About us
An evolved global market requires an evolved approach to providing legal advice. Kudun and Partners was founded in 2015 from a desire to provide more commercially minded and creative legal advice, and to be proactive, hands-on partners in every deal we’re involved in. Clients value our responsiveness and distinctly commercial attitude, as well as our passion for developing forward-thinking, innovative strategies and solutions that respond to their unique business needs. Our experienced team of Thai and international lawyers act as trusted advisors to both Thai and international clients on transactions in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia.
Key Practice Areas
- Mergers & Acquisitions
We advise on the structuring and implementation of both public and private company M&A transactions including the acquisition of shares and securities of listed companies and business combination such as joint ventures, amalgamation and post-acquisition integration.
Some of the matters we represent include:- Representing Stark Corporation PCL. in connection with its cross-border acquisition of 100% of Thipha and Dovina, the largest inbound private sector industrial transactions in Vietnam in the last three years.
- Advising Eka Pak Company Limited, one of the world’s largest producers of rigid-barrier plastic packaging products, on the cross-border acquisition of packaging companies from the existing shareholder (Printpack Global Financing) of a Delaware Corporation Holding company based in USA. Printpack Global Financing owns 100%, shares in three operating companies in the People’s Republic of China.
- Tax & Corporate Restructuring
We deliver a broad range of specialist tax advisory services to corporations, individuals, family offices, and financial institutions, covering the full spectrum of industry sectors, with particular emphasis on domestic and cross-border M&A deal structuring and tax optimization, pre- and post-IPO corporate restructurings and business spin-offs, wealth management, transfer pricing, tax disputes, and indirect tax matters.
Some of the matters we represent include:- Representing one of the world’s largest FinTech companies as legal and tax counsel in Thailand.
- Acting as the legal and tax counsel to P.M. Enterprises Holding Co., Ltd. in connection with the entire business transfer involving complex tax planning and investment restructuring to mitigate tax implications valued at THB 1.55 billion.
- Providing advice on tax planning for IPO to a leading Thai property development company to restructure the investment and operations for tax optimization and compliance with the new transfer pricing regulations under the Thai Revenue Code.
- Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
Our highly experienced litigators appear before all levels of Thai Courts as well as in national and international arbitration proceedings on a wide range of matters, including general corporate and commercial, construction and telecommunications, administrative law, bankruptcy and rehabilitation proceedings, and disputes involving property-related matters, criminal law, and white-collar crime.
Some of the matters we represent include:- Representing a total of 87 savings co-operatives in their capacity as creditors of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited holding an aggregate debt of THB 45.65 billion or approximately 65% of the airline’s debenture debts and 13% of the airline’s total debt.
- Representing 400 debenture holders for land and buildings foreclosure of Rich Asia Industry Company Limited as of a subsidiary of Rich Asia Corporation Public Company Limited under a total defaulted debt of not less than THB 1 billion.
- Representing clients of AEC Securities Public Company Limited in a criminal and a civil claim against an automotive manufacture group for the default payment of bill of exchange and bond in the amount of THB 840 Million.
- Succesfully represented Jetion Solar in claiming outstanding engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) service fees on three solar energy projects with a value of approximately THB 700 million (USD 22.6 million).
- Debt & Equity Capital Markets
We advise on a wide range of capital market offerings in transactions across a range of industries, including IPOs, high yield debt and bridge financings, convertible debt offerings, as well as equity and equity-linked derivatives.
Some of the matters we represent include:- Acting as legal counsel and business advisor to B.Grimm Power Public Company Limited as the issuer of one of largest IPOs in Thailand in 2017 for a company with major power plants in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos with an offering value of THB 11.5 billion (USD 371.6 million).
- Acting as legal counsel for Earth Tech Environment Company Limited (ETC), a subsidiary of Better World Green Public Company Limited (BWG) in connection with the spin-off, IPO and listing of shares of ETC on the Market for Alternative Investment (mai) valued at approximately USD 10 million.
- Foreign Direct Investment
We act as trusted legal and business advisors to leading international private and public corporations, private equity funds, and foreign individuals on all aspects of their investment transactions in Thailand and across Southeast Asia.- Representing WELLE Environmental Service (China) with legal assistance through producing and reviewing documents for a foreign business license as well as reviewing and revising the company’s standard employment agreements.
