The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Thailand

Banking and finance

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

Baker & McKenzie gives ‘solutions to concerns and issues’ and offers ‘client-oriented advice’. Leading the field in volume, the firm’s size and experience in the Bangkok market ensures its involvement in many of the country’s largest deals. Highlights include advising Barclays Capital Securities (Thailand) as arranger on a loan syndication and bonds offering by Bangkok Dusit Medical, worth THB8.5bn. Thinawat Bukhamana is ‘among the leading finance lawyers in Thailand’, while Sawanee Sethsathira and Komkrit Kietduriyakul are also recommended.

Capital markets

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s size and experience ensures ‘it always has the specialist experience you need’, and lawyers are ‘always available to accommodate and help’. The firm advised Esso as both Thai and international counsel on its international IPO and its listing of shares on the SET, the biggest deal in Thailand for two years. Kitipong Urapeepatanapong is highly active in this area.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie is applauded for its ‘strong political relationships’, its ‘leading M&A practice’ and its ‘excellence in support areas’. The team garners the majority of its instructions through the financial services, insurance and real estate sectors, and in a major recent highlight, advised Kasikorn Bank on its $220m acquisition of existing shares and newly issued shares in Mueng Thai Life Assurance and Mueng Thai Fortis Holding. The firm houses a significant proportion of Thailand’s leading lights including Kitipong Urapeepatanapong, ‘the name every client wants on their side’ and Anurat Tiyaphorn. The ‘dynamic and commercial’ Sorachon Boonsong is also recommended.

Dispute resolution

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

The size of Baker & McKenzie’s team coupled with its integration into the Thai business community, makes it ‘one of the leading firms for both international arbitration and local disputes work’. The firm recently represented True Corporation in a $260m arbitration against state owned entity TOT relating to its concession agreement. Chirachai Okanurak is ‘practical’, Wynn Pakdeejit’s reputation ‘increases with every passing day’ and Kanit Vallayapet is ‘very experienced’.

Intellectual property

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

Baker & McKenzie has made excellent strides recently to boost its IP capability, under the leadership of key names Dhiraphol Suwanprateep and Say Sujintaya. Highlights on the litigation side include successfully representing Japan’s Tsuburaya Production in a copyright dispute over the ownership of cartoon character Ultraman - the longest running and highest value copyright case ever heard by the Thai IP and International Trade Court. Other clients are Procter & Gamble and Cisco Systems

Projects and energy

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

Baker & McKenzie is a leading name for its ‘wide experience in dealing with PF transactions in Thailand’. In 2008, the firm advised seven international lenders on the $400m project financing of an acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate monomer production facility in Rayong. Sawanee Sethsathira is highly regarded.

Real estate and construction

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

Property finance is a core area for Baker & McKenzie but it has expanded its offering on the construction side, most notably it advised Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction on the $328m construction of a rail link between New Bangkok International Airport and Bangkok Metropolis. Clients praise the team’s ‘market-leading strength in depth’ and ‘unrivalled experience in the Bangkok market’, singling out Anurat Tiyaphorn and Chirachai Okanurak as ‘excellent’.

Restructuring and insolvency

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

Baker & McKenzie specialises in advising borrowers on restructuring mandates and recently advised Deutsche Bank on the $180m reorganisation of TIP Polene PCL. Wynn Pakdeejit is a key figure in the market and Kitipong Urapeepatanapong is also recommended.

TMT

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

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘experienced and diligent’ team advises on the full life cycle of TMT matters, from regulatory advice honed through its active role in the liberalisation of the telecoms market, through to corporate, IT and taxation issues. The firm recently represented True Corporation in a $260m arbitration with state-owned enterprise TOT relating to a concession agreement. Wisit Kanjanopas heads the team.

Tax

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

Baker & McKenzie has a ‘supportive and comprehensive tax practice’ that boasts ‘particular strength on the tax aspects of corporate and project finance transactions’. Highlights for Kitipong Urapeepatanapong’s team include advising Gulf Power Generation on the tax structure on a multi-million dollar power plant project. Real estate, tax disputes and offshore-tax issues are also strong areas.

Thailand overview

Within Legal market overview,

The Thailand legal scene is centred in Bangkok 
and continues to boast a healthy mix 
of international and domestic firms. Baker & McKenzie dominates the market in terms of 
size, with over 100 lawyers. Despite its 
international branding, its long history in Bangkok ensures that it is very much seen as a ‘local’ Thai firm.


What we say worldwide

Please choose another Baker & McKenzie office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Melbourne

Austria

Offices in Vienna

Azerbaijan

Offices in Baku

Belgium

Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich

Egypt

Offices in Cairo

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

Offices in Jakarta

India

Italy

Offices in Rome, Milan, and Bologna

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

Offices in London and London

Libya

Malaysia

Offices in Kuala Lumpur

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

UK Overview

Philippines

Offices in Makati

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Russia

Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Zurich and Geneva

Taiwan

Offices in Taipei

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

US

Offices in Washington DC, Palo Alto, New York, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Houston

Vietnam

Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

  • Tax Reforms Towards the Creation of an International Financial Center in Russia

    In December 2009 the Russian Parliament adopted important changes further promoting the Russian holding companies regime. Starting from January 1, 2011 Russian holding companies will no longer be required to meet the present 500 million ruble threshold for investments made into companies qualifying as “strategic investments” to receive tax benefits.
    - Baker & McKenzie

Legal Developments worldwide

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • The Restructuring Review

    OVERVIEW OF 2008/2009 RESTRUCTURING AND INSOLVENCY
    - Afridi & Angell
  • Labour & Employment

    1 What are the main statutes and regulations relating to employment? The main statutes relating to employment are the Portuguese Employment Code (approved by Law 7/2009 of 12 February 2009) and the Regulation of the Employment Code (Law 35/2004 of 29 July 2004) which is still in force notwithstanding the fact that parts have been revoked with the entry into force of the new Employment Code. Within the Employment Code, the vast majority of the rules are mandatory and, therefore, can only be modified by agreement of the parties and only if such amendment is intended to improve the position or rights of the employees.
    - F. Castelo Branco & Associados
  • Real Estate/ Property/ Infrastructure

    Norms for highway projects pact changed
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Projects, Energy & Natural Resources

    Power
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution

    Case Laws
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Intellectual Property Rights

    Amendments in Information Technology Act, 2000 The Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 has come into force from October 27, 2009. Some key amendments in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) are highlighted below:
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Cross Border Investments & Transactions

     
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Capital Markets/ Securities

    Amendments in (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Trade Laws and WTO Matters

    Certain important and recent legal developments in this area are set out below.
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Taxation – Direct Taxes

    Income-tax (Dispute Resolution Panel) Rules, 2009
    - Seth Dua & Associates