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 1 September, Legal 500 unveiled the third edition of the GC Powerlist: East Africa, in partnership with leading African law firm ENS. Hosted at the Sankara Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, the event brought together many of the region’s most accomplished in-house lawyers to celebrate a distinguished community of legal leaders shaping the future of business across East Africa.
The evening opened with welcoming remarks from Giulio Tomassi Galanti, Business Development Manager at Legal 500, who highlighted the importance of recognising the dynamic growth and increasing sophistication of the East African legal market. He also reflected on the rigorous research and selection process behind the GC Powerlist series, congratulating this year’s honourees for their exceptional contributions to both the legal profession and the organisations they serve.
Following this introduction, Mahesh Acharya, Managing Partner of ENS Kenya, addressed the audience to commend the individuals recognised in the 2026 edition.
The launch of the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 proved a fitting celebration of the region’s leading in-house legal talent. The evening showcased the depth of expertise, influence, and innovation within East Africa’s corporate counsel community, while reaffirming Legal 500’s commitment to recognising and championing its achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this year’s research process and to ENS for once again partnering with Legal 500 to provide a platform that honours these outstanding legal professionals.
On Thursday, 3 September, Legal 500 will host the second launch event celebrating the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. Building on the success of the Nairobi launch, the event will bring together many of region’s most accomplished in-house counsel and senior legal leaders to recognise their achievements and celebrate the continued growth and influence of the region’s corporate legal community.
