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Narita Sakunchotikarote

Associate

Biography

Narita Sakunchotikarote is an associate at Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok, where she specializes in providing comprehensive legal services to both domestic and multinational clients. Her expertise spans various sectors, including corporate and commercial law, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate restructuring, and foreign direct investment. Narita is also adept at conducting legal due diligence and compliance health checks, navigating foreign exchange controls, and addressing labor and employment issues.

Narita is experienced in supporting clients across multiple industries as they seek to work through complex legal questions. She seeks to understand the unique business pressures facing each client and is committed to delivering practical and strategic legal solutions tailored to her clients’ needs.

Prior to joining Tilleke & Gibbins, Narita served as a legal associate in the business unit of a Big 4 accounting firm in Bangkok. She holds an LLM in Commercial and Business Law from Indiana University and an LLB from Thammasat University. Narita is licensed to practice law in Thailand.

Experience

  • Assisted BBN Indonesia, part of Avia Solutions Group, in restructuring its capital and management and partnering with Thai experts from BBN (Thailand) Company Limited to conduct aviation business operations in Thailand, which entailed advising on share issuance and corporate restructuring and assisting in the preparation of the shareholders’ agreement and other transaction documents, with a deal value of approximately THB 200 million (USD 6 million).
  • Assisted HDI International AG, a global insurance company within the German Talanx Group, with an approximately THB 1.63 billion (USD 45 million) cross-border acquisition of Ignite Thailand Holdings Limited, a holding company of five insurance companies in Thailand, including Roojai Company Limited; this involved conducting legal due diligence, reviewing transaction documents, and coordinating with legal counsel in various countries.
  • Assisted the shareholders of Windsor Hotel Company Limited on the approximately THB 3 billion sale of 100 percent shares in Windsor to Asset World Corp Public Company Limited, which entailed assisting with presigning and preclosing issues and reviewing transaction documents.
  • Assisted a Thai digital solution provider in the approximately THB 300 million acquisition of a tech company to expand its IT solutions and consulting services business, which included conducting legal due diligence and drafting and reviewing the share-purchase agreement, shareholders’ agreement, and other transaction documents.
    Provided advice to a leading listed company in the energy sector on corporate restructuring, which entailed conducting in-depth analysis and research to support solutions to human resources and labor law questions, including handling labor unions involving over 4,000 employees.
  • Assisted shareholders of Bonjour Bakery Asia Company Limited in selling 55 percent shares to Dusit Foods Company Limited, a subsidiary of Dusit Thani Public Company Limited, in a deal valued at approximately THB 516 million; this involved conducting vendor legal due diligence and reviewing transaction documents.
ABOUT Narita

