Team Size: Nine

What are the most significant cases, projects or transactions that you and/or your legal team have recently been involved in?

Over the past year, our legal and compliance team at Bitazza has spearheaded several initiatives that highlight the evolving challenges in the digital finance sector. One of our key achievements was the development of an internal transaction monitoring tool that flags suspicious activities in real-time. This tool has already identified thousands of high-risk accounts, significantly enhanced our anti-money laundering (AML) efforts and improved compliance efficiency.

Additionally, we played an active role in national efforts to combat money laundering and cybercrime. Collaborating with Thai regulators, we ensured our practices aligned with new regulations, while our partnership with international law enforcement led to the successful dismantling of mule account networks. These cross-border initiatives have strengthened our commitment to global financial transparency.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

Our approach to navigating crises is rooted in agility, clarity, and proactive planning. We prioritise collaboration with leadership and operational teams to make informed, timely decisions based on thorough legal risk assessments. Crisis playbooks and contingency plans are integral to our preparedness, enabling us to respond effectively to regulatory changes or cybersecurity threats.

Transparent communication is another cornerstone of our strategy—both internally, to align stakeholders, and externally, to maintain trust with regulators and partners. Beyond mitigating legal risks, we view disruptions as opportunities to enhance governance frameworks and reinforce long-term organisational resilience.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

Modern in-house counsel must go beyond being legal advisors; we must act as strategic, business-minded partners. While strong legal expertise is essential, equally important are commercial awareness, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the industry. The ability to translate complex legal issues into actionable business advice is critical.

Embracing technology is also vital—leveraging AI and analytics to optimise legal operations and manage risks. Furthermore, communication skills and emotional intelligence are indispensable for fostering collaboration across teams and building trust at all levels. The most effective in-house counsel anticipate risks, guide innovation, and support sustainable growth.

We are currently living through a time of geopolitical change, and the world order that we have come to take for granted for many years is being rewritten. Does this affect your company’s risk profile and, if so, what are you doing to mitigate this?

The shifting geopolitical landscape has undoubtedly impacted our risk profile, particularly in areas such as data privacy, sanctions compliance, and cross-border operations. As a digital asset platform, we continuously monitor global developments and adapt our compliance strategies accordingly.

To mitigate risks, we have invested in regulatory intelligence tools, strengthened our legal frameworks, and engaged proactively with regulators to stay ahead of potential disruptions. Agility and foresight are now central to our approach in managing legal risks in an increasingly complex world.

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about? Why is this?

I am deeply passionate about advancing financial inclusion through technology. In Southeast Asia, many individuals remain underserved by traditional financial systems. Blockchain technology has the potential to democratise access, reduce costs, and empower communities.

As a legal professional, I am committed to creating safe, inclusive frameworks that enable this vision – balancing innovation with consumer protection and ethical growth.