The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie is the ‘“go-to” firm in Thailand for banking work’ due to the reputation of ‘technical regulatory expert’ Komkrit Kietduriyakul - singled out as ‘unequalled in the derivatives space’. The firm also scores points for its strength and depth: ‘If you need advice on a banking matter, the money market or even securities, Bakers will find an answer.’ Other recommended lawyers include ‘practical’ team head Thinawat Bukhamana, capital markets specialist Viroj Piyawattanametha and ‘rising star’ Benja Supannakul, who is ‘clearly making an increasingly important contribution to the team’. In 2011, the firm acted for True Corporation subsidiary, Real Future, on its THB6.3m bridge loan financing, as well as advising it on the provision of a THB2bn facility to be issued to CAT Telecom.

Within Corporate and M&A (including capital markets), Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie is the largest team in the market and clients value its ‘extensive practice range’ and its ‘large global network that enables it to provide advice on a broad range of laws, and jurisdictions, without delay’. Lawyers are ‘experienced, agile, prudent and efficient’ and include the high-profile Kitipong Urapeepatanapong - noted as ‘the best for complex capital markets transactions’- and M&A partner Peerapan Tungsuwan. The firm’s ‘peerless capacity to resource deals’ guarantees it a role on most of the market’s headline transactions and it regularly acts for large domestic and foreign corporates. Highlights included advising Thai Airways on its $487m IPO.

Within Dispute resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie is ‘one of the best in the business’ and keeps ahead of the game ‘due to its ability to retain key lawyers and craft junior lawyers into top-class partners’. The firm has won roles on several of the country’s recent spate of telecoms cases, but most notably it is defending True Move against a $1.1bn Administrative Court claim brought by the Telephone Organisation of Thailand (TOT). Chirachai Okanurak and Wynn Pakdeejit are recommended.

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

In addition to Baker & McKenzie’s excellent pharmaceutical and telecoms experience, the firm has a strong niche in media and entertainment work; Say Sujintaya acted as local production counsel for Warner Bros on the shooting of the movie Hangover Part 2. The team also took over the management of Abbott Laboratories entire Thailand trade mark portfolio.

Within Projects and energy, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘market-leading resources guarantees that it is always one of the first firms you think of for a big financing’ and indeed the firm continues to garner roles on Thailand’s biggest deals. Notably it has secured several mandates arising out of the country’s long-awaited IPP programme and is currently representing Gulf JP in the $1.5bn financing of the construction and development of a gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Thailand. Sawanee Sethsathira is highly recommended.

Within Real estate and construction, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie impresses due to the ‘unrivalled size, scope and experience’ of its real estate team, with clients in agreement that ‘no other firm comes close to Bakers’ expertise’. Sorachon Boonsong is the ‘leading lawyer in the field’ and heads a practice that covers financings, development, corporate matters and litigation across both the residential and leisure sectors. Among its recent highlights, it advised Areeya Property on negotiations with the American Alumni Association and the Privy Purse for the lease of 5 Rai Land to construct a mix-used commercial building, worth approximately THB5bn.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

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’.

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie has played a significant role in the current wave of telecommunication litigation sweeping Thailand due to its longstanding reputation for acting for the country’s biggest TMT clients. The firm is currently defending True Move in a mammoth $1.1bn claim against state-owned TOT relating to access charges. Litigator Kanit Vallayapet is strong on the regulatory side, while Yuthana Sivaraks is recommended for transactional work.

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

At Baker & McKenzie, Chinawat Assavapokee is recommended for tax planning and tax litigation. The firm’s substantive size and its market leading M&A practice ensures it receives a steady flow of instructions arising from corporate deals.