Watson Farley & Williams LLP — Thailand

About

- The Firm Watson Farley & Williams is a leading international law firm advising clients operating in the energy, infrastructure and transport sectors. With a network of offices spanning Asia, Europe and the USA, we bring together technical excellence and deep industry knowledge to deliver unparalleled advice on complex transactions and disputes. - Principal Areas of Work In all our core sectors, we provide integrated and commercially focussed advice across a broad range of capital markets, corporate, finance, dispute resolution, employment, real estate, regulatory and tax matters. - Senior Partner: George Paleokrassas - Managing Partner: Lindsey Keeble Energy (Mining; Oil and Gas; Power and Renewables; and Commodities and International Trade) - key contacts: Henry Stewart; María Pilar García Guijarro; and Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi Infrastructure (Airports; Digital and E-Infrastructure; Ports and Terminals; Roads, Bridges and Tunnels; and Social Infrastructure) - key contacts: Florian Kutzbach and José María Anarte Transport (Aviation and Aerospace; Maritime; and Rail) - key contacts: Jim Bell and George Macheras - Energy – Mining We leverage the wealth of experience across our global network to support industry players across the whole mining life cycle, including in the emerging sectors of seabed and space mining, as well as investor-state dispute settlement. We are the go-to advisors for all mining participants from owners/licensees, developers and sponsors to financiers, contractors and governments. Operating globally and in areas beyond national jurisdiction enables us to advise on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters in all the major mineral-producing areas of the world, from Africa and Australasia to Asia and the Americas. - Energy – Oil & Gas We have over 30 years’ direct industry experience advising clients across the whole of the oil and gas value chain, covering upstream, midstream and downstream. We also have in-depth knowledge of new fuels and gases such as LNG, hydrogen, ammonia and SAF to help support the industry’s energy transition. Clients include exploration, development and production companies, traders, offshore services, storage and distribution companies, refinery developers and operators, funds and investors, banks and governments. - Energy – Power and Renewables With an international offering of sector specialist lawyers, we are the natural choice for clients across the power and renewables space. We have long been at the forefront of new technology and developments in the industry and have a successful track record advising on all aspects of the value chain and life cycle of projects from conventional power to renewables such as onshore and offshore wind, solar, biomass, and waste to energy. By leveraging our regulatory, transactional, ESG and dispute resolution experience, we offer an unrivalled full service in sector to clients including developers, investors, sponsors, financiers, contractors and both governments and government entities. - Energy – Commodities and International Trade We offer a comprehensive sector offering covering disputes, structured trade finance, sanctions and regulatory, ESG, project development & finance, and corporate matters. Our historical focus on the energy, infrastructure and maritime sectors, which each have strong synergies with commodities and international trade, give us a unique 360-degree perspective, allowing us to support our clients operating in these sectors across all key service lines. Clients include major corporates, trading houses, mining majors, energy traders, banks, independent trade financiers, investment funds and agricultural and food companies. - Infrastructure With the global demand for infrastructure rapidly increasing, we support our clients on major projects around the world. We act for a broad range of participants across transport-relevant infrastructures ranging from airports, ports and terminals, rail and roads, bridges and tunnels. We also work on energy-relevant projects ranging from transmission and storage, water and waste management and renewable energy assets, as well as social infrastructure to emerging sub-sectors such as smart and digital infrastructure. Our multi-disciplinary team, based across our global network of offices, provides first-rate advice and guidance to all participants in the infrastructure sector. - Transport - Aviation and Aerospace Always abreast of trends within the aviation and aerospace sectors, we have over 40 years’ experience advising key industry stakeholders. These include aircraft and engine leasing companies, banks and financial institutions, funds and investors, export credit agencies, airlines, tour operators and manufacturers. What propels our service beyond that of our competitors is our active involvement in making impactful changes to the industry at a global level. This includes being the principal advisors to the Aviation Working Group (AWG) and the prime choice for legal advice focussing on the decarbonisation of the industry, alternative fuels and emissions reduction. - Transport - Maritime With the largest dedicated maritime legal practice worldwide, we have been helping clients address the industry’s ups and downs for over 40 years. Our unrivalled shipping experience attracts clients including shipowners, charterers, ship managers, P&I and FD&D insurers, investors, banks and financiers with substantial shipping portfolios. Areas of special expertise include maritime infrastructure, commercial shipping, container shipping and logistics, offshore oil & gas, cruise, commercial contracts, sanctions, disputes and regulatory, loan portfolios and restructuring. We are at the forefront of the industry move towards decarbonisation, including having advised on the development of the Poseidon Principles to support the IMO’s goal to reduce shipping’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050. ### Languages - 25+ languages ### Staffing Figures - 0 Partners - 19 Offices

