Labour and employment in Thailand
Baker McKenzie advises on contentious and non-contentious labour and employment matters, including compliance, complex business restructuring matters, and employment litigation.'Outstanding' practice head Suriyong Tungsuwan has three decades of experience in labour and employment matters such as executive compensation, employee benefits, labour relations and outsourcing. Pisut Attakamol focuses on employment disputes in the Thai labour courts, and Chaiporn Supvoranid has experience in labour union disputes, corporate compliance work, and fraud investigations. Associate Nam-Ake Lekfuangfu is noted for his work in immigration and gender pay gap issues.
Practice head(s):
Suriyong Tungsuwan
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Bangkok Airways
Tilleke & Gibbins handles contentious issues including employment claims and labour relations disputes, and also advises on non-contentious matters such as immigration, commercial transactions relating to labour expansion, and employment regulations. The team is jointly headed by Chusert Supasitthumrong, who has experience in multiparty employment disputes in the Labour Court and Supreme Court of Thailand, and Pimvimol Vipamaneerut, who focuses on HR-related work, labour relations, and workers compensation.
Practice head(s):
Pimvimol Vipamaneerut; Chusert Supasitthumrong
Key clients
Amec Foster Wheeler
Dell Computers
Hyundai Heavy Industries
Lenovo Computers
Microsoft Thailand
Mitsubishi Thailand
Reuters
United Overseas Bank
UPS
R & T Asia (Thailand) Limited has wide-ranging expertise in employment disputes and regulatory concerns, with a particular expertise in employment matters involving alleged misconduct, corruption and fraud. In addition, data privacy and protection have become increasingly important generators of work for the practice group. The team is headed by Sui Lin Teoh, who has experience advising domestic and international companies on employment matters. Ittichai Prasongprasit focuses on Labour Court work with disputes concerning labour unions, strikes and lock-outs, and Supawat Srirungruang advises on regulatory compliance and anti-bribery matters.
Practice head(s):
Teoh Sui Lin
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Sermsuk PCL
Work highlights
- Represented Sermsuk in labour court proceedings with regards to unfair dismissal claims brought by ex-employers.
Siam Premier International Law Office Limited's labour and employment practice represents domestic and foreign employers in both contentious and non-contentious matters. The team is led by Rawat Chomsri a labour and industrial relations expert, who has extensive experience in the Thai Labour Court, and is regularly instructed by corporates to advise on contract drafting and reviews of work regulations. Sumit Masrungson handles labour and employment disputes for public and private sector clients, and associate rising star Phatcharapon Sunlakawit is also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Rawat Chomsri
Other key lawyers:
Sumit Masrungson
Key clients
Isuzu Motors (Thailand)
Siemens Limited (Thailand)
Suzuki Motors (Thailand)
Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited assists its corporate client base with employment contracts and labour compliance, and also handles claims in the Thai Labour Court. Alan Polivnick has a reputation for advising foreign shareholders and international corporates on employment matters, having recently acted for Gulf Air Company in an update of its HR manual to bring it in line with Thai and Bahraini law. Also recommended are Christopher Osborne, who has experience in transactional and other non-contentious labour and employment matters, and Ratthakarn Boonnua, who has acted for both employers and employees in the energy and insurance sectors on a variety of matters.
Practice head(s):
Ratthakarn Boonnua; Alan Polivnick
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very capable in Thai employment law, kept us well informed of the proceedings. Much better than many of the firms used in the past.’
‘Very good communication skills and talented lawyers, felt comfortable that we were in good hands throughout our legal dispute.’
Key clients
Gulf Air Company B.S.C.
IDP Education
Teekay Shipping
The Cabin Chiang Mai
Vision-Ease (Lens) Thailand
Work highlights
- Reviewed, revised and updated the HR manual for Gulf Air’s employees which involved addressing divergences between Thai law, company policy and Bahraini law.
The team at DLA Piper (Thailand) Limited specialises in cross-border employment matters, investigations, data privacy issues and disputes. Disputes specialist Peter Shelford co-heads the department alongside Dusadee Jittasaiyapan, who assisted Virgin Active Health Clubs with the drafting and revision of its employment services contracts, and also advises the client on work rules requirements in Thailand. Counsel Komson Suntheeraporn represents clients in labour court proceedings, and senior associate Pattama Jarupunphol has advised on issues ranging from immigration, to employee transfers and working conditions.
Practice head(s):
Peter Shelford; Dusadee Jittasaiyapan
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Netflix
Bayer AG
General MIlls
Etihad Aviation Group
Virgin Active Health Clubs
HCL Technologies
Burberry
Work highlights
- Assisting LivaNova in preparing the documents and advising on laws relating to the employment transfers as per the local asset acquisition deal.
- Assisting a US based research institute with employment queries.
- Advised Burberry on employment-related issues and assisted in drafting related agreements and documentation.
- Advised Taboola (Thailand) on the transfer of employee together with the transferred businesses.
- Advised Etihad on the Thai labour and employment law. Etihad was conducting some orientation session as part of the recruitment of airline staff in South East Asia. Our Thailand-based team advised on the legal restriction on conducting the labour recruitment in Thailand.
ZICO Law's Thai practice group handles HR management, employment agreements, and disputes. Threenuch Bunruangthaworn advises on compliance with Thai labour laws, employment termination and disputes, and Archaree Suppakrucha provides ongoing advisory support to foreign and domestic companies.
Practice head(s):
Threenuch Bunruangthaworn; Archaree Suppakrucha
Key clients
Lumileds
Work highlights
- Providing legal and regulatory advice on requirements and restriction on fixed term labour contract provision under Thai law.