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

Suruswadee Jaimsuwan

Partner

Biography

Suruswadee Jaimsuwan is a partner in the firm’s dispute resolution group, advising clients in both criminal and civil cases. As a former judge with the Thai Courts of Justice, Suruswadee uses her unique insight to identify creative ways to help clients achieve their goals. Owing to her legal expertise, she is recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a commercial and transactions Litigation Star in Thailand and by Asialaw as a dispute resolution Distinguished Practitioner in Thailand.

Suruswadee has extensive legal experience on and off the bench, bolstered by a deep knowledge of Thai law and court procedure. She uses her expertise to develop strong and practical legal strategies, and to provide flawless advocacy in the courtroom. She presents facts and evidence to the courts and regulators clearly and persuasively, for the benefit of her clients. Moreover, as a mediation expert, she has a superb ability to explore alternative dispute resolution options and identify areas of agreement to seek solutions. Suruswadee works closely with the firm’s litigators to share her insights on potential solutions, negotiation techniques, and Thai court practice and procedure, thus giving our clients a competitive edge.

In addition to her judicial career, Suruswadee worked for Thailand’s Department of Labour Protection and Welfare under a scholarship from the Office of the Civil Service Commission. In that position, she worked closely with various governmental authorities on labor law research and development. This opportunity provided her with an outstanding comprehension of the practical workings of labor law.

A trusted and respected legal advisor and attorney, Suruswadee is regularly invited to present her insights on a wide range of legal issues in Thailand, including those related to employment law, arbitration, class actions, white-collar crime, and administrative proceedings. She has also been entrusted by local legislators to contribute to the formation of new laws and regulations, including Thailand’s recent Civil Partnership Bill. In 2025, she was appointed as an advisor to a House of Representatives committee tasked with reviewing the amendment of Thailand’s anti-money laundering law.

Suruswadee received her legal education in Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Australia. She also received litigation, mediation, legislative development, and judicial training from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University, the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives at the University of Victoria, and the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization.

Suruswadee is a barrister-at-law qualified by the Thai Bar Association, a notary public, an arbitrator on the rosters of both the Thai Arbitration Institute and Thailand Arbitration Center, and an active member of the Thailand Board of Trade. She is also known as an advocate on criminal justice, mediation, and vocational guidance for legal practitioners.

Experience

  • Successfully defended a leading multinational electronics company against criminal charges alleging breach of agreements relating to employment conditions, collective bargaining agreements, and an award by assisting client’s on legal advice, developing case strategy and representing client in court with the result that the court did not allow any of the plaintiff’s complaints to proceed further.
  • Defended a high-profile case in the Supreme Court Criminal Case Division for Persons Holding Political Positions and secured a historical best outcome for cases involved allegations of similar offenses, including by developing case strategy and representing the client in court.
  • Defended a multinational electronics company against false claims in connection with a subcontractor that failed to deliver work as agreed in upon in a construction agreement.
  • Advised on case strategy in relation to an ongoing contagious estate division dispute involving heirs in multiple jurisdictions in Southeast Asia.
  • Advised high-profile individuals on prenuptial agreements, family constitutions, and wills to prevent issues among future heirs.
  • Advised various multinational companies on draft agreements containing multitier dispute resolution clause concerning negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
  • Advised a multinational company on its online multilevel marketing business in relation to various legal concerns including potential criminal liabilities.
  • Defended directors and employees against criminal charges in relation to forgery and false documents by proposing and executing legal strategy, advising clients at inquiry meetings with related authorities, and getting warrants revoked in an ongoing investigation process.
  • Prosecuted and defended numerous highly contentious divorce cases, bringing a satisfactory conclusion to each by strategically negotiating favorable settlement based on legal issues overlooked by the counterparty.
  • Represented a client at the appeal stage of a high-profile divorce case and advised the client’s overseas legal team in relation to Thai law and practice, assisted in negotiating terms of the agreement, and succeeded in concluding amicable agreements in both Thailand and the overseas jurisdiction, and ensured a smooth and efficient process involving the Thai courts and the transition to implementing the agreement in Thailand.
  • Represented a multinational cosmetics company in the witness examination process and succeeded in enforcing a noncompete agreement and securing damages for a breach of the agreement.
  • Represented over 10 international insurance companies in multibillion-baht claims regarding product liability and wrongful acts, and won challenges on choice of court with jurisdiction over the case.
  • Advised on drafting a petition to the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to request that the matter be considered by the Constitutional Court; the court granted the request without delay.
  • Helped a multinational transportation company with negotiation strategy for a lease agreement as an alternate resolution to costly litigation.
  • Advised regional office of global insurance company on dismissal of employees resulting from the company’s structural changes.
  • Advised a leading multinational company on devising and executing disciplinary procedures and litigation strategy in a case potentially involving internal organized fraud and labor disputes, successfully preventing directors from facing potential criminal liabilities.
  • Advised on case strategy to have a criminal case filed by a juristic committee against our client withdrawn before further inquiry by the court. Besides securing withdrawal of the case, our advice kept the client from having to go through bail and court proceedings as the strategy was implemented.
  • Advised on weight of evidence in relation to expert witness and how to counter unfavorable expert witness opinion in a criminal forgery case.
  • Assisted a British client who was transferred to serve time in his home country by liaising with the Criminal Court, the Department of Corrections, and the British embassy in relation to a Thai court order for abatement and release under previously issued royal pardons.
  • Led an extensive research project into relevant portions of Thai criminal law as part of an international organization’s initiative concerning international and domestic legal instruments related to human trafficking, forced labor, and modern slavery. The research also involved exploring legislation on immigration, migrant workers, and labor law in order to identify potential areas for improvement and possible solutions for impacted parties.
  • Worked with the firm’s litigators to provide strategic advice to clients on a broad range of civil and criminal cases, including labor disputes, fraud and white-collar crime, corruption and misconduct offenses, commercial disputes, bankruptcy proceedings, and family disputes.
  • Presided in various courts over a numerous criminal and civil cases, demonstrating a level of professionalism that led both plaintiffs and defendants to have confidence in the judicial system.
  • Worked as part of the legal development teams of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare on drafting the Maritime Labour Act and on amending the Labour Protection Act and Labour Relations Act, relying on her knowledge of international labor law to provide recommendations and becoming known as an enthusiastic proponent of safe and healthy working conditions.
ABOUT Suruswadee

