As he prepares to step down, Sahachai Wibuloutai reflects on the hard-fought journey of establishing the Thai Corporate Counsel Association (THAI-CCA) and shares his hopes for the next chapter under co-founder Visitsak Arunsuratpakdee, who will assume the presidency in January 2026.
Wibuloutai is a member of the country leadership team at DKSH Thailand and currently serves as the cluster head of legal for mainland Southeast Asia, overseeing legal operations across multiple jurisdictions.
He is also the founding president of the THAI-CCA, the first national corporate counsel association in Thailand, which he has led for the past three years.
Asia Business Law Journal spoke with Wibuloutai about the early challenges of building the THAI-CCA from the ground up, the milestones achieved along the way and his hopes as he prepares to hand over the reins.
Asia Business Law Journal: Looking back at the journey of the THAI-CCA, what were some of the key challenges you faced in the initial stages and how did you overcome them?
Sahachai Wibuloutai: When I first had the idea of creating a community for in-house lawyers in Thailand, there was … nothing. No roadmap, no structure, no funding, and frankly no assurance that the legal community would even engage. I started everything from scratch – alone with my laptop, drafting founding principles at midnight after long days at work, juggling multiple roles from event organiser to brand designer to speaker.
The early days were emotionally taxing. Many lawyers were sceptical. Some dismissed it as “just another idea”. Getting people to believe in something intangible was the hardest part. But I pressed on – not because I had to, but because I believed we needed this. And slowly, others began to believe too.
ABLJ: As you prepare to hand over your leadership role at the THAI-CCA, what are your hopes and expectations for the incoming leadership team starting in 2026?
Wibuloutai: I’m proud to say we’re no longer just an idea. We’re an institution recognised by the global legal community. In the past three years, the THAI-CCA has achieved milestones that once felt out of reach.
In February 2023, with the support of co-presidents Renita Castra and Daniel Choo of the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association, we were welcomed as the seventh country member of the Asia-Pacific Corporate Counsel Alliance, placing Thai voices at the regional table for the first time.
We also brought Legal 500’s GC Powerlist to Thailand, transforming it into an annual celebration of our legal community that honours the country’s top in-house legal talent.
We’ve hosted countless seminars, networking events and legal conferences, creating spaces for collaboration, learning and community. Just recently, in April 2025, we signed a landmark memorandum of understanding with the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association, cementing our commitment to cross-border partnership and knowledge-sharing.
These weren’t just checkboxes – they were turning points. They showed our members that we weren’t just dreaming big. We were doing big.
As I pass the torch to my co-founder, Visitsak Arunsuratpakdee, a legal director at True Corporation – someone who’s walked this journey with me from the very beginning – I feel nothing but confidence. My hope for the new leadership is to continue nurturing the spirit of inclusion, regional connectivity and professional excellence. I hope they remain fearless and generous – just as this community has taught me to be.
ABLJ: Looking ahead, what is your vision for the THAI-CCA’s future and how do you envision its progression under new leadership?
Wibuloutai: The foundation we’ve built is solid. Now it’s time to scale in both reach and impact.
I envision the THAI-CCA growing into a true regional thought leader, helping shape legal governance across Asia and beyond. I see us building deeper bridges with regulators, universities, industry leaders and corporate counsel associations across the region – not just to discuss legal issues, but to shape the future of corporate ethics and legal innovation.
More importantly, I want the THAI-CCA to remain a place where every in-house lawyer based in Thailand feels seen, whether they’re in a multinational in Bangkok or a local company in Phuket. We’ve built a home, and now it’s time to open more doors.
Along with founding members Chitanong Poomipark (the chief legal officer at Dusit Group), Maprang Sombatthai (a legal director at Line Thailand), John Cordova (APAC general counsel at Delivery Hero), Ard Sakuntanakalap (general counsel at Lentara Group), and Bhakaphol Suraponpichaisakul (legal counsel at Sea Thailand), we will remain on the board to help guide this next chapter, but this is a moment for new voices to rise. And I’m excited to see where they will lead.
ABLJ: Is there a closing message you’d like to leave with our readers?
Wibuloutai: I often say the THAI-CCA was born not from privilege or power, but from purpose. In the darkest moments, when I was running this organisation alone, unsure if anyone would show up, it was the purpose (creating value for corporate legal departments and enriching the lives of corporate counsel) that carried me through.
To founding members, sponsoring law firms and everyone who gave their time, encouragement, or even just a word of support – thank you. This isn’t just my story. It’s our story.
And to the next generation of legal leaders across Thailand: You’re not starting from zero. You’re starting from a community built on love, trust and the quiet power of believing in one another.
