Charuwan Charoonchitsathian

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Partner

Biography

Charuwan Charoonchitsathian is a partner in Tilleke & Gibbins’ corporate and commercial group in Bangkok, where she leads the firm’s market-leading TMT transactional and regulatory practice, with a particular focus on the areas of telecommunications and related infrastructure (e.g., data centers, satellites, subsea cables, etc.), fintech, artificial intelligence and robotics, media and entertainment (e.g., OTT services and film production), and software-as-a-service. In 2022, Charuwan was named among the top 15 TMT lawyers in Asia by Asian Legal Business, and she has been ranked for TMT by Chambers Asia-Pacific.

Further to her TMT practice, Charuwan advises multinational clients on a wide range of commercial matters in Thailand, and she is well regarded for her expertise in project development and finance, mergers and acquisitions, cross-border transactions, and business reorganization, with a focus on clients involved in the renewable energy and technology sectors.

Charuwan has over a decade of experience advising clients in Thailand, and has previously held senior positions at some of Bangkok’s largest and most well-respected international firms. She holds master’s degrees from prestigious universities in Australia and the UK, is a barrister-at-law certified by the Thai Bar Association, and is a lawyer licensed with the Lawyers Council of Thailand.

Experience

Advised the fintech arm of one of Southeast Asia’s 10 unicorn companies on the client’s day-to-day business operations in Thailand assisted with the launch of various new products. Advice has included developing a comprehensive handbook on Thai regulations related to cybersecurity, digital marketing, Thailand’s new PDPA, loans and lending, e-payment systems, and various other topics, as well as advising on nano-finance, personal loans, sale and purchase, regulatory and license issues, and KYC and AML/CFT laws.
Advised a global retail giant on regulatory queries and concerns regarding their store value credit systems (which is one of the largest e-wallet pools in Thailand), including consultations with the Bank of Thailand regarding structuring the client’s store value model, advice on requirements under payment systems laws in Thailand, and a number of proposed schemes relating to commercialization of its store value pool.
Advised a multinational insurance company headquartered in the Netherlands on the launch and operation of its Insurtech products in Thailand.
Advised numerous financial institutions, technology companies, telecommunication companies, and fintech companies on planning and adjusting their data protection policies and business strategies to ensure conformity and compliance with Thailand’s PDPA.
Provided tax planning advice for the Singaporean entity of a leading information and communications technology company ahead of a proposed business collaboration with a subsidiary of one of Thailand’s largest mobile phone operators.
Advised a major Thai bank on the local regulatory framework applicable to the proposed launch of an online lending platform through its mobile application.
Engaged to assist the operator of a blockchain platform that provides loans to customers worldwide in applying for a pico-finance license from the Bank of Thailand.
Retained to advise a world-leading tech company on the launch of new products in the Thai market. Advice has included regulatory requirements for a feature that allows users to purchase e-tokens to give to content creators who can then exchange the e-tokens for real money.
Acting for an artificial intelligence and robotic technology startup company to advise on a full range of legal matters related to the development of new technologies, including advice on non-disclosure agreements, JV agreements, joint development agreements, IP licensing agreements, and tax issues for shareholder agreements.
Retained by a major technology and telecommunications company to advise on a full range of matters in Thailand applicable to the provision of over-the-top (OTT) services. Advice has included regularly advise on OTT regulations, content restrictions, data privacy, licensing agreements, collaboration agreements, production agreements, and tax matters, among others.
Assisted a Thai renewable energy company in connection with its investment in solar business in Myanmar.
Assisted a client in obtaining all required project licenses, and structuring and executing all required agreements, for a 45 MW wind farm project valued at over THB 1 billion (USD 32 million).
Assisted a Thai power plant with submission of its bidding proposal under the SPP Hybrid Firm Program for a 27 MW biomass power plant project.
Advised a small power producer (SPP) gas-fired power plant project in Thailand on development of a gas turbine contractual service agreement.
Assisted a SET-listed bank on conducting legal due diligence on two very small power producer (VSPP) solar power plants in Chantaburi province and Saraburi province in Thailand.
Conducted legal due diligence on a 9.9 MW biomass project in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand, for a commercial bank.
Assisted a cogeneration power company with development of the long-term service agreement for a gas turbine generator for a small power producer (SPP) gas-fired power plant project in Thailand.
Conducted legal due diligence for a major Thai bank, as the lender, on a small power producer (SPP) project for development of a 122.26 MW combined-cycle cogeneration power plant in Anthong province, Thailand.
Advised a SET-listed electricity distribution company in connection with its proposed investment in a rooftop solar company.
Advised a publicly listed Thai printing company in connection with its acquisition of the printing business of one of Thailand’s largest media companies.

