeast Asian Patent Drafting Training Course and the Patent Agent Training Course organised by the Department of Intellectual Property, Bangkok.

A leading IP attorney and a leader in the IP field, Darani is the managing director of the Tilleke & Gibbins intellectual property group, which is consistently recognized as the preeminent IP practice in Southeast Asia. Darani is actively engaged in the global intellectual property community and has previously sat as President of the ASEAN Intellectual Property Association (AIPA); Chair of the Asia-Pacific Sub-Committee of INTA’s Global Advisory Council; President and Vice President of the Thailand group of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association; and President of the Intellectual Property Association of Thailand.

  • Acted on behalf of T&G's client before the IP&IT Court and obtained a very favorable settlement just prior to the rendering of judgment in what has been widely regarded as the largest and most complex patent infringement case in Thai history. In this multijurisdictional case, Darani not only secured a rare Anton Piller order to seize infringing goods, which enabled her to successfully prove infringement, but also formulated extensive strategies for protecting the validity of the client’s patent.
  • Defended a leading Thai manufacturer of wood protection materials against an allegation of trademark infringement (claims totalled USD 1 million).
  • Interviewed inventors and concerned parties to collect information for drafting patent and petty patent specifications. Determined novelty and inventive step through patent searches.
  • Drafted a patent specification for a client in the electronic-money industry.
  • Represented a leading producer of smartphones as its “point of contact” with all government authorities, which involved crafting an overall government relations strategy, establishing and cultivating relationships with officials, responding to government investigations, monitoring potential policy and regulatory developments, and seeking legislative and regulatory change on the client’s behalf. She also structured effective solutions to the business and legal challenges faced by the client.
  • Responded in a timely and effective manner to news that a variation of a client’s trade name and trademark would be used in a major concert and festival sponsored by parties in both the private and public sectors. With only two weeks’ notice, Darani immediately commenced negotiations at all levels with the appropriate government agencies and the organizer. Her prompt and diligent actions were effective. Prior to the event, the hosts changed the name and mark of the event, and all advertisements were removed and corrected.

Chambers Asia-Pacific
Intellectual Property 2023 – Eminent Practitioner for 7 consecutive years

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
Intellectual Property 2023 – Hall of Fame for 3 consecutive years

Asialaw Leading Lawyers
Intellectual Property 2023 – Elite Practitioner for 4 consecutive years

Asian Legal Business
Identified as Top 15 Female Lawyers 2023 for 2 consecutive years

IAM Patent 1000
Patent 2023 – Gold Band for 2 consecutive years

Managing Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property 2023 – IP Star for 10 consecutive years
Identified as Top 250 Women in IP 2023 

World IP Review Leaders
Intellectual Property 2023 – Ranked Lawyer for 7 consecutive years
Identified as Top 80 Most Influential Women in IP 2019

WTR 1000
Trademarks 2023 – Gold Band for 12 consecutive years