Thailand 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Department head: international legal and intellectual property | Boon Rawd Brewery
General counsel and assistant general manager | Isuzu Motors Asia Thailand
HomeCare Greater Asia general counsel and general counsel Thailand | Unilever Thai Trading
General counsel, head of legal, legal department | Citibank Bangkok Branch
Director, legal and compliance | Pandora Production Company
Associate vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary | Coca-Cola ThaiNamthip
Associate general counsel, Southeast Asia | Facebook (Thailand)
Corporate legal director, group legal | Thoresen Thai Agencies
Rising Star
Senior executive vice president, head legal and compliance | CIMB Thai Bank
Vice president legal and member of country leadership team | DKSH Thailand
Chief commercial officer and general counsel | Minor International
Senior managing counsel - product legal (global) | Agoda
Rising Star
Assistant vice president, legal and compliance | SHERA
Chief corporate officer and executive assistant to CEO | Gunkul Engineering
Senior legal manager | PepsiCo Services Asia
Head of litigation and regulations department | True Corporation
Chief compliance officer and general manager of legal department | Mitsubishi Company Thailand
Senior vice president – general counsel and data protection officer | Thai Group Holdings
Department manager, legal department | Ajinomoto Thailand
Executive vice president, head of compliance | Siam Commercial Bank
Assistant vice president, office of legal affairs | Thai Beverage
Vice president and head of legal | TCC Assets Thailand
Executive vice president, legal and international projects | Thoresen Group
Head of business laws counselling | Asset World Corporation
Senior vice president, office of corporate legal | Global Power Synergy
Senior vice president, chief corporate and legal affairs officer | Amadeus
Vice chairman and chief executive officer | Super Energy Corporation
Head of legal, compliance and risk management APAC | Limagrain Thailand
Deputy head of legal and compliance group | Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group
Manager, legal and compliance department | Kao Industrial Thailand
General manager, compliance management and legal | Mercedes-Benz
Deputy head of division, head of legal department and data protection officer | ICBC
Senior executive vice president, office of general counsel | PTT
Executive vice president, corporate affairs and acting chief corporate management officer | Prime Road Power
Vice president, legal and compliance, company secretary | Major Development
Company secretary and head of legal, compliance and international tax | Thai Union Group
Senior executive vice president, head of legal affairs division and company secretary | The Stock Exchange of Thailand
Commercial legal lead | LINE Company Thailand
Rising Star
First vice president, legal | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
Country head of legal and secretariat, and data protection officer | UOB United Overseas Bank (Thai)
Vice president, senior lawyer, utilities and infrastructure law division | Siam Commercial Bank
Producing the Thailand GC Powerlist has undoubtedly been one of the highlights of each year since I worked on our first edition back in 2023. As well as the undeniable qualities of the GCs and other leading in-house lawyers profiled in the country, it has been a pleasure to experience the enthusiasm, friendliness and candour those I have spoken to while researching each edition.
Getting input from such a wide range of the world’s top in-house counsel allows us at Legal 500 to report on some of the trends facing the community, whether these are common to wide geographical areas or specific to the country in which they operate. Athicha Vuttiviroj, Country legal head of Novartis Thailand, spoke about a trend that she feels that the wider business world is quickly optimising operations, with GCs at the forefront of this:
‘The business landscape is evolving towards leaner organisations that prioritise productivity and efficiency for sustainable operations. This transformation often involves streamlining work processes and reorganising to eliminate redundancies. In this context, the role of in-house counsel is crucial, supporting the business in achieving its efficiency objectives while maintaining legal integrity, effective risk management, and long-term sustainability. Given Thailand’s pro-employee labor laws, it is challenging to justify the need for transformation when the company is not making loss. In-house lawyers must collaborate closely with relevant teams to ensure fair selection processes and compliance with statutory severance payments for affected employees. Additionally, they should manage the overall exit experience to minimise the risk of impacted employees bringing the case to labor court, which could incur significant legal fees and manpower costs.’
On the AI angle, Visitsak Arunsuratpakdee, head of litigation and regulations at True Corporation spoke about the continuing lack of regulation regarding the now common use of AI by corporations:
‘The rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the current absence of specific laws governing its use are the topics that have most drawn my attention. As we continue to integrate AI into various aspects of our operations, it is crucial to consider how we manage and utilize data to stay compliant with future legislation. One of the primary concerns is the extent to which we can use data without infringing upon future laws. This includes safeguarding trade secrets, managing personal data responsibly, and establishing internal policies that align with the increasing use of AI. As we navigate this dynamic landscape, it is essential to remain vigilant and proactive in our approach to AI governance and data management.’
Wanchanit Sa-Nguanwong, General Counsel of ride-sharing app Grabtaxi Thailand spoke about the emergence of a new employment sector that is likely to assume ever-greater importance: that of the gig economy workers:
‘One of the most significant trends I have observed over the past year is the growing importance and scrutiny of the Gig Economy, particularly the role of riders, who are central to the growth of digital platforms. The rise of the digital economy has given birth to a new service segment that reflects freelance characteristics and challenges traditional employment models. This evolving landscape raises several important legal and regulatory questions. Firstly, what is the most appropriate regulatory framework for the Gig Economy, given its hybrid nature, blending elements of both employment and freelance work? Secondly, how can we design fair and practical regulations that consider the interests of all stakeholders, including service platforms and consumers?’
As always, massive congratulations to everyone who made it on to the list this year, especially those who are appearing for the second or even third time. There were a lot of very talented corporate counsel who unfortunately did not make it onto the list this year, so those of you included have achieved extremely impressive things to get here.
Joe Boswell
Global Editor – GC Powerlist
Legal 500
On Tuesday, Legal 500 had the pleasure of welcoming this year’s cohort to the GC Powerlist Spain 2026 launch event in Madrid: an evening celebrating the country’s in-house excellence shaping the legal landscape of today and tomorrow.
The evening, hosted in partnership with DLA Piper, brought together at Club Matador some of the most renowned names in the Spanish in-house legal market. This year’s reception welcomed senior in-house professionals from across industries, representing some of the most prominent companies in the country.
Carmen Godoy, lead editor of this edition of the GC Powerlist: Spain at The Legal 500, opened the evening by addressing more than 100 corporate legal professionals in attendance. In her remarks, Godoy highlighted how the research revealed Spain’s in-house legal community to be increasingly strategic and forward-looking. General counsel are evolving into key business partners, embracing innovation with pragmatism while providing resilience and stability in uncertain environments. With a strong focus on governance, compliance, sustainability, and leadership, these findings reflect a community that is strategic, innovative, and deeply human.
Following Godoy, Francisco Cerezo and César Herrero, managing partners of DLA Piper and hosts of the evening, addressed the audience, highlighting the importance of promoting spaces for exchange and recognition within the in-house legal community shaping modern business.
After their remarks, Carmen Godoy and David Freeman, on behalf of The Legal 500, proceeded with the certificate ceremony, during which each Powerlister was invited to the stage to collect their certificate.
This year’s GC Powerlist event in Madrid served as an excellent opportunity for awardees to connect and exchange reflections with their professional peers and the Legal 500 team.
On behalf of the entire team at The Legal 500, we extend our warmest congratulations to all those included in this edition of the GC Powerlist: Spain. You stand as an example of the talent, leadership, and vision driving the evolution of the general counsel role in the country.
We would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to DLA Piper, our sponsor, for joining us in recognising the exceptional talent driving progress across Spain’s legal profession. And, of course, to each of the honourees who shared their time and insights with us. It has been a privilege to share your stories and celebrate the enduring impact you make every day.
