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Biography

Atul Lakshman is a consultant at Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok, where he regularly provides advice and assistance to domestic and international clients on high-value, fast-paced, and complex cross-border transactions, as well as general corporate matters. He handles a wide range of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, venture capital and other strategic transactions on both the buy and sell sides across Southeast Asia for clients in infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, and other sectors. He is also involved in advising businesses in emerging economies such as Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.

Prior to joining Tilleke & Gibbins, Atul practiced in multiple leading law firms in India, where he facilitated major transactions and provided complex corporate legal advice for clients across aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, fintech, venture capital, and a range of other industries.

Atul holds an LLM in International Financial Law from King’s College, London, a master’s degree in Security and Defence Laws from NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, and a BA and LLB from Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies, an affiliate of Karnataka State Law University. He is qualified to practice law by the Bar Council of India (Karnataka) and speaks fluent English, Hindi, and Kannada.

Experience

  • Advised one of the biggest multinational state-owned Chinese shipping and logistics conglomerates in the world in its acquisition of one of the largest ports in Myanmar, as part of a worldwide acquisition of ports involving more than 25 jurisdictions and 200 shipping and logistics companies.
  • Advised a Hong Kong based client with a wide Southeast Asia presence in conducting extensive pre-IPO Myanmar due diligence, review of definitive documents, and rectification of non-compliances.
  • Actively advising the world’s biggest electric vehicle manufacturer in a strategic joint venture in Thailand for development, installation and distribution of an ultra-fast electric vehicle charging ecosystem.
  • Assisted a leading Thai securities brokerage company in structuring offshore sale of its shares in a licensed Myanmar securities brokerage firm.
  • Assisted a leading Indian space-tech startup involved in engineering, design, development, and testing of all aspects of affordable satellites and launch vehicles in its early-stage and growth-stage domestic and foreign transactions.
  • Represented a leading offshore Chinese technology company in its acquisition of shares in entities located in Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar, as part of a debt-offset arrangement.
  • Advised UK-based shareholders and an Indian company involved in manufacture, distribution, sale and service of vacuum pumps and vacuum pumping systems in its 100% share acquisition by a Swedish group of companies.
  • Provided end-to-end transaction assistance, including due diligence support, to a strategic Indian venture capital fund in all its early-stage investments in domestic and overseas companies that predominantly operate in the technology sector.
  • Advised an electric-automobile giant in its corporate due diligence in Thailand and strategic partnership in Cambodia.
  • Assisted a Bangalore-based automotive company on its business acquisition and hiring of several key employees of a competing business in the automotive sector, and assisted existing shareholders of the acquiring company in their successful exits.
ABOUT Atul

Practices

Corporate/M&A

Languages

    English

    Hindi

    Kannada

Education

    LLM, King’s College, London

    MA, NALSAR University of Law

    BA and LLB, Karnataka State Law University

Insights

May 2, 2025
Attorneys from Tilleke & Gibbins have updated the latest edition of Doing Business in Thailand, a Q&A-style guide from Thomson Reuters Practical Law that offers an overview of key legal considerations for companies operating in jurisdictions worldwide. The contribution outlines the country’s legal and regulatory framework for foreign investment and business operations and reflects the latest legislative developments. The chapter addresses the following core topics: Legal system: Structure of the courts and the codified nature of Thai law. Foreign investment: Business restrictions under the Foreign Business Act, sector-specific regulations, exchange control rules, and investment incentives. Business vehicles: Overview of partnerships, private and public limited companies, and other legal entities. Employment: Labor protections, employment contracts, foreign worker requirements, and termination procedures. Tax: Corporate and personal income tax, indirect taxes, and tax obligations for residents and non-residents. Intellectual property: Registration and enforcement of patents, trademarks, designs, and copyrights. Data protection: Key provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act and related compliance obligations. Competition law: Regulatory framework under the Trade Competition Act. Anti-bribery and corruption: Relevant legislation and enforcement mechanisms. E-commerce and digital business: Legal regime for online transactions and digital platforms. Marketing and advertising: Consumer protection laws and regulations affecting advertising and marketing practices. Product regulation and liability: Safety standards, liability regimes, and roles of enforcement authorities. 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.
March 17, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins has contributed the Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam chapters to Data Protection and Cybersecurity Regulation in Southeast Asia, a wide-ranging guide published by Drew Network Asia (DNA). The resource provides a comprehensive overview of data protection and cybersecurity laws across the region, offering practical insight into compliance requirements and regulatory developments affecting organizations that handle personal data or operate digital services in Southeast Asia. The guide begins with a regional overview, including the broader ASEAN context and cooperation initiatives. Jurisdiction-specific chapters follow a consistent structure—covering data privacy and governance obligations, security requirements and breach notification, outsourcing and cross-border data transfers, and broader accountability and compliance measures. This format allows readers to compare regulatory approaches across markets such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and others. In addition to the country chapters, the publication addresses cybersecurity and privacy engineering challenges, providing guidance for organizations and outlining obligations applicable to data controllers, processors, and intermediaries. A dedicated section on data breach management across ASEAN examines notification requirements, response considerations, and practical steps for managing incidents in a regional or global context. The guide is intended to serve as a practical reference, and the authors note that specific legal requirements may vary depending on sector, processing activity, or evolving legislation. Readers seeking more detailed advice can contact the practitioners listed in each chapter. The full guide is available for download using the button below or directly from the DNA website.
December 4, 2024
Thailand Legal Basics, a valuable primer for foreign investors, explores all aspects of living and doing business in Thailand. Written by specialists at Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok, it is the only comprehensive English-language guide to the Thai legal system with a focus on the concerns of foreign business and investment.
July 19, 2024
Tilleke & Gibbins has contributed the Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam chapters to How the Use of Artificial Intelligence Is Regulated in Southeast Asia, a comparative resource published by Drew Network Asia (DNA). The guide provides an accessible introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) and examines how ASEAN member states are approaching governance, regulation, and responsible deployment of AI technologies. The publication begins by outlining core AI concepts and summarizing the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, which reflects the region’s collective approach to promoting innovation while addressing risks. It then presents a comparative overview of nine ASEAN jurisdictions, highlighting emerging national strategies, regulatory developments, and institutional frameworks. Each country chapter responds to a consistent set of ten practical questions. These cover whether a national AI strategy has been issued; the extent to which dedicated AI laws or sectoral regulations apply; the existence of relevant judicial decisions; available guidelines and government support schemes; regulators responsible for AI oversight; approaches to liability, copyright, and data protection; and key considerations for organizations deploying AI technologies. By consolidating developments across the region, the guide serves as a useful reference for businesses exploring AI-related opportunities or compliance obligations in Southeast Asia. As regulatory approaches continue to evolve, readers seeking jurisdiction-specific advice are encouraged to contact the practitioners listed in each chapter. The full guide is available for download using the button below or directly from the DNA website.

Awards & Rankings

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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