Practices

Compliance and Investigations

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Employment

Location

Languages

    Thai

    English

Education

    LLM, Monash University

    LLM, King’s College London

    LLB, Thammasat University

Insights

June 22, 2026
Arbitrator independence and impartiality form the cornerstone of a legitimate arbitral process. Under section 19 of the Thai Arbitration Act B.E. 2545 (2002), prospective arbitrators must disclose circumstances likely to give rise to justifiable doubts as to their impartiality or independence, and existing arbitrators must do so throughout proceedings. This mirrors article 12 of the UNCITRAL Model Law. Yet despite this clear mandate, practical implementation varies significantly across Thailand’s arbitration landscape. Background Thailand’s two principal arbitration institutions, the Thai Arbitration Institute (TAI) and the Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC), both maintain procedures for addressing arbitrator challenges and require compliance with the statutory disclosure obligation. Under both sets of rules, any party wishing to challenge an arbitrator must submit a challenge application within fifteen days of becoming aware of the relevant facts, and a committee is appointed to consider the matter on a case-by-case basis. The TAI additionally prescribes its Code of Ethics and Conduct for Arbitrators to further emphasize the expectation of impartiality and transparency. However, Thailand’s arbitration ecosystem extends well beyond the TAI and THAC. Several sector-specific institutions also administer arbitral proceedings, including the Thai Commercial Arbitration Office under the Board of Trade of Thailand, the Arbitration Centre of the Office of the Insurance Commission, the Arbitration Centre of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Office for the Prevention and Resolution of Disputes regarding Intellectual Property, and the Arbitration Centre of the Thai General Insurance Association. These institutions each operate under their own procedural rules, which were developed to serve particular industries and dispute profiles. The procedural mechanisms for securing and documenting an independence declaration are not uniformly established across these forums. Consequences of Procedural Inconsistency This creates a notable gap. Not all arbitration bodies have a formalized procedure requiring written independence statements before proceedings commence. Some tribunals proceed
Read More
January 5, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce the promotion of Chitchai Punsan and Suruswadee Jaimsuwan to partner in the firm’s Bangkok office, reinforcing the strength of the firm’s dispute resolution practice. Chitchai has over 15 years of experience representing multinational corporations in complex disputes throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia. With a broad-ranging practice of contentious matters, he brings particular depth in customs violations, economic crime and regulatory investigations, product liability disputes, and civil and criminal litigation. Beyond his client work, Chitchai is recognized as a thought leader on customs and trade disputes, regularly sharing his insights as clients look to navigate a complex, geopolitical environment.  He has also provided his expertise to a wide range of research projects for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank, playing an active role in shaping policy discussions on legal and regulatory issues impacting the region. Chitchai holds an LLB from Ramkhamhaeng University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kasetsart University, and is a member of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and the Thai Bar Association. Suruswadee has been serving clients with Tilleke & Gibbins since 2020. A former judge of the Thai Courts of Justice, she has extensive legal experience on and off the bench, bolstered by a deep knowledge of Thai law and court procedure. She uses her expertise to help clients develop strong and practical legal strategies, as well as to provide flawless advocacy in the courtroom. She is recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a commercial and transactions Litigation Star in Thailand and by Asialaw as a dispute resolution Distinguished Practitioner in Thailand. Suruswadee holds an LLM from Monash University, an LLM from King’s College London, and an LLB from Thammasat University. She is a barrister-at-law qualified by the Thai Bar Association, a
Read More
December 8, 2025
As Thailand transitions into an aged society, retirement policy and workplace protections for older workers have come into sharper focus. With public sentiment increasingly open to working beyond the traditional retirement age, questions about employee rights and employer obligations are more relevant than ever. In October 2025, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul proposed increasing the statutory retirement age to 65 for government officers, citing Thailand’s aged-society status and the potential social and economic benefits of longer working lives. While academics and stakeholders have raised concerns about systemic impacts, public opinion remains divided, with many workers signaling a willingness to continue working beyond the current norm. Against this backdrop, it’s worth revisiting what the Labor Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998) (LPA) requires in regard to retirement and severance pay. This article explains the current legal landscape under the LPA, with a focus on retirement and severance pay for employees over 60, recent judicial developments, and practical options for structuring postretirement engagements. Retirement as Termination Under the LPA Under the LPA, retirement—whether set by agreement between employer and employee or unilaterally stipulated by the employer—is deemed a termination of employment. As a result, employees who retire under such terms are entitled to severance pay. The law also adds a default rule: if there is no agreed or prescribed retirement age, or if the prescribed retirement age exceeds 60, an employee aged 60 or older may declare an intention to retire. The declaration takes effect 30 days after notice, and the employer must pay severance accordingly. In short, retirement triggered by agreement, the employer’s work rules, or an employee’s valid notice is treated as a termination, and statutory severance pay is owed. Hiring or Rehiring Employees Over 60 Practical issues arise when an employer’s work rules set a retirement age that does not
Read More
October 24, 2025
The Thai Arbitration Institute (TAI), a division of Thailand’s Office of the Judiciary, has taken a step toward harmonizing the tools available for dispute resolution. On August 8, 2025, the institute formally launched the TAI Mediation Center (TAI-MC). Although the amendments to TAI’s Arbitration Rules that will govern the TAI-MC have not yet been finalized, the framework now under consideration suggests that TAI is positioning itself to become a more attractive venue for commercial dispute resolution. In the regime contemplated under the current version of the amendments, TAI proceedings will adopt an “arbitration-annexed mediation” mechanism—commonly termed the “Med-Arb” model—while preserving the procedural safeguards indispensable to arbitral neutrality. Mediation will be entrusted to a separate, dedicated mediator appointed under the TAI-MC who is precluded from serving on the arbitral tribunal in the same matter. By clearly separating the functions of mediator and arbitrator, the institute eliminates any risk that confidential information disclosed during mediation could influence the adjudicatory outcome if the parties do not settle. Only when all parties subsequently make a request may that same mediator assume arbitral duties in the case. The parties will retain substantial autonomy in selecting the mediator. They may either designate a mediator by mutual consent or invite the TAI-MC to appoint one from its authorized panel. TAI has announced its intention to curate that panel with particular emphasis on commercial expertise and cross-cultural negotiation skills, supplemented by ongoing professional training. Where the parties cannot agree on remuneration, the mediator’s fee will default to a tariff comparable to the TAI-MC’s cost schedule, which under the current version of the amendments will be approximately THB 45,000 for disputes in which the aggregate claims do not exceed THB 10 million, with incremental increases tied to higher claim values. This predictable cost matrix is aimed at enhancing
Read More

