Tilleke & Gibbins
A regional full-service law firm founded in Siam in 1890 and headquartered in Bangkok.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Tilleke & Gibbins is a regional full-service law firm serving companies and organizations operating in Thailand and mainland Southeast Asia. Its principal office is in Bangkok, with additional offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, and Yangon. The firm advises multinational and regional clients on commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, litigation, intellectual property, regulatory matters, employment, tax, property, finance, and competition and trade. The firm traces its origins to 1890, when William Alfred Tilleke, a Ceylonese solicitor, established a legal practice in Siam, the country now known as Thailand. Its early history included work at a time when Thailand faced substantial diplomatic and legal pressure from European colonial powers. In 1894, Tilleke successfully defended Phra Yot Muang Kwang, a Thai provincial governor accused of murdering a French military officer. The case was heard before a French court operating in Thailand, and the governor was acquitted after Tilleke presented affirmative evidence. This episode is regarded as one of the notable early matters associated with the firm. Ralph Gibbins, an English lawyer, joined Tilleke as a partner in 1902, giving the practice the name Tilleke & Gibbins. Gibbins later served as a legal adviser to the Siamese Ministry of Justice and became a judge of the International Court in 1916. The partnership subsequently developed under Samuel Brighouse and Reginald Atkinson, who led the practice from 1911 until Thailand became involved in the Second World War. The firm suspended operations during the war. Some of its records were preserved by Ina Jorgensen, a former secretary connected with partner Victor Jaques, who had left the country. Jaques reestablished the practice in 1946. A further transition occurred in 1951, when Albert Lyman acquired the firm from Jaques. The transaction did not include the trademark and intellectual-property work, which had been transferred to Jorgensen. Lyman operated the practice with his wife, Freda, and Thai partner Rojvit Periera. Their son, David Lyman, joined in 1967 and assumed operational leadership after Albert Lyman's death in 1984. David later served as chairman and was also identified by the firm as its Chief Values Officer. Today, Tilleke & Gibbins presents itself as a Southeast Asian firm organized around multidisciplinary industry groups and specialist legal practices. Its industry coverage includes aviation, consumer products, energy, insurance, life sciences, and technology. Its legal practices include banking and finance, capital markets, competition and trade, compliance and investigations, corporate and M&A, dispute resolution and litigation, employment, intellectual property, property, regulatory affairs, and tax. Intellectual property is a particularly prominent part of its profile, supported by the firm's Bangkok Museum of Counterfeit Goods, established in 1989. The museum holds more than 3,500 counterfeit examples and has been covered by international media including CNN and the BBC. The firm is a member of the Lex Mundi and Multilaw legal networks. It has received recognition in directories and awards programs including The Legal 500, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Asian Legal Business, IFLR1000, Asia IP, Intellectual Asset Management, Managing Intellectual Property, and World Trademark Review. Its reported distinctions include Southeast Asia Firm of the Year at the 2017 Asialaw Asia-Pacific Legal Awards and Asia-Pacific CSR Firm of the Year from Managing Intellectual Property in 2018. Darani Vachanavuttivong and Tiziana Suchartikul are identified as the firm's managing partners.
History
Tilleke & Gibbins began in 1890 when William Alfred Tilleke, a Ceylonese solicitor, opened a practice in Siam. The firm became associated with an important legal case in 1894, when Tilleke defended Phra Yot Muang Kwang, a provincial governor accused of killing a French military officer. The matter took place against a background of French diplomatic and colonial pressure, and the governor was acquitted after Tilleke presented affirmative evidence. Ralph Gibbins joined the practice in 1902, establishing the Tilleke & Gibbins name. Gibbins later became a legal adviser to the Siamese Ministry of Justice and served as a judge of the International Court in 1916. Samuel Brighouse and Reginald Atkinson subsequently led the firm until Thailand entered the Second World War in 1941. The practice ceased operating during the war, while some records were preserved by Ina Jorgensen after partner Victor Jaques had left the country. Jaques reopened the firm in 1946. In 1951, Albert Lyman bought the practice from Jaques. The firm's trademark and intellectual-property work were excluded from that transaction and had been transferred to Jorgensen. Albert and Freda Lyman operated the firm with Thai partner Rojvit Periera. Their son, David Lyman, joined in 1967 and took over operations following his father's death in 1984. He later became chairman and was also associated with the position of Chief Values Officer. The firm expanded from its Thai base into a regional Southeast Asian network. Its offices are in Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, and Yangon. The practice serves multinational and regional businesses across sectors such as aviation, consumer products, energy, insurance, life sciences, and technology. Its legal work covers banking and finance, capital markets, competition and trade, compliance and investigations, corporate transactions and M&A, disputes and litigation, employment, intellectual property, property, regulatory affairs, and tax. Intellectual property has remained a distinctive part of the firm's identity. In 1989, Tilleke & Gibbins established the Museum of Counterfeit Goods at its Bangkok office. The museum contains over 3,500 counterfeit examples and has been discussed by international broadcasters and publications. The firm also participates in international professional networks including Lex Mundi and Multilaw. Legal directories and specialist publications have repeatedly recognized its regional and intellectual-property practices. Darani Vachanavuttivong and Tiziana Suchartikul are identified as managing partners.
