Kowit holds a B.A. (English) from Ubon Ratchathani Rajbhat University, an LL.B. from Thammasat University, an LL.M. from the University of Illinois and a Certificate of Instruction for Lawyers from Harvard Law School. He worked with Domnern Somgiat & Boonma for seven and a half years, with Chandler & Thong-ek Law Offices for four and a half years, and for four years as a partner of George & Kowit. Before founding LawPlus Ltd. in 2003, he was the Managing Partner of the Bangkok Office of a leading UK law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. He found LawPlus Myanmar Ltd. in 2013. Kowit has over 30 years’ experiences in laws on banking, corporate, foreign direct investment, merger and acquisition, intellectual property, IT, telecoms, dispute resolution and litigation.
Accolades
“Leading lawyer” for banking and finance. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2003 through 2017).
“IP Star” by the World IP Survey 2017 of the Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars 2017.
“Kowit Somwaiya boats deep and specialized knowledge of IP law and handles prosecution and transactional matters with keen commercial insight.” iam 1000 The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, 2015.
“On-point, precise advice” to a global clientele. WTR 1000, 2013.
“Knowledgeable and decisive partner”. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2012.
“Hardworking and commercial”. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2011.
“Intelligent lawyer, who engages with his clients”. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2010.
“Recommended” for corporate / M&A. The PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbooks, 2008.
“Highly recommended” for corporate/M&A. The PLC Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions Handbook, 2007.
“Well-known” IP practitioner. The IP Profiles, 2006.
“Leading lawyer” for banking, general corporate practice, corporate governance, restructuring and insolvency. The AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers, 2005.
Professional Memberships
Lawyers Council of Thailand and Thai Bar Association
Intellectual Property Association of Thailand (Director 2009-2016, Vice President 2017-2019)
ASEAN Intellectual Property Association
Asian Patent Attorneys Association (Co-Chair of Emerging IP Rights Committee 2013-2015)
International Trademark Association (Chair of East Asia & Pacific Sub-Committee of Anti-Counterfeiting Committee 2014-2015, Chair of Harmonization of Trademark Law and Practice Committee 2016-2017, Co-Chair of Global Advisory Council-Asia & Pacific 2016-2017, Director 2018-2020)
International Bar Association
International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition
Intellectual Property Owners Association
World Customs Organization
Email: kowit.somwaiya@lawplusltd.com
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