Bangkok International Associates was founded in 1988 as the Thailand branch office of Australian law firm Freehills by a group of foreign and Thai lawyers. In 1991, Ronald J. Cristal (Ronachai Krisadaolarn) took over the business as managing director, a position that he still holds today.
We specialize in representing foreign companies investing in Thailand, and foreign companies or foreign – Thai joint ventures operating in Thailand. We are able to deal with corporate and commercial law, joint ventures, banking, debt restructuring, taxation, labor, commercial and residential property, intellectual property, telecoms, IT, e-commerce and litigation.
Our team consists of 16 lawyers (including 1 Australian qualified lawyer and 2 US qualified lawyers) and 13 are admitted to practice in Thailand), with additional accounting, IT and office staff.
Our clients benefit from our pooled foreign and Thai expertise. We have a wide variety of expertise and specialization. We work individually or collectively as a team and our clients are able to draw on the experience of all our lawyers.
Our areas of expertise are:
Corporate and Commercial law: Formation and registration of limited companies, partnerships, branch office, representative offices and other corporate entities. Advice on restrictions of foreign ownership under the Foreign Business Act, and other legislation. Advice on applying for promotional incentives to the Board of Investment or other institutions. Advice on the rights duties, liabilities of shareholders.
Mergers and acquisitions: drafting agreements relating to business acquisition or takeover: share purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements, joint venture agreements, and shareholders’ agreement. Assignment and novation of existing agreements. Drafting agreements relating to the sale, purchase, leasing, import or export of goods. Advising on tax aspects of commercial transactions, particularly in relation to asset, share, or land acquisition, leasing or sale.
Real estate and Hotels, resorts and tourism: representing sellers, developers, buyers of residential, commercial and industrial property including apartments, condominiums, office building and apartment buildings. Drafting leases and services agreements relating to property development and leasing. Advice on planning consents required for development, and license required for factories and other comical businesses. Advice on all aspects of hotel development and tourism matters
Litigation and Arbitration and Family court: conduct of proceedings before the civil court, the criminal court, the provincial courts, the bankruptcy court, family court and the administrative court. Conduct of appeals, or to the supreme court. The conduct of arbitration proceedings under the Thai arbitration act or under international arbitration rules such as the ICC or UNCITRAL.
Labor: advice on employers’ and employees’ rights and duties under the Labor Protection Act and other associated legislation. Drafting employment agreements, contracts for services, directors’ service agreements and consultants’ agreements. Advice concerning dismissal, liability for severance pay and damages for unfair dismissal. Advice concerning income tax and withholding taxes that arise by virtue of the employment relationship.
Corporate secretary: we act as company secretary for many local and foreign companies and perform such work for multinational corporations. This includes drafting notices and minutes for board meetings and shareholders meetings and advice on all company compliance issues.
