Rising Stars: Thailand law firms

In the first of a new series identifying the movers and shakers that are making waves in legal markets around the region, Putro Harnowo looks at the outstanding work of Thai law firms on the rise

Thailand is a vibrant legal market thanks to the country’s economy, the second-largest in Southeast Asia and a significant player in the region’s cross-border supply chain. It is a busy and competitive legal market with a healthy mix of established local firms, leading global names and up-and-coming ones that are challenging the status quo.

Asia Business Law Journal’s inaugural Rising Stars series turns to Thailand’s legal market to shine a light on the challenger firms that are carving out a name for themselves.

In this time of uncertainty following the covid-19 pandemic, and as international markets remain highly volatile, Thailand has been a relatively bright spot. The first quarter of the year was busy with a few notable IPOs and M&A deals, and the firms in our list of Rising Stars have been playing an increasingly important role in these deals.

However, not all of our rising stars are new or boutique firms. Some of them have proven their prowess and have been around for decades, but are still making a mark with their innovative spirit. Others have either built a reputation in their specialty areas or have cemented their place with high-quality legal counsel and teams of experienced lawyers.

Encompassing all of this talent, Asia Business Law Journal presents “Rising Stars: Thailand” to honour the country’s law firms that are on their way to becoming undisputed market leaders.

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Founded in 2013 by a legal team with more than 20 years’ experience, The Capital Law Office focuses on capital markets, corporate and M&A, and corporate governance within Thailand and Southeast Asia. Earlier this year, the five-partner firm made a breakthrough by advising Thailand’s largest retailer, Central Retail Corporation (CRC), in the country’s largest IPO to date with THB78.1 billion (US$2.52 billion).

“The Capital Law Office should be a rising star in respect of capital market fields, [with the firm’s] recent IPO for Central Group,” says Passawan Navanithikul, partner at Weerawong, Chinnavat & Partners. Central Group is one of Thailand’s major conglomerates and CRC is a subsidiary.

“The Capital Law Office, and Kudun & Partners, have quite strong teams of lawyers and good Thai clientele,” says Jessada Sawatdipong, co-managing partner at Chandler MHM in Bangkok.