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Insurance

Insurance

Key Contacts

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Myanmar

Thailand

Vietnam

OVERVIEW

The first choice for insurance law in mainland Southeast Asia.

Tilleke & Gibbins offers a leading regional practice in insurance and reinsurance law across Southeast Asia. Our team is unique in being led by local practitioners with international industry experience and credentials gained through years of experience in-house at some of the world’s largest insurers. Our regular representation of many world-leading insurers and reinsurers, and our achievements while working with them, has led to regular recognition by world-leading legal industry directories such as Chambers Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500, and Asialaw Profiles. 

Our insurance services include:

  • Property, casualty, and financial lines coverage disputes
  • Reinsurance litigation and arbitration
  • Professional indemnity, and directors and officers defense
  • Employers, public, product, and environmental liability
  • Aviation, marine, construction, and energy disputes
  • Mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructurings
  • Online distribution, bancassurance, and broking activities
  • Market entry and regional operations
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Policy wording advice and localization

Experience

  • Defending a multinational insurer in a coverage dispute arising from a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation of a listed mutual fund and subsequent allegations of liability.
  • Representing international reinsurers in a USD 6 million reinsurance arbitration brought by a local Thai cedant in respect of outstanding losses from the 2011 floods in Thailand.
  • Representing international reinsurers in respect of USD 150 million coverage litigation arising out of property damage incurred during the 2010 Bangkok civil unrest.
  • Appointed by a Japanese insurer to defend against product liability claims for allegedly defective airbags brought against its insured in Thailand.
  • Acted for numerous insurers and reinsurers in the defense and settlement of property damage and business interruption claims, valued at over USD 700 million, arising from the 2011 floods in Thailand.
  • Advised one of the largest property and casualty insurers on a facultative reinsurance placement for a USD 870 million hydroelectric energy project involving parties from Thailand and Laos.
  • Represented international reinsurers in respect of the defense and settlement of a USD 184 million coverage dispute arising from an offshore gas pipeline incident.
  • Defended a global insurance broker against allegations of professional negligence in failing to procure adequate insurance coverage for the operations of a large Thai manufacturing conglomerate.
  • Advised a global specialty insurer on the defense and settlement of medical device and clinical trial liability claims.
  • Advised a number of international brokers on establishment, JV arrangements, and licensing of operations in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • Assisted a multinational American-based insurance corporation on its organizational restructuring and asset acquisition project, valued at THB 3 billion, in Thailand.
  • Advised the Thai subsidiary of a global broker on partnership structures with local and overseas business partners and its insurance-related advisory services in a number of Southeast Asian countries. Provided insurance regulatory advice on the client’s commercial arrangements for credit facility business transactions with entities in Myanmar and Singapore.
  • Assisted a British insurance broker in setting up its online insurance products website aggregator in Thailand, including advising on business arrangement structures with the top ten leading motor insurers in the Thai market.
  • Advised a Japanese-based insurance company on the rollout of their new insurance products through both online and traditional distribution channels. Provided legal analysis for end-to-end distribution transactions, as well as associated insurance regulations, electronic transaction laws, online business operator laws, computer crime laws, and anti-money laundering regulations.
  • Advised client on structuring a partnership with one of the biggest e-commerce companies in the Southeast Asian region for exclusive distribution of extended -warranty products for online customers in Thailand.
  • Assisted an international insurer on data privacy and outsourcing regulatory requirements to establish a regional data center in Southeast Asia.
  • Defended a logistics company against a subrogated insurance claim for THB 1.3 million. We successfully argued that our client should only pay in accordance with its liability limits and saved the client over THB 1 million.
  • Advising a German insurer on aspects of Thai law related to an automotive product liability claim brought against an insured manufacturer in Germany.

PROFESSIONALS

RELATED INSIGHTS

August 20, 2026
As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has released the latest edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand, providing an overview of the legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations for companies establishing or expanding operations in Thailand. The 2026 edition offers practical insight into the country’s business environment, investment framework, and operational requirements. The guide covers a wide range of topics relevant to foreign and domestic investors, including: Investment incentives and promotion schemes Financial facilities and banking regulations Exchange controls and money transfers Import and export regulations Business structures and incorporation options Requirements for establishing a business Operational and compliance considerations Business cessation and insolvency procedures Employment and labor laws Taxation Immigration and visa requirements Prepared by Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers across multiple practice areas, the publication outlines key aspects of doing business in Thailand, including foreign investment restrictions, regulatory compliance obligations, corporate structures, employment requirements, and recent legal and economic developments affecting investors. The publication forms part of Lex Mundi’s Country Guides series, a global collection of jurisdiction-specific reference materials prepared by member firms around the world. Together, these guides help companies evaluate opportunities, compare regulatory environments, and plan international business activities across multiple markets. The full Guide to Doing Business in Thailand 2026 is available through the button below.
August 14, 2026
Thailand’s Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) has issued guidelines clarifying the boundaries between permissible and prohibited activities for unlicensed individuals—including influencers, bloggers, and content creators—when communicating about insurance products on social media. The Good Practice Guidelines for Persons Not Licensed as Insurance Agents or Brokers Regarding the Dissemination of Insurance Content Through Digital Media B.E. 2569 (2026) took effect on July 24, 2026. Activities Requiring a License The guidelines reserve the following activities for licensed agents and brokers: Soliciting or facilitating insurance contracts. Providing personalized advice on product suitability. Recommending policy cancellation to purchase promoted products. Creating links that facilitate contract formation. Receiving performance-based compensation tied to policies or premiums generated. Importantly, boilerplate disclaimers such as “this is not a recommendation to buy insurance” will not shield individuals from liability if the OIC views the content as personalized advice or solicitation. Permitted Activities Unlicensed persons may present general educational content about insurance—such as explaining terminology, sharing industry statistics, reporting news, or sharing personal experiences—provided the content does not target specific individuals to purchase from specific companies. The guidelines also set out best practices for communication, including presenting information in a fair and balanced manner that covers both benefits and limitations, encouraging consumers to read policy terms and consult licensed professionals, verifying information from credible sources before dissemination, and exercising special care when the audience may include vulnerable groups such as persons aged 60 and older. Prohibited Practices Prohibited practices include fear-based marketing, creating artificial urgency, omitting material limitations, making exaggerated claims, falsely claiming professional credentials, using fake engagement mechanisms, and sharing false or misleading content. The guidelines also reinforce the prohibitions under section 83 of the Life Insurance Act B.E. 2535 and section 78 of the Non-Life Insurance Act B.E. 2535 against soliciting insurance contracts with foreign operators
June 30, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins’ insurance specialists in Bangkok provided Thomson Reuters’ latest country update on Thailand’s regulatory framework for the insurance industry. The country update, which is part of Thomson Reuters’ extensive Regulatory Intelligence offerings, contains information and guidance for insurers active in the Thai market. The guide covers the following topics in detail: Permission to operate; Legal and regulatory considerations for domestic and international insurers; Capital reserve requirements; Investment management and markets; The Office of Insurance Commission’s arbitration system for handling complaints; Creditor hierarchy; Rehabilitation of non-life insurance companies; and Personal data protection requirements for insurers. Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence is a service that provides with curated news, analysis, and data across jurisdictions to help legal, risk, and compliance professionals manage compliance and mitigate global risk. The full Thailand insurance country update is available by subscription to Regulatory Intelligence on the Thomson Reuters website.
June 30, 2026
Insurance specialists from Tilleke & Gibbins have provided an update to the Vietnam chapter of Thomson Reuters’ Practical Law guide to insurance and reinsurance. The guide is a Q&A-style overview of insurance and reinsurance law in jurisdictions worldwide. The Vietnam chapter provides a detailed overview of the legal framework for the insurance and reinsurance market in the country, covering the following issues: Regulatory framework for insurance and reinsurance Authorization for insurers, reinsurers, and insurance intermediaries Ownership restrictions Ongoing requirements Penalties for noncompliance Sales and marketing of insurance and reinsurance Transfer of risk Reinsurance contracts and risks Contracts and policies Claims Dispute resolution Insolvency Tax Practical Law, a legal reference resource from Thomson Reuters, publishes a range of guides for hundreds of jurisdictions and practice areas. The insurance and reinsurance guide is a valuable resource for legal practitioners, covering numerous jurisdictions worldwide. To view the latest version of the guide, please visit the Practical Law website and enroll in the free Practical Law trial to gain full access.
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.
May 11, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has continued to show excellent performance in the recently released Benchmark Litigation 2026 rankings for dispute resolution firms in the Asia-Pacific region. The rankings include two jurisdictions where Tilleke & Gibbins is active: Thailand and Vietnam. Firm Rankings A full summary of the firm’s rankings is provided below: Thailand Commercial & Transactions – Tier 1 Government & Regulatory – Tier 1 Labor & Employment – Tier 1 Intellectual Property – Tier 1 Trade & Customs – Tier 2 Vietnam Commercial & Transactions (Foreign Firms) – Tier 1 Intellectual Property (Foreign Firms) – Tier 1 Labor & Employment (International Firms) – Highly Recommended (top tier awarded in this category) White Collar Crime – Recommended (top tier awarded in this category) Energy & Construction (Foreign Firms) – Tier 2 International Arbitration – Tier 2 Individual Rankings The 2026 edition also recognizes 12 Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers in Thailand—more than any other firm in the jurisdiction—and four in Vietnam. Thailand Alongkorn Tongmee – Trade & Customs Chitchai Punsan – Commercial & Transactions Chusert Supasitthumrong – Labor & Employment John Frangos – Commercial & Transactions Noppramart Thammateeradaycho – Shipping Nuttaphol Arammuang – Intellectual Property Piyawat Vitooraporn – Commercial & Transactions Pongpalin Chantrapirom – Commercial & Transactions Suebsiri Taweepon – Intellectual Property Suruswadee Jaimsuwan – Commercial & Transactions Thawat Damsa-ard – Commercial & Transactions Tiziana Sucharitkul – Commercial & Transactions, Government & Regulatory Vietnam Duc Anh Tran – Commercial & Transactions Linh Duy Mai – Intellectual Property Loc Xuan Le – Intellectual Property Tu Anh Tran – Commercial & Transactions Benchmark Litigation’s annual research is based on interviews with dispute resolution specialists and clients, as well as analysis of recent casework and market developments. To view the full results, please visit the Benchmark Litigation websites for Thailand and Vietnam.