Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited > Bangkok, Thailand > Firm Profile

Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited
93/1 UNIT 902, 9F GPF WITTHAYU TOWER B
WIRELESS ROAD, PATHUMWAN
BANGKOK 10330
Thailand

Thailand > Dispute resolution: international arbitration Tier 1

Praised as ‘the pre-eminent international arbitration practice in Thailand’, Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited works across several industry sectors, but stands out for its expertise in transport, energy and real estate, and is well-placed to leverage the firm’s international network to advise on multi-jurisdictional cases, with procedural knowledge in Bangkok, Dubai, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Singapore, and Sydney. Practice leader Steven Burkill has demonstrable experience in London and Asia-based arbitrations, involving oil and gas, power and large-scale projects, and has sat as an arbitrator in the ICC, SIAC and TAI. The team also counts on the expertise of Kay Kian Tan, who acts for clients across the power and energy, international trade, transport and insurance sectors, and Ratthakarn Boonnua, who ‘has a sizeable international arbitration practice’.

Practice head(s):

Steven Burkill

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘WFW Thailand provide an outstanding dispute resolution service in international arbitration.’

‘International partners and associates specialise in dispute resolution, both regional and global. WFW Thailand is the pre-eminent international arbitration practice in Thailand.’

‘Steven Burkill and Kay Kian Tan head the office, both are excellent and provide deep understanding of Thai and SE Asian dispute resolution matters.’

‘Ratthakarn Boonnua is the senior Thai qualified partner. He has a sizeable international arbitration practice and a vibrant Thai Court commercial practice.’

‘The team is excellent. Their main streights are being able to understand complicated cases, and lay out the right and appropriate strategy for it.’

‘One of WFW Thailand’s competencies is its wealth of experience in litigation matters.’

‘Steven Burkill is our main contact partner and I have known him for over 20 years, during which time he has consistently proven his capabilities with the same high level of engagement.’

Key clients

Antanium Resources Pte Ltd

Department of Mineral Fuels, Ministry of Energy, Government of Thailand

PTT Public Company Limited

Work highlights

  • Acting for the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Energy in a multi-billion US dollar arbitration, relating to decommissioning disputes with oil major concessionaries concerning assets in the Gulf of Thailand.
  • Acting for Antanium/the Rhodium Group in an HKIAC arbitration against IBK.

Thailand > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Noted for its domestic and international capability, Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited’s dispute resolution team handles a broad range of multi-jurisdictional disputes, with notable expertise across the energy, real estate and transport sectors. Steven Burkill, who advises on UK and Asia-based arbitrations concerning large-scale power and oil and gas projects, jointly leads the ‘attentive’ team alongside Ratthakarn Boonnua and Kay Kian Tan. Boonnua’s expertise covers contentious international trade matters, commercial disputes and business crime litigation, while Tan specialises in the power and energy disputes, transport mandates and insurance claims.

Practice head(s):

Steven Burkill; Kay Kian Tan; Ratthakarn Boonnua

Testimonials

‘Direct and to the point. The team provides legal advice with a commercial edge.’

‘They try to understand the client’s concerns and help explore all possible solutions in a short period of time.’

‘Very good grasp on what we hoped to achieve and exhibited a clear understanding on the specifics and legal issues involved in our case.’

Key clients

AIG

Expacare Insurance

PTT Public Company Limited

Work highlights

  • Representing PTT Public Company Limited, the Thai state-owned and SET-listed oil and gas company, in a Supreme Court hearing in front of Lord Hodge, Lady Arden, Lord Sales, Lord Leggatt and Lord Burrows.

Thailand > Transport Tier 1

Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited has demonstrable expeirence across the aviation, automotive and maritime sectors, and frequently acts for freight-forwarders and logistic companies on contentious and non-contentious matters, as well as regulatory issues. The team has seen an increase in aviation-related work, such as handling domestic and cross-border issues, in addition to high-end disputes and commercial contracts, and advises on a range of structures and commercial relationships between foreign investors and Thai airlines. Sydney-based Alan Polivnick jointly leads the team alongside Kay Kian Tan, who specialises in international trade and shipping disputes. Key clients include Genesis Aircraft Services, Groupe ADP and Keos Aviation UK Limited, among others.

