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Santhapat Periera

Partner

Biography

In his multifaceted practice, Santhapat Periera helps clients—whether they are private, quasi-governmental, or governmental financial institutions, international or domestic businesses, or individual investors—capitalize on business opportunities in Asia. He specializes in structuring loan and financial transactions, establishing banks and other financial institutions, negotiating financing for trade and development projects, debt restructuring and business reorganization, mergers and acquisitions, energy and natural resources, and advising on the regulatory aspects of banking, financing, and investment in Thailand and across Southeast Asia. Based on his legal expertise and client service, Santhapat is ranked as a leading lawyer by Asialaw Profiles and IFLR 1000.

With more than 30 years’ experience practicing law in emerging jurisdictions, Santhapat’s practice is grounded in Asia but inspired by his international education and professional experience. He received a global legal education from Thammasat University, the University of Miami, Boston University, and Harvard Law School. In addition to being a licensed attorney in Thailand, Santhapat holds a license to practice in Vietnam in the areas of foreign and international laws. Santhapat represents Tilleke & Gibbins in the worldwide legal organizations of Lex Mundi and the International Bar Association.

A firm believer that, “foreign investors anywhere would prefer to have stable and predictable government policy,” Santhapat has served as an advisor to several committees and subcommittees of the Thai Parliament. Santhapat advocates for increased investment in Thailand as the firm’s representative to various chambers of commerce, including The Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand.

Experience

  • Acted as legal advisor to Chuwit Farm (2019) Public Company Limited (BKK:CFARM) on all legal aspects of its IPO and listing on Thailand’s Market for Alternative Investment, with its first day of trading commencing on June 6, 2024.
  • Obtained BOI investment promotion for a leading biotechnology company.
  • Assisted an aerospace and defense company to acquire a minority shareholding interest in three Thai companies engaged in high-tech products and related services. (Deal value: THB 205,000,000.)
  • Provided advice related to cross-border electronic payment transactions to a credit card settlement company.
  • Selected from several candidate law firms to assist a reputable Thai manufacturer in the IPO process, including preparation, conversion to public company, SEC filing, and SET listing. Several years after the IPO, the company has greatly prospered such that the owner has become one of the ten richest persons in Thailand. We are proud to continue representing this client.
  • Facilitated client growth and increased capital for business operations by converting the client’s business from a private to a public company and listing its securities on the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) stock exchange.
  • Assisted a leading international bank on amendment agreements to a Term and Revolving Facilities Agreement and an Intercreditor Agreement with a large power cables supplier and manufacturer.
  • Assisted a leading manufacturer of biodegradable tableware in several agreements surrounding an investment by a Thai asset management company. This included a Memorandum of Understanding, a Convertible Debenture Subscription Agreement, a Share Purchase Agreement, a Shareholders Agreement, and the Terms and Conditions of the Convertible Debentures Agreement. The aggregate value of the funding was THB 450 million.
  • Represented a private equity fund controlled by a subsidiary of one of Asia’s largest banking and finance groups. A Share Subscription and Investment Agreement, an Undertaking Agreement, and a Disclosure Letter were prepared for investment into a major rubber company in Thailand.
  • Acted for a large specialty finance company and a privately owned hedge fund sponsor as First and Second Lien Lenders respectively, in a Financing Agreement and a Loan Agreement involving other group companies and their Thai subsidiaries.
  • Represented a leading European security and defense company before and after a joint venture and acquisition of 40 percent shares in Thailand’s leading supplier of high-tech telecommunication products in a deal worth THB 200 million.
  • Represented a major carbon black producer in Japan, also a shareholder in a related Thai based company, in their interest to acquire a controlling position in the Thai entity.
  • Represented a multinational supplier to the petroleum industry in the establishment of their Thailand operations. In establishing their base of operations in Southeast Asia, we developed a flexible approach to provide for continued growth of the business in the region, and to minimize tax exposure for the company.
  • Advised a global supplier in the heavy industries sector on various matters relating to the supply and installation of a production platform, bridges, and a flare tower in development of a petroleum concession, with a focus on tax matters (total contract price was approximately USD 1 billion).
ABOUT Santhapat

