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Sippakorn Bunraksa

Associate

Biography

Sippakorn is an associate in Tilleke & Gibbins’ corporate and commercial department in Bangkok, where he primarily focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, financial technology, and regulatory compliance. His deep commercial and legal insights enable him to accurately address the business needs of his clients.

Sippakorn’s practice ranges from advising clients on capital markets transactions to providing specific legal advice in relation to securities, derivatives, and banking laws. Clients benefit from his invaluable legal knowledge on cross-border investments and securities offerings, offshore investments, and collaboration schemes or arrangements between offshore and onshore entities. He also possesses prior experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors, particularly in respect of cross-border trade of carbon credits and restructuring of oil and gas companies.

Prior to joining Tilleke & Gibbins, Sippakorn worked at international law firms and was an in-house counsel at a leading entertainment and metaverse company in Thailand. He holds an LLB from Thammasat University.

Experience

  • Advised two leading logistics companies in Thailand on a THB 19 billion merger transaction, with the transaction involving an offering of shares through a private placement scheme in a material and connected transaction that enabled the merged company to become the largest integrated logistics company and provider of supply chain solutions in ASEAN.
  • Advised a leading entertainment and metaverse company on the establishment of a joint venture to provide cybersecurity and related services, including advising on business arrangement structures and operations and preparing written documentation and internal processes and guidelines after completion.
  • Represented and advised local and foreign financial institutions and securities companies on the banking regulatory environment and other legal frameworks in Thailand related to the offering and marketing of financial and capital markets products.
  • Advised on the relevant laws in Thailand for cross-border transactions, offshore investments, and collaboration schemes between offshore entities and local intermediaries, as well as preparing comprehensive cross-border manuals for foreign financial institutions.
  • Analyzed local and international laws on cross-border trade of carbon credits and assisted in the drafting of a master trading agreement to enable domestic and cross-border transfers of emissions allowances.
ABOUT Sippakorn

