This chapter provides an overview of the legal system and key laws for foreign companies doing business in Thailand. Presented in a question-and-answer format, the chapter examines the rules governing foreign investment, business vehicles, employment, tax, competition, intellectual property, marketing agreements, e-commerce, data protection, and product liability.

In the complicated business of carriage of goods by sea, multiple parties may be involved in a single shipment of goods, including a freight forwarder, shipping agent, customs agent, ship owner, ship manager, charterer, and more. Identifying the actor that may be held liable for cargo damaged in transit, under Thailand’s Carriage of Goods by Sea Act B.E. 2534 (1991) (COGSA), can be a complicated process, but it is a critical first step in recovering from the proper party.

The Report: Thailand 2011, published by Oxford Business Group, provides an in-depth analysis of various sectors of the Thai economy. In the legal section of the publication, Tilleke & Gibbins examines the government’s recent push for further liberalization of foreign investment laws. In addition to foreign investment, the article examines forms of business organization, capital markets, property law, labor and employment issues, and intellectual property.

This paper answers a number of important questions about the role of client confidentiality within the Thai legal system. Key points include the regulations governing confidentiality, the limits of attorney-client privilege, and the disclosure of client information in certain situations.