You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

Go Back

Maprang Sombatthai

Counsel

Biography

Maprang Sombatthai is a counsel in the corporate and commercial department at Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok. Multinational corporations seek her expert advice across a variety of complex legal matters, particularly M&A transactions, international investment projects, commercial and e-commerce laws, internet and privacy laws, litigation, and regulatory matters.

With over two decades of experience in international law firms and as an in-house legal counsel—including as head of legal at a leading insurance company and legal director at a global IT commercial company—Maprang provides clear, actionable legal strategies that help businesses excel in Southeast Asia. She has helped businesses overcome numerous licensing and regulatory obstacles in Thailand, including in relation to brokerage licensing, foreign business licenses, direct marketing and e-commerce licensing, e-payment and e-money licensing, and investment projects. In addition, she has successfully managed numerous business-focused litigation and arbitration cases. In recognition of her extensive experience and leadership, Maprang has been named to The Legal 500’s GC Powerlist Thailand since 2023 and the GC Powerlist Southeast Asia in 2024.

Maprang also actively contributes to the legal community in Thailand and the region. She served as a director of the Law Chula Alumni Association and frequently participates as a guest speaker at events hosted by universities, industry associations, media partners, and professional services organizations, and as a judge for the Chula Legal Tech competition. She also contributes thought-leadership articles and insights on doing business in the region. In addition, Maprang is a cofounder of the Thai Corporate Counsel Association (THAI-CCA), through which she has fostered strong professional ties and collaboration between in-house counsel and private practitioners.

Maprang holds an LLB in International Law from Chulalongkorn University and an LLM in European Business Law from the Université Paul Cezanne Aix-Marseille III. She is a lawyer and notarial services attorney licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand, is an extraordinary member of the Thai Bar Association, holds CIPP/E certification from the IAPP, and completed the Mini MBA program at Seoul National University.

Experience

  • Established and scaled the legal function of a leading tech startup, driving its growth from under 100 to over 2,000 employees, building and leading a 12-member legal team to deliver expertise in transactions, regulatory compliance, and strategic engagement with regulators on commercial, privacy, cybersecurity, and platform laws.
  • Pioneered the legal foundations for a leading delivery platform in Thailand by drafting its first contracts and guiding its establishment, also playing a pivotal role in a major merger and acquisition and the setup of its regional headquarters, driving its growth into one of Thailand’s largest ride-hailing and delivery platforms with over 1,000 employees.
  • Directed legal and compliance functions for an insurance and brokerage business, successfully obtaining a composite broker license. Acted as compliance officer, led a major M&A transaction, and strengthened corporate governance by managing board and shareholder meetings as company secretary.
  • Successfully handled high-profile insurance litigation, including claims from the 2010 Bangkok unrest and Thailand’s 2011 floods, overseeing cases involving major commercial properties. Achieved favorable settlements and strategic resolutions that safeguarded the insurer against substantial financial exposure while preserving its reputation.
  • Delivered legal research and analysis on government and turnkey contracts for a major expressway construction project, resolving complex regulatory issues and strengthening litigation strategies. Contributed to favorable case outcomes, mitigating financial exposure and reinforcing compliance in high-value infrastructure development.
ABOUT Maprang

Industries

Consumer Products

Fintech

Insurance

Technology

Practices

Competition and Trade

Compliance and Investigations

Corporate/M&A

Employment

Location

Languages

    Thai

    English

Education

    LLM, Université Paul Cezanne Aix-Marseille III

    LLB, Chulalongkorn University

Insights

August 21, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce that the firm has adopted Harvey, a leading enterprise-grade AI platform for the global legal industry. The firm is proceeding with a rollout of Harvey’s legal AI solutions, which are supported by robust security and confidentiality protections, across the firm’s full-service regional practice in Southeast Asia. This initiative builds on the firm’s recent deployment of Microsoft Copilot and represents another advancement in Tilleke & Gibbins’ commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced legal service delivery. Under the program, legal professionals across the firm’s offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam will have access to the full Harvey platform, equipping them to deliver practical, impactful, and results-driven legal services for clients throughout the region. The firm will also develop bespoke agentic workflows within Harvey tailored to the firm’s core practices and the unique requirements of Southeast Asian legal markets. Commenting on the initiative, Managing Partner Tiziana Sucharitkul stated, “At Tilleke & Gibbins, we have consistently invested in developing and adopting technology to improve the speed, precision, and overall excellence of our legal services. The firm’s decision to invest in Harvey exemplifies our commitment to innovation, further differentiating Tilleke & Gibbins within Southeast Asia’s legal landscape.” Managing Partner Darani Vachanavuttivong remarked, “By combining the deep regional expertise of our lawyers with Harvey’s market-leading domain-specific AI, we are empowering our regional team to streamline drafting, research, and review processes for complex legal matters, all while maintaining the high standards of quality and security our clients expect from us.” Harvey’s Chief Business Officer John Haddock added, “It’s clear Tilleke & Gibbins is investing heavily in innovation, and it’s clear their global clients will benefit significantly from their focus and investment. The Harvey team is thrilled to support the firm’s journey with our platform.”
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
December 15, 2023
As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has published an updated edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand for 2023. This guide outlines the key factors for starting and operating a business in the Thai market. Issues covered include: Investment incentives Financial facilities Exchange controls Import and export regulations Structures for doing business Requirements for the Establishment of a Business Operation of the Business Cessation or Termination of the Business Labor legislation, relations, and supply Tax Immigration requirements This publication is part of Lex Mundi’s Country Guides series prepared by member firms in more than 100 jurisdictions worldwide. The guides serve as a useful resource for planning international business strategy and researching new markets. The full Guide to Doing Business in Thailand is available through the button below.
Read More

