The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie is praised for its ‘excellent accessibility - lawyers are very responsive’ and for its ‘ability to facilitate a deal from all practice areas’. The firm is highly active on the real estate side and is currently advising Amata Spring Development as debtor on its in-court business reorganisation. Kitipong Urapeepatanapong and Wynn Pakdeejit are the main contacts and win plaudits for their ‘practical advice and market knowledge’.

Mayer Brown JSM’s much-depleted Thailand practice still includes ‘restructuring specialists’ Steven Miller and Iain Melville, ensuring that it retains its historic capacity for top-flight transactions in this area. The firm advises debtors, liquidators, creditors and banks on the full spread of debt restructuring and insolvency litigation.

Allen & Overy (Thailand) Co, Ltd’s restructuring practice sits alongside its market-leading finance practice to specialise in advising financial institutions on complex restructuring matters. The firm is representing Citibank as security agent on TT&T’s high-profile restructuring. Dumnern Subpaisarn is recommended.

Linklaters’ finance expertise secures the firm a steady flow of structured debt instructions. On the contentious side, the firm is representing International Finance Corporation as creditor on a claim against Finance One’s estate. Pichitpon Eammongkolchai is highly active.

Norton Rose (Thailand) Limited’s team is led by Somboon Kitiyansub and attracts praise for its ‘strong commitment and commercial awareness’. The firm continues to represent Tuntex Textile on the implementation of a THB2.3bn court-sanctioned business reorganisation plan.

Weerawong, Chinnavat & Peangpanor promoted debt restructuring specialist Suntus Kirdsinsap to counsel in 2011. Pakdee Paknara advised Siam City Bank and Export-Import Bank of Thailand as creditors in the $100m court rehabilitation of Dhara Dhevi Hotel.

Chandler & Thong-ek Law Offices Limited was involved in two substantial business rehabilitations over the past year. The firm also has a strong record in bankruptcy law. Sumit Masrungson is recommended for contentious cases.

DLA Piper’s restructuring credentials continue to strengthen under the leadership of Supreedee Nimitkul. The firm has become a top choice for foreign corporates, particularly insurance companies, for non-contentious transactions.

Hunton & Williams (Thailand) Limited team is led by Surasak Vajasit and acts for both banks and corporates. The team represented Don Muang Tollway on its recent debt restructuring and its THB7bn senior unsecured bonds issue.

Siam Premier acted on several high-profile restructurings in 2010 for clients in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing and energy sectors. Bancha Wudhiprecha shines on contentious issues.

Anek & Associates focuses on bankruptcy litigation and debt-collection matters, primarily for domestic clients.

Clifford Chance (Thailand) Limited handles non-contentious cases. It advised Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) on the sale of a non-performing loan portfolio.

Deacons acts almost exclusively for foreign clients and specialises in advising on the Thai aspects of global or regional restructurings.

International Legal Counsellors Thailand is strong on the contentious side, and regularly represents clients in insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings.

Kanung & Partners is well-known for its administrative law expertise and is ‘the first choice for politically sensitive cases’.

LawPlus Ltd advised the Taiwan arm of a major bank on a THB39m claim for repayment of debt. Kowit Somwaiya is recommended.

Respondek & Fan Pte Ltd continues to represent adidas on aspects of its Thai corporate restructuring.

The Legists Ltd is well-known for its experience in representing both debtors and creditors in project-related restructurings.