Practice head(s):

Alan Polivnick; Kay Kian Tan

Key clients

Agoda Company Pte Ltd

AIG

ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Co KS

Genesis Aircraft Services Limited

Groupe ADP

KEOS Aviation UK Limited

MUFG Bank Ltd

Thailand > Insurance Tier 2

Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited’s team is jointly led by Kay Kian Tan, who advises international insurance and reinsurance companies in tort and breach of contract claims before the civil and administrative courts, and Alan Polivnick, who operates from the firm's Sydney office. The practice works domestically and internationally, advising insurers and reinsurers on claims across various sectors, including hotel and hospitality, as well as construction and logistics. The team counts AIG, Expacare Insurance and King Wai Insurance Public Company Limited among its key roster of clients.

Practice head(s):

Kay Kian Tan; Alan Polivnick

Key clients

Agoda Company Pte Ltd

AIG

Expacare Insurance

King Wai Insurance Public Company Limited

Priceline.com LLC

ZA Tech Global Limited

Thailand > Projects and energy Tier 2

Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited focuses its work on renewable energy, advising developers on wind, solar and waste to energy power projects. The team provides both English and Thai law advice, and supports clients throughout the entire business lifecycle of renewable energy projects, from corporate structures to construction procurements. The practice is led by Christopher Osborne, who advises on all stages of energy projects, including regulatory issues and site due diligence matters, and Steven Burkill, who is a key contact for renewable energy disputes.

Practice head(s):

Christopher Osborne; Steven Burkill

Key clients

CNES

Department of Mineral Fuels, Ministry of Energy, Government of Thailand

PTT Public Company Limited

Wind Energy Holdings

Work highlights

  • Advising Wind Energy Holdings on wind turbine supply agreements and operations and maintenance agreements and solar rooftop developers on EPC Contracts and Corporate PPAs.
  • Advising CNES on the expansion of rooftop solar projects in Thailand.
  • Advising the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Energy in a multi-billion US dollar arbitration, relating to decommissioning disputes with oil concessionaires concerning assets in the Gulf of Thailand.

Thailand > Labour and employment Tier 3

Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited’s cross-practice group advises its roster of clients on employment contracts, labour compliance issues, redundancy programs, as well as defending employers and employees against claims in the Labour Court. The team is led by Ratthakarn Boonnua, who represents clients across the maritime, insurance and energy sectors in employment disputes, and Christopher Osborne, who focuses on matters concerning employee share option plans, terms of employment and redundancy programs.

Practice head(s):

Ratthakarn Boonnua; Christopher Osborne

Thailand > Real estate and construction Tier 3

Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited’s multidisciplinary practice advises on domestic real estate investments and cross-border transactions, in addition to representing clients in construction and engineering disputes across a range of industries, including the energy sector. Christopher Osborne leads the team and handles due diligence issues relating to energy projects and construction developments, while Kay Kian Tan focuses on construction disputes. Senior associate Lyle Andrews is another key contact in the group.

Practice head(s):

Christopher Osborne

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Watson Farley & Williams’ Bangkok office is a market leader in the region for international arbitration in energy, oil and gas, renewables, power, utilities and infrastructure project disputes.’

Key clients

AIG

Airbnb Singapore Private Limited

Oxford University

Strabag

Work highlights

  • Acting for the University of Oxford in the construction of a medical facility in Tak province, Thailand.
  • Advising Strabag on the sale of its railway sleeper factory in Thailand.
  • Advised a high-net-worth investor on the acquisition of a THB170 million residential apartment at the Four Seasons branded residence in Bangkok.

Thailand > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited has demonstrable capability in insolvency proceedings, in addition to debt restructuring and reorganisation mandates, and advises foreign creditors on restructurings in the aviation sector. Christopher Osborne leads the team and has experience acting for Thai companies on the commencement of rehabilitation debt restructuring proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court.

Practice head(s):

Christopher Osborne

Key clients

ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Co.

