1 April 2023 (Bangkok) WSR International announced the election of Frank Rittman as a member of the firm, as well as his appointment as its Chief Operating Officer.
Previously Of Counsel to WSR, Frank heads up the firm’s entertainment law practice, with a further concentration on intellectual property rights and cannabis reform. As COO, he will oversee the development of new practice offerings, WSR’s further expansion throughout Thailand and regionally, and day-to-day operations.
An attorney-executive with more than 30 years of applied expertise representing multinational companies’ contentious and non-contentious affairs in the book publishing, music publishing, and motion picture and television industries, Frank is a native New Yorker who has lived and worked in four different countries throughout his career and has supervised executives and service providers throughout the Asia-Pacific and around the world.
Functioning primarily in the capacity of a business strategist and legal advisor throughout his career, Frank has also represented numerous individual creators and entertainers active in the media and entertainment industries. He began his career as the Director of Contracts & Copyrights for the Macmillan Publishing Company, before moving on to serve as the Vice President for International Affairs at the National Music Publishers’ Association and The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. In 2001 Frank joined the Motion Picture Association’s regional office in Singapore, serving as its Senior Vice President, Deputy Managing Director, and Regional Policy Officer. Before joining WSR, Frank was most recently the President and Managing Director for the Motion Picture Licensing Company (Asia) Ltd., based in Hong Kong.
A former Chairman of the New York County Lawyers’ Association Entertainment Law Committee and past member of the Board of Directors for the Cable and Satellite Broadcasters’ Association of Asia, Frank is also the Founding Director and Counsel for the Centre for Content Promotion. Most recently he received a Stalwart and Icon of Industry award during the 11th annual World Intellectual Property Forum in Bangkok in October 2022.
WSR Managing Partner Nathan Wood noted Frank’s appointment as Partner and COO comes one year after the firm’s launch of operations in March, 2022. “I’m thrilled about our growth and success over the past twelve months. The clients we’re attracting and the work we’re doing for them justifies the need and opportunity to bring Frank aboard, to enhance our practice as well as our momentum towards new service models and business opportunities, such as our Phuket office opening in May. He has vast experience leading and managing legal professionals throughout Asia and we’re excited that he’ll now be working with us in the years ahead.”
Rittman added “I’m honored by my partners’ trust and confidence, and their offer to help lead the team. Asia, regionally, and Thailand in particular, is attracting lots of overseas interest and investment now that pandemic restrictions are easing up. WSR is well poised to service these needs and I’m confident in our abilities and optimistic about the future.”