Industries

Aviation

Energy

Practices

Banking and Finance

Capital Markets

Corporate/M&A

Locations

Languages

    Thai

    English

Education

    LLM, Boston University

    MCL, University of Miami

    LLB, Thammasat 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.”
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August 14, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins’ Bangkok-based aviation specialists have authored the Thailand chapter of Aviation Finance & Leasing 2025 from Chambers and Partners. This annual guide examines the key legal issues impacting aircraft lessors, lessees, and financiers in 37 jurisdictions worldwide. In addition to the Thailand chapter, Tilleke & Gibbins also contributed the Vietnam chapter to this year’s edition. The Thailand chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the country’s legal framework governing all aspects of aircraft sale and purchase, aircraft and engine leasing, and aircraft debt finance. Some topics covered include: sale and lease agreement terms taxation lease registration and enforcement lease assignment/novation insurance and reinsurance debt structuring securities liens The guide also examines other matters with practical implications for the aviation industry’s day-to-day operations. Chambers and Partners’ Global Practice Guides provide in-house counsel with authoritative commentary on practical legal issues affecting business, enabling readers to compare legislation and procedures across multiple jurisdictions. The Thailand chapter of Aviation Finance & Leasing 2025 is available as a PDF through the button below, courtesy of Chambers and Partners. The full guide can be accessed for free on the Chambers and Partners website.
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June 27, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins has contributed the Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam chapters to Taking and Enforcing Collateral Security and Guarantees in Southeast Asia, a comparative guide developed by Drew Network Asia (DNA). The publication examines the legal frameworks governing collateral security and guarantees across seven Southeast Asian jurisdictions and is intended to assist financial institutions, corporate borrowers, and cross-border investors in evaluating secured lending options in the region. The guide provides a practical overview of key issues relevant to taking and enforcing security interests—covering, among other topics, the types of assets that may be secured, the formalities and registration requirements for creating security, and the rights and procedures available in enforcement scenarios. Each chapter follows a consistent question-and-answer format to allow readers to compare approaches across jurisdictions easily. While the guide offers a high-level survey of the region’s collateral and guarantee regimes, it also notes that country-specific developments and transaction-specific considerations may affect the applicable requirements. Readers seeking detailed advice are encouraged to consult the lawyers listed at the end of each jurisdictional chapter. The full guide is available for download using the button below or directly from the DNA website.
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June 12, 2025
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance has issued a royal decree placing the business of hire purchase and leasing of cars and motorcycles under the scope of the Financial Institution Business Act B.E. 2551 (2008), effective December 2, 2025. This is to ensure appropriate regulatory oversight of these business activities, as they function similarly to credit granting and serve as a source of funding for the public with a broad impact on the overall economic system and consumers at large. The business operators that this royal decree applies to include corporate entities engaging regularly in the business of hire purchase or leasing of cars or motorcycles, currently excluding: Financial institutions and specialized financial institutions. Individuals operating such businesses (noncorporate entities). Cooperatives. Key regulatory obligations of this royal decree include the following: Business operators must disclose interest rates, service fees, and other relevant business information to the public and report to the Bank of Thailand (BOT). Business operators must display how the annual percentage rate (APR), including all annual charges covering interest and service fees, is calculated. Business operators must maintain accurate accounting records in accordance with recognized accounting standards. The BOT may issue warnings or suspend operations if business operators fail to comply with this royal decree or act unfairly in a way that may result in serious harm to customers. Directors, managers, and responsible persons of any business operator that violates this royal decree may also be subject to the prescribed penalties. Before the royal decree takes effect, business operators should conduct internal assessments and engage with counsel to prepare for regulatory implementation. The BOT is expected to issue further subordinate regulations and guidance regarding: Interest, service fees, deposits, collateral, benefits, and penalties that may be charged by business operators. Contract content, methods of benefit calculation, and format in conducting
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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.
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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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