- Representing KK Day Company Limited (Taiwan), a travel/tour operator, with full services regarding the incorporation of the company and applying for the tourism license as well as drafting and reviewing supplier cooperation agreements from a Thai legal perspective.
- Infrastructure Funds & REITs
We have substantial experience advising both domestic and international clients on the formation and structuring of infrastructure funds and REITs, and work with our clients on the full spectrum of securities, tax, and regulatory issues typically associated with such transactions.
Some of the matters we represent include:- Acting as counsel to Khonburi Sugar Public Company Limited on the establishment of a biogas infrastructure fund, Khonburi Sugar Power Plant Infrastructure Fund (KBSPIF) valued at THB 2.8 billion (approximately USD 93 million)
- China Practice
We are the first independent law firm in Thailand to establish a dedicated China Practice to serve the unique needs of Chinese corporations and individuals on both inbound and outbound investment transactions in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia.
- Projects and Energy
Some of the matters we represent include:- Advising one of the largest public-listed power generation companies in Thailand on the acquisition of shares including the EPC contract to develop and construct power plants of approximately 36 MW onshore wind project located in Gangwon Province, South Korea valued at USD 85 million.
- Representing B.Grimm Power-Energy China Consortium in their successful bidding to build the world’s largest hydro floating solar hybrid power project by the Electricity Authority of Thailand (EGAT) worth over THB 842 million (approximately USD 27 million).
- Representing CAT Telecom in its business expansion into the satellite industry through a joint venture with a satellite operator operating under the concessionaire with the Ministry of Transport.
Some of the awards we have received over the years include
Firm-wide Recognition
Rising Star Law Firm in Thailand by Asia Business Law Journal, 2020 | Thailand’s Most Responsive Domestic Law Firm of the Year – Honorable Mentions by In-House Community Firms of the Year, 2019 | Visionary Law Firm of the Year – Newcomer by In-House Community, 2020 | Recommended Firm for Year 2020 by IFLR1000, 2019 | The Legal 500’s Southeast Asia Awards 2020 shortlisted for Corporate and M&A Team of the Year, Thailand Law Firm of the Year and Rising Law Firm of the Year
Capital Markets, and Banking and Finance
Thailand Firm of the Year 2019 for Capital Markets by In-House Community Firms of the Year, 2019 | Ranked in Capital markets : Debt and Equity by IFLR1000, 2020-2021 | Notable firm in Capital Markets by AsiaLaw, 2020 – 2021 | Ranked in Capital markets in the Asia Pacific Guide, Chambers Asia Pacific, 2020 | Ranked in Corporate and M&A (including Capital Markets) by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020 | Recommended firm in Banking and Finance by Asialaw 2021 | Notable law firm in Banking and Finance by IFLR1000 2021
Corporate and M&A
Honorable Mention for Corporate and M&A by In-House Community Firms of the Year, 2019 | Ranked in M&A by IFLR1000, 2021 | Recommended in Corporate and M&A by Asialaw, 2021 | Recognised Practitioner in Corporate/M&A in the Global Guide, Chambers Asia Pacific, 2020 | Recommended in Corporate and M&A by Asialaw, 2021 | Recognised Practitioner in Corporate/M&A in the Asia Pacific Guide, Chambers Asia Pacific 2019 – 2020 | Recognised Practitioner in Corporate/M&A in the Global Guide, Chambers Asia Pacific, 2020 |
Dispute Resolution, Restructuring and Insolvency
Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year by Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards 2020 | Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year by Corporate INTL 2020 – 2021 | Notable law firm in Restructuring and Insolvency by Asialaw, 2021 | Notable law firm in Restructuring & Insolvency by IFLR1000, 2020
Tax
Ranked in Tax by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020 Notable firm in Tax by Asia Law 2020 – 2021 Ranked in General Corporate Tax by World Tax 2020 – 2021 Ranked in Private Client by World Tax 2020 – 2021 Ranked in Transfer Pricing by World Transfer Pricing 2020 – 202
Industry Recognitions
Projects and Energy and Consumer goods and services