Genesis Aircraft Services Limited

Groupe ADP

KEOS Aviation UK Limited

Thailand > TMT Tier 3

Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited acts for film production, telecoms and technology companies on regulatory issues and commercial agreements, with a particular focus in the fintech sector. The team, which is noted for its capability in handling contentious matters, is led by Christopher Osborne, who focuses on technology transactions, while Sydney-based Alan Polivnick handles commercial, employment and regulatory mandates in the TMT sector.

Practice head(s):

Christopher Osborne

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Agoda Company Pte Ltd

Airbnb Singapore Private Limited

King Wai Insurance Public Company Limited

Lending multinational technology corporation

Mycronic AB

Priceline.com LLC

ZA Tech Global Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised ZA Tech Global Limited on its acquisition of shares in GoBear Insurance Broker (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
  • Advised Agoda on the expansion of their online accommodation and flights booking platform for accommodation and flights packages in over 20 initial Asia-Pacific/Middle Eastern jurisdictions.

Thailand > Banking and finance Tier 4

Counting foreign banks, private equity firms and multinational companies among its key roster of clients, Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited’s corporate and finance practice is led by Christopher Osborne, who focuses on project financing matters and is noted for his expertise in the renewable energy sector. The practice also has experience across the aviation and technology sectors.

Practice head(s):

Christopher Osborne

Key clients

CNES (Christiani & Nielsen Energy Solutions)

MUFG Bank Ltd

Thailand > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

Counting M&As and joint ventures in its workload, Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited is well-placed to collaborate with the firm’s Hanoi, Hong Kong and Singapore offices to advise on cross-border transactions. Practice leader Christopher Osborne and Piyanuj (Lui) Ratprasatporn handle compliance matters in relation to clients’ corporate and commercial operations in Thailand, in addition to foreign direct investments. The team, which has experience across the energy, real estate, TMT and transport sectors, also counts on the expertise of senior associate Kasma Visitkitjakarn.

Practice head(s):

Christopher Osborne

Key clients

Guardforce AI

Mycronic AB

Oxford University

Pin An Medicare Management Co., (Hong Kong) Limited

Rifeng Enterprise Group Co., Ltd

RR Donnelley

Strabag

Thunder Oilfield Services

Work highlights

  • Advised Thunder Oilfield Services on its proposed company restructuring.
  • Advised Guardforce AI on its NASDQ underwritten public offering and up-listing.
  • Acted for the University of Oxford in the construction of a medical facility in Tak province, Thailand.

Dedicated to client care, industry focus and investment in our people
We are a sector specialist international law firm in the energy, transport and infrastructure sectors advising on complex transactions and disputes through local knowledge and an integrated international network.

Our business exists to help our clients achieve their goals, partnering with them to meet the challenges they face today and will face tomorrow.

Our values rest on developing deep and long-lasting relationships externally and internally through respect, sharing, communication and integrity.

We strive for excellence in all that we do and view investment in our people as key to achieving our business goals and values.

Our teams are integrated across legal disciplines and offices delivering consistently high levels of service locally and in combination across borders.

History: Sector focus has been at the heart of our strategy since we opened for business in 1982.  Having started life as an asset finance boutique focussing on the maritime and aviation industries, our transport focus quickly expanded to other supply-chain led industries, most notably, renewable and conventional energy and infrastructure across these industries.

Through our offices around the world, we provide a full suite of services within our core sectors enabling us to deliver exceptional value to our clients.

Facts

  • Founded 1982
  • 175+ partners
  • 650+ lawyers
  • 19 offices

Senior Partner: George Paleokrassas
Managing Partner: Lindsey Keeble

Global Sector Heads:
Aviation: 
Jim Bell, Charles Viggers
Energy: Malte Jordan, Henry Stewart
Infrastructure: Florian Kutzbach and Jose Maria Anarte
Maritime: George Macheras, George Paleokrassas
Mining & Commodities: Jan Mellmann
Oil & Gas: Chris Kilburn

PhotoNamePositionProfile
Ratthakarn Boonnua photo Ratthakarn BoonnuaRatthakarn has served as lead trial lawyer in high profile multi-jurisdictional cases…
Steven Burkill photo Steven BurkillSteven specialises in complex international disputes, in particular, London and Asia-based arbitrations…
Kay Kian Tan photo Kay Kian TanKay Kian specialises in the energy, maritime and insurance sectors, where he…
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