Office locations

Practice areas

Lawyers in this office

Kay Kian Tan

Kay Kian specialises in the energy, maritime and insurance sectors, where he advises corporates and multi-nationals on international commercial arbitration and litigation. He is a barrister and is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales and an advocate and solicitor in Singapore. He has worked in London and Singapore and has been based in WFW’s Bangkok office since 2001. · Energy

Kunadha Gajaseni

Kunadha’s experience ranges from international arbitration under the UNCITRAL, ICC, SIAC, LCIA, HKIAC, TAI and KCAB rules and those administered by the PCA and Thai court litigation. His areas of legal work also include commercial, infrastructure, construction, transportation advisory and disputes, in particular in the Energy and Oil & Gas industry. Kunadha is a dual-qualified lawyer. He has been admitted in Thailand since 2012 and in England and Wales (as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales) since 2019. Kunadha is also a certified Thai Notarial Services Attorney and a ICC Young Arbitration and ADR Forum (YAAF) Representative for South Asia 2024-2026 Mandate. · International Arbitration

Piyanuj (Lui) Ratprasatporn

Lui advises domestic and international clients on investing and conducting business in Thailand. She is a specialist in compliance and legal requirements in relation to corporate and commercial operations and foreign direct investment in Thailand. She advises on investment regulations, ownership structure, necessary and applicable licenses, corporate M&A contracts, establishment of legal entities, commercial contracts, licenses and permits and immigration and work permit related matters. · Corporate Law

Rachapol Sirikulchit

Rachapol Sirikulchit is a highly experienced litigator with a strong track record in both Thai court proceedings and international arbitration under ICC, SIAC, LCIA and TAI rules. He acts for leading Thai corporates, multinational conglomerates, and high‑net‑worth individuals in complex, high‑value disputes across a broad range of sectors. His recent dispute work spans luxury hotel and residential construction project, waste‑to‑energy power plants, pyrolysis facilities, gas pipeline drilling, upstream gas platform operations, joint ventures and shareholders’ agreements, hotel management, white collar crime, medical malpractice, terminal bulk storage, product liability, unfair dismissal of senior executives, and commercial liability claims. He is listed on the panel of TAI arbitrators and is also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. · Litigation

Ratthakarn Boonnua

Ratthakarn has served as lead trial lawyer in high profile multi-jurisdictional cases for the past 25 years. He specialises in international trade, commercial disputes, business crime, arbitration and employment law. He has vast experience in the energy, maritime and insurance sectors and has acted as a legal expert witness in many international arbitrations, and English, Singapore and Hong Kong High Court cases. Ratthakarn also has extensive experience in acting for major clients in proceedings under a number of arbitration rules including the ICC, SIAC, KCAB, TAI, THAC, OIC and ad hoc arbitrations under UNCITRAL rules. Ratthakarn is fluent in Thai and English. · International Trade

Sonya Kalnin

Dual qualified in England & Wales and Ontario, Canada, Sonya is a seasoned legal expert known for delivering impactful results across diverse legal landscapes. With over two decades of experience, she is a trusted advisor to start-ups, multinational corporations, financial institutions, state-owned enterprises and private equity clients, guiding them through complex global transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity, project finance, strategic alliances, corporate governance and regulatory and compliance matters, including ESG. Recognised for her strategic insight and dedication to client service, Sonya has built a reputation for excellence particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors across Asia and internationally. Her deep industry knowledge and innovative, pragmatic, and commercially minded legal advice make her a leader in her field. · Mergers and Acquisitions

Steven Burkill

Steven specialises in complex international disputes, in particular, London and Asia-based arbitrations involving oil and gas, power, mining and commodities and large-scale projects. He is also highly experienced in shipping litigation. Steven has sat as an arbitrator in ICC, SIAC, TAI and ad hoc arbitrations. He has used this know-how on commercial projects to help avoid disputes and manage risk. · International Disputes