Ranked in Project development by IFLR1000, 2020-2021 | Ranked in Projects and Energy by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020 | Recognised in Consumer goods and services by Asialaw 2021
China Practice
China Practice, Asian Law Firm of the Year 年度中国业务亚洲律师事务所大奖 shortlist by SSQ ALB China Law Awards, 2020
Individual Recognition
- Kudun Sukhumananda, Highly regarded for DCM, ECM and Corporate M&A by IFLR1000, 2019 – 2021 Thailand’s Top 100 lawyers by Asia Business Law Journal, 2020 Commended External Counsel of the Year 2020 by In-house Community Capital Markets and Securities Lawyer of the Year in Thailand by Leaders in Law, 2020 Notable Practitioner for Corporate and M&A by Asialaw, 2020 – 2021 Recommended lawyer in Corporate and M&A (including Capital Markets) by The Legal 500 AP, 2020 Recommended lawyer in Projects and Energy by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020
- Chinawat Assavapokee, Highly regarded in Tax Controversy by World Tax, 2020 – 2021 The only Distinguished Practitioner in Restructuring and Insolvency by AsiaLaw, 2021 The only Distinguished Practitioner in Tax by AsiaLaw, 2021 The only Notable Practitioner in Restructuring and Insolvency by Asialaw, 2020 The only Notable Practitioner in Tax by AsiaLaw, 2020 Leading Individual in Tax by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020 Band 2 in Tax by Chambers Asia Pacific, 2019 – 2020 Recommended lawyer in Corporate and M&A (including Capital Markets) by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020 Recommended lawyer in Projects and Energy by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020
- Troy Schooneman, Notable Practitioner by IFLR1000, 2019 – 2021 Thailand’s Top 100 lawyers by Asia Business Law Journal, Vantage Group, 2020
- Kongkoch Yongsavasdikul Notable practitioner by IFLR1000, 2019 – 2021
- Somboon Sangrungjang Notable practitioner in Dispute Resolution by Asialaw, 2021 Notable Practitioner by IFLR1000, 2019 – 2021 Recommended lawyer in Dispute Resolution by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020 Recognised in Litigation by Client Choice Award, 2019
- Pariyapol Kamolsilp Recognized as an outstanding lawyer by ALB Asia’s 40 Under 40 list, 2020 Dispute Resolution Law Expert by Who’s Who Legal, Law Business Research, 2018 – 2019 Recommended Lawyer in Dispute Resolution by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020 Notable Practitioner by IFLR1000, 2019 – 2021
- Kom Vachiravarakarn The only Rising Star for Capital markets by Asialaw, 2021 The only Rising star for Corporate and M&A by Asialaw, 2021 Recommended lawyer in Corporate and M&A (including Capital Markets) by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020
- Niruch Winiyakul Recommended lawyer in Dispute Resolution by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020
- Saravut Krailadsiri The only Notable Practitioner in Restructuring and Insolvency by Asialaw, 2021 The only Notable Practitioner in Tax by Asialaw, 2021 Recommended lawyer in Tax by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020
Commentary
“We really like how they work across teams and practice areas to provide holistic solutions in a single co-ordinated manner.”
“their main strength is that we can get close to their senior lawyers”
“They have strong know-how and are collaborative”
– Chambers Asia Pacific 2020
“A good, professional and capable team with a flexible mind-set.”
“KAP provides prompt services professionally.”
“Quality, Professional, and friendly.”
“Good at listening to and implementing feedback.”
“Active and experienced.”
– IFLR1000 2020
“Strong knowledge on M&A transaction and capital market. Very helpful and flexible.”
– Kom Vachiravarakarn, IFLR2020
“Kudun & Partners are professional, experienced and solution oriented”
“KAP are outstanding. [They are] friendly and it’s easy to deal with their lawyers”
– In-House Community member
Kudun and Partners Limited
Address: 23rd Floor, Unit C & F, Gaysorn Tower, 127 Ratchadamri Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: (66) 2 838 1750
Fax: (66) 2 838 1795
Email: info@kap.co.th
Website: www.kap.co.th
Contact: Kudun Sukhumananda, kudun.s@kap.co.th, Chinawat Assavapoke, chinawat.a@kap.co.th, Troy Schooneman, troy.s@kap.co.th, (International Practice), Mayuree Sapsuttiporn (林小丁), mayuree.s@kap.co.th (China Practice)
Number of employees: 65 (11 partners)
Offices in Asia: Bangkok
Year Established: 2015
Languages Spoken: English, Thai, Mandarin Cantonese, Korean, German