Mr.Manu Rakwattanakul

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY 

• Experienced litigation and arbitration lawyer with over 35 years of practice, specializing in civil, commercial, construction, and intellectual property law. Proven track record representing top-tier corporations, financial institutions, and multinational clients in complex legal disputes across courts and arbitration forums. Former partner and senior legal counsel at a leading international law firm in Bangkok.

AWARDS & RANKINGS

• Recommended Lawyer in Dispute Resolution, Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2015

BAR ADMISSION & CERTIFICATES

• – Member of the Thai Bar Association (1985)
• – Permanent Attorney License No. 9906/2529
• – Notarial Services Attorney Certification (2003, Class 1)
• – Certified in IP Arbitration & Mediation Practice by the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court (2004)

EDUCATION

• – LL.M. (Master of Laws)
  University of Southampton, UK — 1995–1996
• – LL.M. (Thai Law)
  Chulalongkorn University, Thailand — 1989–1994
• – LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws)
  Thammasat University, Thailand — 1981–1985
• – Thai Bar Association —Membership
  The Thai Bar under the Royal Patronage — 1985

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• – Civil & Commercial Litigation
• – Construction Law & Arbitration
• – Intellectual Property Disputes
• – Insurance Law
• – Arbitration
• – Product Liability & Trade Marks
• – Media, Defamation & Technology Law

PUBLICATIONS

• –  “Judicial Control of Arbitration Proceedings under the Arbitration Act B.E. 2545” — Thammasat Law Journal, Vol. 32(4), Dec 2002
• – “Recent Developments in Uberrimae Fidei Duty in Marine Insurance” — Thammasat Law Journal, Vol. 32(1), Mar 2002
• – “Role of Judges in the Accusatorial System” — Rapee Law Journal, Faculty of Law, 1989

OTHERS EXPERIENCE

• – Visiting lecturer, University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, teaching international trade law
• – Visiting lecturer, Siam University, teaching international trade law
• – Visiting lecturer, Thailand Insurance Institute, teaching principle of laws for insurance claims

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

      Intellectual property

• – Represented one of the world’s leading manufacturer of engineered steel and fiber-reinforced polymer construction products in seeking cancellation of defendant’s patent. The Supreme Court subsequently upheld the decision of the lower courts in favor of our client.
• – Represented a pharmaceutical company against another pharmaceutical company in a matter relating to infringement of a process patent.
• – Represented a multinational tire manufacturer against a company incorporated in Thailand relating to copyright infringement and infringement of trade name.
• – Advised leading software, equipment, drug, food, cosmetics, automotive, magazine, and footwear companies in numerous litigation matters regarding patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secret infringement.
• – Represented an American film and entertainment studio in an alleged case of copyright infringement by a themed restaurant in Thailand, with the name and menus on offer similar to those belonging to the client.
• – Represented an American clothing and beauty retailer in filing a lawsuit with regard to the submission of the client’s registration applications of its trademark in Thailand which were rejected by the trademark registrar and the trademark board reasoning that the mark in question does not acquire distinctiveness through its design and use.
• – Represented a leading Japanese production house in civil and criminal disputes related to copyright in films, TV series, merchandises, trademark, and trade name disputes regarding its world-famous superhero characters.
• – Represented a leading world media group in defending civil and criminal lawsuits resulting from the distribution of its magazine publication in Thailand.
• – Advised and gave a declaration in the litigation regarding the international copyright dispute in the case involving UM Corporation Tsuburaya Productions  Co.,  Ltd. at the United States District Court, Central District of California, Western Division in 2016–2017.

     Corporate and commercial

• – Acted as counsel for leading construction companies on major projects in relation to claims of compensation for damages incurred as a result of breaches of contract and unpaid remuneration and in numerous litigation matters, including domestic and international arbitration cases, against project owners.
• – Acted as counsel for banks and financial institutions in disputed matters related to international transactions, letter of credit and the enforcement of debts and security.
• – Represented insurance and shipping companies in disputes related to marine insurance, international trade, letter of credit and other maritime laws.
• – Represented leading automotive companies in disputes with their distributors regarding breach of distributorship agreements and commercial disputes.
• – Represented an American multinational corporation that specializes in Internet-related services and products, online advertising technologies, a search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware in disputes arising from their provision of services in Thailand.

      Arbitration

• – Represented leading warehouse, logistics and construction companies in arbitration disputes.
• – Represented a leading construction and garment companies on the matters related to the enforcement of international arbitration awards.

      Criminal proceedings

• – Represented a leading American insurance company in defending a criminal lawsuit against it and its directors.
• – Represented a leading reinsurance company and a leading insurance broker in defending a reinsurance lawsuit and a tort claim.
• – Represented an American multinational corporations that designs, develops and sells computer software online services and hardware products in defending civil and criminal lawsuits.
• – Represented a leading American helicopter services corporation in filing a criminal defamation lawsuit against its competitor.