Awards & Rankings

September 12, 2025
The 2025/2026 edition of the IFLR1000 Asia-Pacific rankings, released by International Financial Law Review (IFLR), highlights Tilleke & Gibbins’ continued excellence in financial and corporate transactional work. The firm has maintained its strong rankings across multiple jurisdictions and practice areas while achieving notable upgrades and new recognitions, reaffirming its position as a leading firm in the Asia-Pacific region. This year, Tilleke & Gibbins received firmwide rankings in key jurisdictions, including: Thailand Banking & Finance—Tier 3 Capital Markets: Debt—Tier 3 Capital Markets: Equity—Tier 3 M&A—Tier 2 Project Development—Tier 2 Restructuring & Insolvency—Tier 3 Vietnam Banking & Finance—Tier 4 M&A—Tier 3 Project Development—Tier 3 Cambodia Financial & Corporate—Tier 2 Project Development—Tier 2 Laos Financial & Corporate—Tier 2 In addition to these firmwide rankings, Tilleke & Gibbins had several standout individual recognitions, with 12 lawyers honored in the 2025/2026 individual rankings—an increase from last year’s 10. This year’s results include upgraded rankings for John Frangos and new rankings for Charupat Boon-Long, Derrick Khoo, Prisna Sungwanna, and Saravut Krailadsiri. The full list is as follows: Charunun Sathitsuksomboon—Highly Regarded, M&A, Thailand; Women Leader Charupat Boon-Long—Rising Star, M&A, Thailand (new ranking) David Mol—Rising Star, Corporate and M&A, Cambodia Derrick Khoo—Rising Star (Partner), Financial and Corporate, Thailand (new ranking) Jay Cohen—Highly Regarded, Banking, Cambodia John Frangos—Highly Regarded, Restructuring & Insolvency, Thailand (upgraded ranking) Niti Muangkote—Rising Star, Financial & Corporate and Project Development, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand Prisna Sungwanna—Highly Regarded, Financial & Corporate, Laos (new ranking) Saithong Rattana—Notable Practitioner, Project Development and M&A, Laos Santhapat Periera—Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance and M&A, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand Saravut Krailadsiri—Notable Practitioner, Thailand (new ranking) Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen—Highly Regarded, M&A, Vietnam To see the full set of IFLR1000 rankings for Tilleke & Gibbins’ jurisdictions, please see the Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam pages
Read More
May 13, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized in the In-House Community (IHC) Firms of the Year 2024, earning accolades across 19 categories in Thailand and Vietnam. The results, based on surveys of in-house counsel across Asia, reflect client perspectives on the quality and responsiveness of legal services in key practice areas. The firm received 11 Firm of the Year awards and two honorable mentions in Thailand, along with six Firm of the Year awards in Vietnam. Notably, Tilleke & Gibbins was named “Most Responsive International Law Firm” in both jurisdictions—an acknowledgment that underscores the firm’s longstanding commitment to client service. Firm of the Year – Thailand Most Responsive International Law Firm Antitrust/Competition Banking and Finance Employment Energy and Projects Intellectual Property International Arbitration Litigation and Dispute Resolution Real Estate and Construction Taxation Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Honorable Mention: Capital Markets Honorable Mention: Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year – Vietnam Most Responsive International Law Firm Employment Intellectual Property International Arbitration Litigation and Dispute Resolution Technology, Media, and Telecommunications The IHC Firms of the Year rankings are determined through responses from thousands of in-house counsel and corporate decision-makers in Asia and the Middle East. Tilleke & Gibbins is honored to receive this recognition from the clients and peers it serves across the region.
Read More
April 18, 2025
Asian Legal Business has released its 2025 “Employer of Choice” rankings, and Tilleke & Gibbins has once again secured top honors as a premier employer in the legal sector in both Thailand and Vietnam. This marks the 13th consecutive year that the firm has been recognized as Employer of Choice in Thailand and the 11th time in Vietnam.
Read More

Other Professionals

See All Professionals