Awards & Rankings

May 11, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has continued to show excellent performance in the recently released Benchmark Litigation 2026 rankings for dispute resolution firms in the Asia-Pacific region. The rankings include two jurisdictions where Tilleke & Gibbins is active: Thailand and Vietnam. Firm Rankings A full summary of the firm’s rankings is provided below: Thailand Commercial & Transactions – Tier 1 Government & Regulatory – Tier 1 Labor & Employment – Tier 1 Intellectual Property – Tier 1 Trade & Customs – Tier 2 Vietnam Commercial & Transactions (Foreign Firms) – Tier 1 Intellectual Property (Foreign Firms) – Tier 1 Labor & Employment (International Firms) – Highly Recommended (top tier awarded in this category) White Collar Crime – Recommended (top tier awarded in this category) Energy & Construction (Foreign Firms) – Tier 2 International Arbitration – Tier 2 Individual Rankings The 2026 edition also recognizes 12 Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers in Thailand—more than any other firm in the jurisdiction—and four in Vietnam. Thailand Alongkorn Tongmee – Trade & Customs Chitchai Punsan – Commercial & Transactions Chusert Supasitthumrong – Labor & Employment John Frangos – Commercial & Transactions Noppramart Thammateeradaycho – Shipping Nuttaphol Arammuang – Intellectual Property Piyawat Vitooraporn – Commercial & Transactions Pongpalin Chantrapirom – Commercial & Transactions Suebsiri Taweepon – Intellectual Property Suruswadee Jaimsuwan – Commercial & Transactions Thawat Damsa-ard – Commercial & Transactions Tiziana Sucharitkul – Commercial & Transactions, Government & Regulatory Vietnam Duc Anh Tran – Commercial & Transactions Linh Duy Mai – Intellectual Property Loc Xuan Le – Intellectual Property Tu Anh Tran – Commercial & Transactions Benchmark Litigation’s annual research is based on interviews with dispute resolution specialists and clients, as well as analysis of recent casework and market developments. To view the full results, please visit the Benchmark Litigation websites for Thailand and Vietnam.
Read More

Other Professionals

See All Professionals