- 2018
Asia-Pacific CSR Firm of the Year
[1]Managing Intellectual Property recognizes the firm as Asia-Pacific CSR Firm of the Year.
- 2017
Southeast Asia Firm of the Year
[1]The firm receives the Southeast Asia Firm of the Year award from Asialaw's Asia-Pacific Legal Awards.
- 1989
Museum of Counterfeit Goods opens
[1]The firm establishes its Bangkok museum devoted to counterfeit and imitation products.
- 1984
David Lyman assumes operational leadership
[1]After Albert Lyman's death, David Lyman takes over the firm's operations.
- 1967
David Lyman joins the firm
[1]The next generation of the Lyman family enters the practice.
- 1951
Albert Lyman acquires the firm
[1]Albert Lyman purchases the practice from Victor Jaques, while the trademark and intellectual-property work are excluded from the transaction.
- 1946
Victor Jaques reestablishes the practice
[1]Jaques reopens the firm after the war as the remaining partner associated with its restoration.
- 1941
Operations cease during the Second World War
[1]The firm suspends operations after Thailand becomes involved in the war.
- 1916
Ralph Gibbins serves on the International Court
[1]After serving as a legal adviser to the Siamese Ministry of Justice, Gibbins becomes a judge of the International Court.
- 1902
Ralph Gibbins joins the partnership
[1]Ralph Gibbins becomes a partner, giving the firm its enduring name.
Products and positioning
A long-established Southeast Asian full-service law firm with particular strength in intellectual property, commercial transactions, disputes, and cross-border advice.
Legal services
Corporate and M&A
Advice for corporate transactions, business structuring, investments, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions across Southeast Asian markets. The practice supports multinational and regional businesses entering, expanding, or reorganizing operations in the region.
Legal services
Dispute Resolution and Litigation
Representation and advice in commercial disputes, litigation, and other contentious matters. The offering forms part of the firm's broader full-service support for businesses facing contractual, regulatory, and cross-border disputes.
Legal services
Intellectual Property
Counsel concerning trademarks, copyright, counterfeiting, and other intellectual-property matters. The practice is a prominent part of the firm's regional profile and is complemented by its Bangkok Museum of Counterfeit Goods.
Legal services
Regulatory, Compliance, and Investigations
Advice on regulatory affairs, compliance programs, investigations, competition and trade requirements, and market-specific legal obligations affecting businesses in Southeast Asia.
Educational collection · 1989
Museum of Counterfeit Goods
A collection at the Bangkok office established in 1989 and containing more than 3,500 counterfeit examples. It illustrates intellectual-property infringement and has attracted coverage from international broadcasters and publications.
Recent events
- 2018
Tilleke & Gibbins recognized as Asia-Pacific CSR Firm of the Year[1]
Other
Managing Intellectual Property named the firm Asia-Pacific CSR Firm of the Year.
- 2017
Tilleke & Gibbins wins Southeast Asia Firm of the Year[1]
Other
The firm received the Southeast Asia Firm of the Year award at the Asialaw Asia-Pacific Legal Awards.
Bangkok Museum of Counterfeit Goods receives international media coverage[1]
Other
The firm's museum collection has been featured in documentary and travel coverage by outlets including CNN, BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Christian Science Monitor, and Time.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/tilleke-and-gibbins · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled