Industries
Automotive
Consumer Products
Practices
Corporate/M&A
Location
Thailand
Languages
Thai
English
Education

LLM, Golden Gate University School of Law

LLB, Thammasat University

Charunun Sathitsuksomboon
+66 2056 5541
[email protected]
Biography

Charunun Sathitsuksomboon is a partner in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Bangkok office, where she advises on complex commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions (M&As), joint ventures, due diligence, foreign direct investment, cross-border transactions, corporate restructuring, and e-commerce matters. She represents clients across a broad range of industries, including automotive and electric vehicles, banking and finance, consumer goods, insurance, life sciences, manufacturing, renewable energy, and technology.

With deep knowledge of Thailand’s regulatory landscape, Charunun regularly advises international companies on investments, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions involving the Thai market. Her legal expertise and client service have earned recognition from leading legal directories, including Chambers Asia-Pacific, IFLR 1000, and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, which rank her among Thailand's leading M&A lawyers. Since 2021, she has also been included in IFLR 1000's Asia-Pacific Women Leaders publication and has been repeatedly recognized by Asian Legal Business as one of Asia's Top 15 M&A Lawyers.

Charunun regularly writes and speaks on doing business in Thailand. She is a member of the Thai Bar Association and is licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand.

Experience
  • Advised Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited on the Thailand aspects of its approximately NZD 3.845 billion divestment of global consumer and associated businesses to Lactalis, including the carve-out and transfer of Thai operations and the restructuring of its Thai foodservice business.
  • Advised Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. on its THB 2.05 billion acquisition of Bridgestone Carbon Black (Thailand) Co., Ltd., including legal due diligence, transaction implementation, and Thai merger control analysis.
  • Advised Veolia Environmental Services (Thailand) Company Limited on its acquisition of a 33.33% stake in Eastern Seaboard Clean Energy Company Limited (ESCE) and related shareholder and financing arrangements, strengthening its position in Thailand's waste-to-energy sector.
  • Advised a leading Korean biopharmaceutical company on a joint venture with a Thai state-owned pharmaceutical enterprise to develop and manufacture vaccines in Thailand, involving foreign investment, regulatory, and public procurement considerations.
  • Advised a Thai media and digital content company on a strategic investment and joint venture with one of Thailand's leading media groups, including transaction structuring, shareholder arrangements, and governance matters.
  • Advised a global consumer healthcare and optical products company on a strategic, meaningful investment in Thailand’s largest optical retail chain, with over 2,000 stores across all regions of the country, including foreign investment, governance, and control structuring.
  • Represented a world-leading French energy company in the transfer of several solar power projects in Thailand in a transaction with major conglomerates that maintain key production facilities in the country. Prior to the transfer, we assisted the client in establishing a joint venture with another leading Asian energy company in Thailand to receive the ongoing solar projects.
  • Advised a European commercial vehicle manufacturer on Thai elements of a strategic alliance and multi-billion-dollar acquisition involving five local subsidiaries.
  • Advised a European private equity firm on Thai aspects of two acquisitions totaling EUR 160 million, involving a cargo container supplier and a catering equipment manufacturer serving the global aviation industry.
  • Supported the Thai aspects of a global pharmaceutical spin-off focused on women’s health and biosimilars, culminating in the launch of a newly listed company on the NYSE.
  • Advised a global technology company on the Thai aspects of its managed infrastructure services spin-off.
  • Advised a prominent investment and advisory firm on its strategic acquisition of a majority stake in a Thailand-based maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company, enhancing its footprint in the aviation sector.
  • Advised a global consumer goods conglomerate on the potential divestment of parts of its international consumer business, including significant operations and subsidiaries in Thailand.
  • Assisted a Japanese multinational technology group with the spin-off and carve-out of two Thai entities, including the establishment of a new entity to support future strategic transactions.
  • Supported a Japan-headquartered business equipment provider in managing the Thai legal aspects of its cross-border merger with a multinational imaging and electronics company.
  • Advised a leading Korean automotive manufacturer on its significant investment in Thailand for the development of an electric vehicle battery production facility.
  • Assisted a Japanese entertainment company in forming a joint venture with Thailand’s largest entertainment group to foster talent development and cross-border collaboration.
  • Represented CTBC Bank, one of the largest privately owned banks in Taiwan, in its THB 4.2 billion (approx. USD 128 million) direct acquisition of an additional 10.99% stake in LH Financial Group Public Company Limited, which owns LH Bank, among other subsidiaries in Thailand.
  • Retained to advise a leading multinational electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer on all aspects of its entry into the Thai market for the importation and sale of EVs in Thailand, including advice on company establishment, Board of Investment incentives and approvals, foreign business licenses and certificates, foreign investment and ownership, O&M licenses and agreements, and employment matters.
  • Assisted the client in setting up a Thai-U.S. Treaty of Amity company to carry out the first number-portability project in Thailand.
  • Provided assistance to a manufacturer of beverage-filling machines to accomplish the first registration of machinery ownership by a foreign entity with no subsidiary in Thailand. In the past, only registered Thai companies or foreign entities with subsidiaries in Thailand were allowed to register such machinery ownership. The machinery was valued at USD 5.26 million.
  • Assisted an aerospace and defense company to acquire a minority shareholding interest in three Thai companies engaged in high-tech products and related services valued at THB 205 million.
  • Assisted a worldwide distributor of dental and healthcare related products, listed on the NASDAQ, in an acquisition and joint venture with a market-dominant Thai distributor of medical and dental equipment.
  • Represented a leading European security and defense company before and after a joint venture and acquisition of 40% shares in Thailand’s leading supplier of high-tech telecommunication products in a deal worth THB 200 million.
  • Assisted a listed Singaporean company in the hospitality industry in their acquisition of a medium-sized hotel in Thailand valued at approximately THB 600 million. Participated in all stages of the acquisition, from initial due diligence up to the transaction close, and provided guidance on all legal matters concerning local regulations surrounding corporate, property, and labor laws.
  • Provided assistance to an aesthetics beauty clinic, which has over 140 branches in Thailand, to restructure its group of companies whereby all five existing companies within the group transferred their assets and business, including 1,200 employees, requisite sanatorium and regulatory licenses, intellectual property, leases, and contracts to the newly established company. Advised on various fields of law throughout the transaction.
  • Assisted in the acquisition of a global paper chemicals business valued at EUR 153 million. Advised the client on legal due diligence, shareholding structure, forming a new legal entity, applications for related licenses, business transfer agreements, and related filings on the required procedural steps and permits before and after the acquisition.
  • Worked closely with a leading law firm in Singapore to advise a global ICT leader in the acquisition of a solution provider of digital communications equipment and systems as well as communication networks through a share acquisition or transfer of business and assets.
  • Represented a world leader in nutritional solutions and additives for animal feed in relation to its contemplated listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Conducted legal due diligence work for two Thai subsidiaries, issued a legal opinion, and provided guidance on regulations and completing the transaction.
  • Represented a publicly traded Japanese company in connection with the proposed acquisition of the majority of shares in a leading local IT company. Completed the legal due diligence exercise which uncovered various potential legal and regulatory issues. Provided guidance on regulations and explored alternatives to rectify noncompliance issues.
  • Advised a large IT and media corporation based in Mumbai in the acquisition of an Italian company which has subsidiaries in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Thailand. The transaction was valued at approximately EUR 25 million. This project required legal assistance in various fields of law and regulations, including corporate, release of security interests, and licensing compliance.