Dispute resolution: international arbitration in Thailand
Baker McKenzie LLP
Baker McKenzie LLP advises state owned entities and international corporations on the enforcement of arbitration awards. Kanit Vallayapet co-leads the practice group and acts on disputes resolved through arbitration in relation to insurance claims, administrative disputes and IP matters. Managing partner and co-head Wynn Pakdeejit assists clients on arbitration claims in the telecoms and transportation sectors. Pisut Attakamol is also active on international arbitration matters for domestic and foreign clients on construction and employment disputes.
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Key clients
PTT Group
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
True Move Co., Ltd.
True Corporation PCL
Sompo Japan Nippokoa Reinsurance Co., Ltd.
General Motors (Thailand) Ltd.
AXA Insurance Co., Ltd.
Deutsche Bank AG
Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited
Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited's international arbitration practice includes construction, energy, insurance and commodities dispute work. The firm has ten internationally qualified practitioners and twelve Thai qualified practitioners who act in a range of arbitral institutions. Steven Burkill manages international disputes with experience in London and Asia-based arbitrations relating to oil and gas, power and large-scale projects. Kay Kian Tan is recognised for his representation of multinational corporations in international commercial arbitration. His sector specialisms include international trade, transport and insurance. The 'responsive and intelligent' Alan Polivnick is well practiced in transport and insurance disputes work. Belle Chewprecha moved to Allen & Overy (Thailand) Co, Ltd in July 2020.
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Testimonials
‘Alan Polivnick is clear, responsive, intelligent. I cannot recommend him enough.’
Key clients
Department of Mineral Fuels, Ministry of Energy, Government of Thailand
Louis Dreyfus Commodities
PTT Public Company Limited
Work highlights
- Advising and acting for the Kingdom of Thailand the Ministry of Energy in multi-billion US$ arbitration proceedings relating to decommissioning disputes with oil major concessionaries concerning assets in the Gulf of Thailand.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper's practice has experience of enforcing and defending arbitral awards in all the main centers of arbitration globally. Don Rojanapenkul has a focus on arbitrations involving infrastructure and insurance disputes while managing partner, Peter Shelford has a specialism in insurance and reinsurance cases and also handles anti-corruption cases. Senior Consultant Robert Tang handles a variety of disputes in Southeast Asia including high value arbitrations. His focus is on cross-border energy and construction disputes.
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Testimonials
‘Stellar team. A real force due to their deep experience of multiple industry sectors and arbitration institute rules. Great strategists and always client focused. Handy on enforcement action.’
‘Peter Shelford is highly regarded. He is very commercial and always has ideas to bring parties together when needed. Also very user friendly and responsive. A strong advocate.’
‘Robert Tang is technically strong and very responsive. He has a great ability to explain complex matters to a tribunal in an understandable way. Good eye for details. Fantastic strategist.’
Key clients
AIG
Allied World Assurance Co., Ltd.
Blue Lotus Hua-Hin (Thailand) Co., Ltd; Blue Lotus Construction Co., Ltd.
Chubb
Diebold Nixdorf
Dhipaya Insurance
GLH Asset Management Corporation
Harsco Metals (Thailand) Co., Ltd. / Harsco Corporation
HKR International (Thailand) Limited
Nacap Asia Pacific (Thailand) Co., Ltd./Koop Holding B.V.
Work highlights
- Acted as counsel for NACAP (now bankrupt) and its Official Receiver in relation to two arbitrations and enforcing both arbitrations against PTT, a Thai state owned enterprise in the Thai Courts. Each claim worth roughly THB2 billion.
- Acting as lead counsel in relation to a complex multiparty arbitration dispute concerning the construction of Suvarnabhumi airport. Resolved numerous procedural issues in relation to multiparty proceedings, expert evidence and nomination of an arbitrator before the Thai Court.
- Acting for a US oil and gas company in ICC arbitration proceedings arising out of a gas sales agreement in Thailand.
Herbert Smith Freehills (Thailand) Limited
Herbert Smith Freehills (Thailand) Limited has offices across Southeast Asia in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, so providing a strong international arbitration practice. Chinnawat Thongpakdee and Warathorn Wongsawangsiri represent Thai and foreign clients in matters relating to joint ventures and foreign investments in Thailand. Managing partner of the firm in Kuala Lumpur Peter Godwin heads up the firm's disputes practice across Asia while Alastair Henderson leads the international arbitration practice across the region. He manages oil and gas, infrastructure and construction cases.
Practice head(s):
Chinnawat Thongpakdee; Alastair Henderson; Peter Godwin; Warathorn Wongsawangsiri
Testimonials
‘Chinnawat Thongpakdee is an excellent lawyer, especially very level-headed, very impressive and extremely bright, and he is able to see the big picture and also retain details at the same time. He has a deep and accurate knowledge of laws and litigation/arbitration process in Thailand, and he has the great ability to identify what is essential to win the case. In addition, he understands our perspective and desires very well.’
‘Warathorn Wongsawangsiri has extensive experience representing clients in Thailand and international disputes in relation to various industries and he has the great ability to identify what is essential to win the case. Additionally, he understands our perspective and desires very well.’
‘Amornwit Phesprasert is very diligent and hardworking, with a depth of legal knowledge. Additionally, he understands our perspective and desires very well, too.’
Tilleke & Gibbins
Tilleke & Gibbins acts for a range of international corporations across Asia in a variety of disputes including shipping, construction, energy, and infrastructure cases. Noppramart Thammateeradaycho is an established practitioner with years of experience in international arbitration, especially the handling of maritime insurance claims. He is co-leading the group with John Frangos who is active on compliance and aviation investigations while Michael Ramirez, also acting as co-lead, is present on cases involving product liability and employment matters.
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Key clients
AIG
Amec Foster Wheeler
Essilor International
General Motors
High Hope Zhongding Corporation
Honda
Insultec International
Lonsin Capital
Stanley Works
Stryker Corporation
Work highlights
- Representing Insultec International in an arbitration following a lengthy dispute over allegations of defective insulation equipment supplied to an LNG project in Australia.
- Acting for a party in the enforcement of a THB40 million international arbitral award against a Thai counterparty.
- Representing the Asia Pacific branch of a world-leading multinational in pursuing claims involving damaged cargo and an allegedly faulty vessel.
Weerawong, Chinnavat & Partners
Weerawong, Chinnavat & Partners has broad expertise at the TAI, HKIAC, SIAC and UNCITRAL centers, handling both the defence and enforcement of arbitral disputes. Its sector experience includes the automotive, aviation, and construction and engineering areas, in addition to anti-corruption cases. Phisit Dejchaiyasak leads the team and has experience of acting for Thai conglomerates, including telecoms and insurance clients in disputes. Warathorn Wongsawangsiri has left the practice and joined Herbert Smith Freehills (Thailand) Limited in August 2019.
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