ABOUT Charuwan

Languages

Thai

English

Education

LLM, University of Nottingham

LLM, University of Queensland

LLB, Thammasat University

情報

4月 8, 2011

Property and IP Lawyers Recognized as Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2011

Tilleke & Gibbins’ property and intellectual property lawyers were recognized as some of the region’s most highly acclaimed legal experts by Asialaw Leading Lawyers, one of the largest annual surveys of Asia Pacific-focused private practitioners.From our Vietnam office, Michael K. Lee, Department Head – Corporate/Commercial, and Nga Thi Phi Nguyen, Department Head – Intellectual Property, were recognized as Asia’s leading business lawyers in the areas of real estate and intellectual property, respectively.

4月 19, 2011

Yesteryear – Bangkok in 1956: What Was It Like When AMCHAM Thailand Was Founded?

In this text of a presentation for the 50th anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand, David Lyman reflects on the changes he has observed in Thailand in the 50 years since AMCHAM’s founding.

4月 19, 2011

Highlights of the New Investment and Company Laws of Vietnam

On November 29, 2005, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed, among others, two new laws: (1) the Law on Investment No. 59/2005/QH11; and (2) the Law on Enterprises No. 60/2005/QH11. Both laws will take effect on July 1, 2006. Some of the important changes in the new laws are analyzed in this article.

4月 19, 2011

New Regulations on Foreign Representative Offices and Branch Offices in Vietnam

Only seven months after the enactment of the new 2005 Commercial Law of Vietnam at the beginning of 2006, the Vietnamese Government has issued new regulations on foreign representative offices and branch offices in Vietnam under Government Decree No. 72/2006/ND-CP dated July 25, 2006. Compared with the regulation under the previous decree, this new decree seems to be a step backward in terms of the requirements for opening a foreign representative or branch office in Vietnam. This article describes the setbacks.

Awards & Rankings

3月 3, 2023

Tilleke & Gibbins Wins Diversity and Inclusion Firm of the Year Award from ALB

Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion at the ALB Women in Law Awards held on March 2, 2023. The awards ceremony, organized by Asian Legal Business (ALB), celebrates the outstanding performance of female private practitioners and in-house counsel across the Asia-Pacific region.

2月 24, 2023

Tilleke & Gibbins Shortlisted for Two Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023

Tilleke & Gibbins has been named a finalist for two prestigious awards at the upcoming Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023. The awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of firms, companies, and individuals who are driving the advancement of diversity and inclusion across the Asia Pacific region. Tilleke & Gibbins was shortlisted for the Diversity & Inclusion: Outstanding Firm award, which recognizes firms that have made exceptional strides in promoting diversity and inclusion across their organization. Additionally, Tilleke & Gibbins has been nominated for Thailand Firm of the Year, in recognition of the firm’s exceptional performance and outstanding achievements in providing legal services in Thailand. The Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023will be held in person at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on May 4, 2023. For more information on the awards and the shortlisted nominees, please see the Chambers website.

2月 24, 2023

Tilleke & Gibbins Named One of Asia’s Most Innovative Law Firms

Tilleke & Gibbins has been named to the ALB Top 15 Innovative Law Firms list, an initiative from Asian Legal Business identifying the law firms in Asia that have incorporated new technologies and techniques to provide top legal and client services. Tilleke & Gibbins was recognized for its strength in emerging areas such as cannabis and digital assets—as well as recent landmark victories in court for the firm’s clients. Tilleke & Gibbins is dedicated to innovation in both client service and internal business operations, and is proud of its culture of innovation across all departments and offices throughout Southeast Asia. Asian Legal Business, owned by Thomson Reuters, is a leading source of information for businesses and professionals active in the region. To learn more about the ALB Top 15 Innovative Law Firms list, please see the January/February 2023 issue of Asian Legal Business magazine.

1月 12, 2023

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023: Tilleke & Gibbins a Leading Firm in All Its Jurisdictions

The newly released rankings in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023 have identified Tilleke & Gibbins as a leading firm in all six of its jurisdictions in Southeast Asia. In addition to its strong performance in the practice area rankings, Tilleke & Gibbins had a record-breaking year in the individual rankings. The firm’s Thailand office was identified as a leader in all 15 of the practices areas ranked in the guide: Tier 1: Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Labour and Employment, Tax, TMT Tier 2: Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate and M&A, Customs and International Trade, Insurance, Projects and Energy, Real Estate and Construction, Restructuring and Insolvency, Transport Tier 3: Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration Tilleke & Gibbins’ offices in Vietnam received rankings in nine practice areas: Tier 1: Data Protection, Intellectual Property (International Firms), TMT Tier 2: Corporate and M&A, Dispute Resolution: Litigation, Labour and Employment Tier 3: Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration Tier 4: Banking and Finance, Projects and Energy For Myanmar, Tilleke & Gibbins was ranked in two practices—including a new ranking for Projects: Tier 2: Corporate and M&A, Projects Tilleke & Gibbins earned one additional practice-area or firm ranking for each of its offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Laos: Tier 1: Laos (Leading Firms – single category) Tier 2: Cambodia (Leading Firms – single category); Indonesia (Intellectual Property) To browse the full rankings and read the accompanying editorial analysis, please view the firm rankings through the country links above or read more about the rankings on the Legal 500 Asia Pacific website.