Michelle Ray-Jones has been named to the partnership at Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok, effective January 2022.

Ray-Jones is an experienced practitioner specializing in complex intellectual property prosecution and litigation. Based in Bangkok and operating regionally across Southeast Asia, she serves as a strategic advisor to multinational clients in numerous industries, including hospitality, fashion and consumer products, on their global and regional IP portfolios in Southeast Asia, as well as to ASEAN-based clients expanding outward toward other parts of the world. As an expert in global intellectual asset protection and enforcement, Ray-Jones advises brands on IP searches, applications, registrations, maintenance, and legal actions.

Her experience before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as well as her many years guiding clients in Southeast Asia – particularly Thailand and Cambodia – informs her strategic advice on global and regional branding and protection strategies. She is also a leading practitioner in domain name disputes, IP licensing, and IP commercialization.

Ray-Jones has served as president of the Licensing Executives Society of Thailand since September 2021, is an active member of the International Trademark Association, and is a frequent speaker and author on topics including intellectual property rights, fashion law, licensing, and franchising. She is licensed to practice in the State of New York and is admitted in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. She holds degrees from New York University and Brooklyn Law School.

The promotion was one of four the firm made at the start of the year. Commenting on the appointments, Kobkit Thienpreecha, partner and director of the firm’s corporate and commercial department, stated that “the work of these four practitioners has already helped pave the way for the future of the firm.”

Darani Vachanavuttivong, co-managing partner and head of the firm’s IP practice, noted that “these exceptionally talented lawyers have played an integral role in the protection of our clients’ interests in Southeast Asia, and they are an outstanding addition to the partnership of our firm. Michelle’s market-leading work on some of the world’s most prominent IP portfolios has helped drive the firm forward over the past several years, and we look forward to seeing how she will help us develop in her new role.”

Tiziana Sucharitkul, co-managing partner and head of the firm’s dispute resolution practice adds that “the new additions to our partnership will bring a fresh outlook to our firm’s regional leadership. They are innovative, commercially minded, global practitioners, and their insight and expertise will help us – and our clients – grow and thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of international commerce in Southeast Asia.”