Location

Languages

    Thai

    English

Education

    LLB, Thammasat University

Insights

July 8, 2026
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has issued new oversight and disclosure rules, effective July 1, 2026, overhauling the previous requirements. The reforms apply to listed companies, REITs, and property and infrastructure funds, and aim to enhance transparency, align with international standards, and ensure timely investor information. The key changes and practical implications are highlighted below. Major Shareholder Reporting When a shareholding change reaching or crossing 5% or any subsequent multiple of 5% is reported under section 246 of the Securities and Exchange Act or a tender offer is completed (except for voluntary delisting), listed companies must disclose an updated shareholder list for the month in which the triggering event occurred. The list must be compiled within five business days after month-end and disclosed within 14 days thereafter. Noncompliance will trigger a “notice pending” (NP) sign. This replaces the previous requirement to disclose shareholder lists only at annual general meetings or on record dates. Companies should coordinate with their share registrars to meet the new event-driven timelines. New Financial and Internal Control Disclosures The new rules require disclosure of material impairment, expected credit losses, and unreturned business deposits when these reach specified thresholds. Companies must also disclose events or indicators that may materially affect their internal control systems. Boards and audit committees should expect to escalate accounting and internal-control issues earlier, as these matters may now trigger standalone SET disclosure obligations—not just financial statement treatment. Backdoor Listing With the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulation on material transactions (MTs) taking effect on July 1, 2026, and now serving as the primary, standalone framework governing acquisitions and disposals, the SET needed to issue a standalone rule on backdoor listing matters. These matters had been covered by a previous regulation on MTs issued by the SET. The key differences between the SET’s
June 29, 2026
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking public input on significant amendments to the Securities and Exchange Act B.E. 2535 (1992) that would address recurring market abuses and eroded investor confidence observed by the SEC. Published on June 24, 2026, the consultation document targets share-pledging disclosure failures, hidden beneficial ownership, and fraudulent transactions by listed companies, all of which are issues that have threatened share prices and market stability across the Thai capital markets. Comments on the proposals are due by July 24, 2026. Mandatory Disclosure of Short Sales and Share Pledges The draft amendments introduce new reporting obligations for both short sales and share pledges. Persons who sell listed securities without having such securities in their possession (“short sales”) must comply with rules prescribed by the Capital Market Supervisory Board, ensuring standardized practices and preventing risks from such transactions. Major shareholders who pledge or encumber their shares in significant amounts must report those arrangements to the SEC, which may then disclose the information to the public. These amendments directly respond to recent market abuses, including short selling without proper safeguards and instances where directors or major shareholders have pledged large share blocks without disclosure to investors, only to have those shares forcibly sold when collateral was called, causing dramatic share price declines and disrupting ownership structures and market stability. Reportable transactions for share pledges include the following: Shares used as margin account collateral Shares pledged as loan security, with immediate transfer upon default Shares formally pledged under the Civil and Commercial Code or registered with the Thailand Securities Depository Failure to report share pledges triggers criminal penalties, as does failure to comply with short sale requirements. By requiring advance disclosure and standardized short sale procedures, the SEC aims to enable investors to assess ownership stability and default
April 10, 2026
Following Thailand’s recent expansion of the “major shareholder” definition for securities and digital asset businesses, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched a public hearing on April 7, 2026, on expanding the major shareholder definition further to cover funding sources behind share acquisitions in licensed securities and digital asset business operators. The public hearing will remain open for 15 days from the launch date, after which the proposed expansion is expected to take effect promptly so that operators can comply with both the earlier and additional requirements within the 180-day transitional period under the earlier regulations. Funding Sources Captured Under Control-Based Test Under the draft rules, persons who fund direct or indirect major shareholders’ acquisition of shares in a licensed operator would be deemed “controlling persons” and subject to SEC approval as major shareholders. This extends beyond traditional lenders to include guarantors, counterparties to derivatives or structured products, and any arrangement that results in a person being, directly or indirectly, a source of funding to a major shareholder. The SEC proposes to exempt three categories of funding arrangements from approval: Loans from Thai licensed financial institutions or BCBS (Basel Committee on Banking Supervision)-jurisdiction foreign banks; Margin loans for securities trading under Thai securities law; and Repurchase agreements under Thai securities law. Exemptions for Funding Sources of Government-Linked Entities The consultation proposes to stop look-through beyond the level of certain government-linked shareholders, including, without limitation, ministries, departments, bureaus, public organizations, independent agencies, and certain state enterprises. The SEC reasons that these entities’ mandates, duties, and funding sources are already subject to government oversight and audit, presenting minimal ownership-structure risk. Practical Implications Licensed securities and digital asset business operators should begin mapping their funding chains under the expanded definition in preparation for filing approval applications for any newly captured funding providers
March 10, 2026
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have issued regulations broadening the criteria for determining who qualifies as a “major shareholder” of licensed securities and digital asset business operators. Under relevant SEC regulations, major shareholders of a regulated entity must obtain regulatory approval and undergo screening by the SEC. The revised framework introduces both shareholding-based and control-based tests to determine which shareholders require regulatory approval for a wider range of indirect ownership structures and de facto control. The Ministry of Finance notification took effect on February 21, 2026, while the SEC’s clarifying rules took effect on March 4, 2026. These changes aim to enhance transparency around beneficial ownership and strengthen regulatory oversight of entities operating in Thailand’s capital markets. Expanded Definition Under the revised framework, a “major shareholder” now includes persons who directly or indirectly hold more than 10% of the voting rights in a regulated company, as well as persons who exercise control over the regulated company or its shares. This system of two separate tests, based on both shareholding and control, differs from the prior regime, which focused primarily on shareholding thresholds and applied a more limited method for determining indirect shareholdings. The two tests (detailed below) operate independently of each other, and any person identified by either of the tests will be deemed a major shareholder. Shareholding-Based Test Broadens Indirect Ownership Attribution For the shareholding-based test, the SEC recognizes two existing methods for identifying indirect ownership, together with a new proportional attribution method. Any person captured under these methods, which are described below, will be regarded as a major shareholder of the regulated company and must obtain SEC approval as a major shareholder. First, the existing framework continues to apply to both first-tier and chain ownership structures. Approval is required for (1) first-tier

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.
March 9, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted in multiple firmwide and individual categories at the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026, including Regional Firm of the Year, reflecting the firm’s work across Southeast Asia and the continued development of its regional practices. In the individual categories, Aye Thuzar Hlaing has been shortlisted for Myanmar Associate of the Year (Corporate and M&A), and Linh Duy Mai has been shortlisted for Vietnam Associate of the Year (Intellectual Property). Tilleke & Gibbins has also been shortlisted in the following firm categories: Regional Firm of the Year Thailand – Law Firm of the Year Thailand – Law Firm of the Year (Litigation) Myanmar – Law Firm of the Year Vietnam – Law Firm of the Year Vietnam – Law Firm of the Year (Labor and Employment) Laos – Law Firm of the Year The winners will be announced on April 30, 2026, at the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards ceremony in Singapore. To browse the full shortlist for the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026, please see the Legal 500 website.

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