Location

Languages

    Thai

    English

Education

    LLM, Indiana University Maurer School of Law

    LLB, Thammasat University

Insights

July 8, 2026
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has issued new oversight and disclosure rules, effective July 1, 2026, overhauling the previous requirements. The reforms apply to listed companies, REITs, and property and infrastructure funds, and aim to enhance transparency, align with international standards, and ensure timely investor information. The key changes and practical implications are highlighted below. Major Shareholder Reporting When a shareholding change reaching or crossing 5% or any subsequent multiple of 5% is reported under section 246 of the Securities and Exchange Act or a tender offer is completed (except for voluntary delisting), listed companies must disclose an updated shareholder list for the month in which the triggering event occurred. The list must be compiled within five business days after month-end and disclosed within 14 days thereafter. Noncompliance will trigger a “notice pending” (NP) sign. This replaces the previous requirement to disclose shareholder lists only at annual general meetings or on record dates. Companies should coordinate with their share registrars to meet the new event-driven timelines. New Financial and Internal Control Disclosures The new rules require disclosure of material impairment, expected credit losses, and unreturned business deposits when these reach specified thresholds. Companies must also disclose events or indicators that may materially affect their internal control systems. Boards and audit committees should expect to escalate accounting and internal-control issues earlier, as these matters may now trigger standalone SET disclosure obligations—not just financial statement treatment. Backdoor Listing With the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulation on material transactions (MTs) taking effect on July 1, 2026, and now serving as the primary, standalone framework governing acquisitions and disposals, the SET needed to issue a standalone rule on backdoor listing matters. These matters had been covered by a previous regulation on MTs issued by the SET. The key differences between the SET’s
June 29, 2026
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking public input on significant amendments to the Securities and Exchange Act B.E. 2535 (1992) that would address recurring market abuses and eroded investor confidence observed by the SEC. Published on June 24, 2026, the consultation document targets share-pledging disclosure failures, hidden beneficial ownership, and fraudulent transactions by listed companies, all of which are issues that have threatened share prices and market stability across the Thai capital markets. Comments on the proposals are due by July 24, 2026. Mandatory Disclosure of Short Sales and Share Pledges The draft amendments introduce new reporting obligations for both short sales and share pledges. Persons who sell listed securities without having such securities in their possession (“short sales”) must comply with rules prescribed by the Capital Market Supervisory Board, ensuring standardized practices and preventing risks from such transactions. Major shareholders who pledge or encumber their shares in significant amounts must report those arrangements to the SEC, which may then disclose the information to the public. These amendments directly respond to recent market abuses, including short selling without proper safeguards and instances where directors or major shareholders have pledged large share blocks without disclosure to investors, only to have those shares forcibly sold when collateral was called, causing dramatic share price declines and disrupting ownership structures and market stability. Reportable transactions for share pledges include the following: Shares used as margin account collateral Shares pledged as loan security, with immediate transfer upon default Shares formally pledged under the Civil and Commercial Code or registered with the Thailand Securities Depository Failure to report share pledges triggers criminal penalties, as does failure to comply with short sale requirements. By requiring advance disclosure and standardized short sale procedures, the SEC aims to enable investors to assess ownership stability and default
March 10, 2026
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have issued regulations broadening the criteria for determining who qualifies as a “major shareholder” of licensed securities and digital asset business operators. Under relevant SEC regulations, major shareholders of a regulated entity must obtain regulatory approval and undergo screening by the SEC. The revised framework introduces both shareholding-based and control-based tests to determine which shareholders require regulatory approval for a wider range of indirect ownership structures and de facto control. The Ministry of Finance notification took effect on February 21, 2026, while the SEC’s clarifying rules took effect on March 4, 2026. These changes aim to enhance transparency around beneficial ownership and strengthen regulatory oversight of entities operating in Thailand’s capital markets. Expanded Definition Under the revised framework, a “major shareholder” now includes persons who directly or indirectly hold more than 10% of the voting rights in a regulated company, as well as persons who exercise control over the regulated company or its shares. This system of two separate tests, based on both shareholding and control, differs from the prior regime, which focused primarily on shareholding thresholds and applied a more limited method for determining indirect shareholdings. The two tests (detailed below) operate independently of each other, and any person identified by either of the tests will be deemed a major shareholder. Shareholding-Based Test Broadens Indirect Ownership Attribution For the shareholding-based test, the SEC recognizes two existing methods for identifying indirect ownership, together with a new proportional attribution method. Any person captured under these methods, which are described below, will be regarded as a major shareholder of the regulated company and must obtain SEC approval as a major shareholder. First, the existing framework continues to apply to both first-tier and chain ownership structures. Approval is required for (1) first-tier
February 19, 2026
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has overhauled its approach to related-party transactions (RPTs) by issuing new rules that simplify approval processes while expanding oversight. Capital Market Supervisory Board Notification No. TorJor. 46/2568 will replace the longstanding Notification No. TorJor. 21/2551, which has governed RPT compliance for over a decade. The new regulation takes effect on July 1, 2026. Any RPT matters approved by a company’s board of directors or approved for shareholders’ approval before that date remain subject to Notification No. TorJor. 21/2551. The new RPT rules will introduce significant changes that market participants should carefully consider. Consolidated Definitions Under the previous framework, key definitions relevant to RPT compliance were dispersed across multiple sources, including SEC notifications, Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) regulations, and provisions of the Securities and Exchange Act (before amendments). The new regulation consolidates these definitions into a single notification. Concepts such as “related party” and “connected person,” as well as relevant transaction categories, are now more systematically organized and written in greater detail. The SET has yet to issue corresponding regulations, which should include more detailed related disclosure requirements. Unified Threshold and Mandatory Board Approval The most significant change under the new regulation is the elimination of the multitiered approval framework based on transaction type. Instead of various categories, transactions are now classified as either (1) financial assistance provided to related persons, or (2) other RPTs in order to determine the level of corporate approvals and disclosures for each transaction size in these categories, but the concept remains the same. Under the previous regulation, RPTs were divided into small, medium, and large transactions, with differing approval requirements. The new regulation effectively merges the small and medium categories. As a result, all RPTs must now be approved by the board of directors as a baseline

Awards & Rankings

July 22, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been named Best Insurance Law Firm in Thailand in the InsuranceAsia News Country Awards for Excellence 2026. This is the firm’s first recognition from InsuranceAsia News, and Tilleke & Gibbins was the sole law firm honored in the Thailand awards. The award recognizes the strength of Tilleke & Gibbins’ insurance practice and the team’s work advising clients in the sector. InsuranceAsia News selected the winners based on submission reviews, independent research, market knowledge, and analysis by the publication’s judging panel. InsuranceAsia News provides news, analysis, and market intelligence for insurers and related organizations across Asia. For more information and to view the full list of winners, please visit the InsuranceAsia News website.
April 3, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce that the firm has been shortlisted in two categories at the Financial Times (FT) Innovative Lawyers APAC 2026 awards: Innovative Lawyers in Cyber and Data Privacy – “Digital Identity & Cryptocurrency Compliance” Innovative Practitioner – Athistha (Nop) Chitranukroh The FT Innovative Lawyers APAC Awards recognize law firms and practitioners who are driving innovation in legal services and delivering innovative client solutions across the Asia-Pacific region. This recognition marks our third acknowledgment in the Innovative Lawyers category and, notably, our first-ever nomination in the Innovative Practitioner category at the FT Innovative Lawyers APAC awards. It reflects our team’s continued ability to support clients on groundbreaking, forward-looking projects across the region. The awards ceremony will take place on May 14, 2026, in Hong Kong. To learn more about the FT Innovative Lawyers APAC 2026 awards and to view the full list of shortlisted organizations, please visit the FT website.
March 19, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized in 17 categories at the 2026 Thailand Law Firm Awards from Asia Business Law Journal (ABLJ), up from 10 categories in 2025. The awards highlight leading law firms in Thailand across a broad range of practice areas, as well as overall firm performance. This year, Tilleke & Gibbins was named a co-winner in the Best Overall Law Firm category as well as in the following practice-specific categories: Artificial Intelligence Aviation Blockchain & Digital Assets Competition & Antitrust Data Compliance & Cyber Security E-Commerce, Digital Trade & Platform Regulation ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Fintech Healthcare & Life Sciences Insurance & Reinsurance IP Litigation IP Prosecution Labour & Employment Private Equity & Venture Capital Shipping & Maritime Technology, Media & Telecommunications The awards are determined through ABLJ’s independent research, which considers recent work, client feedback, and market standing. The annual Thailand Law Firm Awards recognize firms demonstrating strong performance and breadth of expertise across key practice areas. For more details and the full list of winners, please visit the ABLJ website.

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