Blumenthal Richter & Sumet Ltd.

The firm: Blumenthal Richter & Sumet assists clients to make confident business decisions. We are commercial and responsive, efficient and pragmatic. In a fast-changing world, we create simplicity for clients in the face of increasing complexity for them to make the right decisions, achieve their strategic priorities and identify new opportunities. We take the time to understand each of our client’s unique needs, and provide a solutions-driven commercial view with real in-depth knowledge of your sectors and markets.

For over 40 years, our licensed Thai, European and US attorneys have worked at our clients’ side, understanding your business while serving as a trusted counterpart who knows the law. Assisting you as a team, we collaborate with our clients to navigate not only the legal issues but the regulatory aspects impacting your business sectors.

Our experience in the automotive, real estate, hospitality, manufacturing, infrastructure, construction, transportation, technology, media, telecommunications, energy, chemicals, insurance and healthcare sectors gives us the market perspective to understand your needs and add value for our clients to succeed.

Areas of practice
Corporate and commercial/M&A: Our corporate and commercial / M&A team is at the heart of our practice, advising international clients and domestic corporations on their investments in and outside of Thailand. We combine rapid decision-making with deep sector knowledge and experience to advise clients through every stage of the business lifecycle, from company establishment and business expansion to exit strategies.

Foreign direct investment (FDI): Our FDI team has in-depth experience advising foreign companies on inbound investment matters and expanding operations in Thailand. Manufacturers, service providers, consumer goods companies, merchants and a wide range of other companies place their confidence in our lawyers. We frequently advise foreign investors on all aspects of entering the Thai market, from the planning phase to becoming operational. We also frequently provide turnkey services for the implementation of factory projects.

Real estate and construction: We have a strong, multidisciplinary team that takes a holistic approach to advising clients. Our attorneys are informed of the latest industry developments and provide specialist advice that is succinct and comprehensive. From hotel/resort development projects, condominium and residential developments and mixed-use property developments, to industrial acquisitions, construction loans and financing, real estate workouts and restructurings and transactions involving distressed assets, we advise on all areas of real estate and construction.

Litigation and dispute resolution: We assist our clients to resolve legal disputes efficiently, whilst minimizing disruption to their business and reducing costly escalation. Where litigation cannot be avoided, our litigation and dispute resolution lawyers handle matters in the civil, criminal, administrative and specialty courts as well as various arbitration venues. From commercial and employment disputes to bankruptcy and insolvency matters, our highly experienced litigation team develops comprehensive strategies that manage potential risk and maximize the prospect of a successful outcome.

Tax and customs: Our tax and customs practice is well reputed and advises on all aspects of domestic and cross-border taxation. We have a substantial practice in the importation and exportation of products, and our lawyers are experienced in the full range of business tax issues, from customs duty and excise tax to value added tax (VAT), corporate income tax, property and land tax, transfer pricing and Revenue Department audits among other areas.

Regulatory compliance and data privacy: BRS provides strategic commercial advice on how to set up, maintain and update controls to ensure full compliance with Thai government rules and regulations. Our corporate governance and regulatory compliance attorneys are counsel to local, European and US multinational corporations, and are regularly engaged to provide training on anti-bribery and trade competition law to employers and employees with respect to their Thai operations.

Our advice on data privacy covers the full scope of compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). From assisting our clients to understand the fundamentals of PDPA compliance, providing a gap analysis (including developing a questionnaire for PDPA compliance and a data inventory list, conducting interviews, holding workshops, implementing software-based data flow analysis and delivering a gap analysis report and recommendations) and providing key PDPA compliance documents, to conducting PDPA training for building staff awareness and mitigating non-compliance risk, we offer the full range of PDPA services.

Technology, media and telecoms (TMT): We provide legal advice to a variety of software, media, and telecommunications companies regarding their legal and business matters in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand. Our experienced TMT lawyers specialize in advising end-users and suppliers of telecommunications, information technology and digital services. We are known as one of the leading firms in Thailand in this area, a reputation we have developed with decades of experience in the technology sector and the resulting complex regulatory environment.

Intellectual property: Ideas are the crux of innovation. Your brand is what makes you unique. We understand how important these are to growing your business, and can help you protect them. Our intellectual property (IP) team has wide-ranging experience defending our clients’ IP and enforcing their rights, in Thailand and internationally. We assist you to maximize the value of your IP assets and optimize strategies to defend them.

Capital markets: Our capital markets team advises international and domestic market leaders on the full spectrum of capital markets transactions in Thailand, from straightforward bilateral facilities to complex syndicated loans. Through our strong relationships with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Stock Exchange of Thailand, our lawyers work with you to navigate requirements, remain in compliance and adapt to change.

Banking and project finance: From day-to-day banking issues to major project financings, our banking and project finance team advises clients on a myriad of legal, commercial and project structuring strategies. We regularly work with financial institutions and corporate clients on complex financing structures. Where the need arises on a project, our industry-specific knowledge is at hand to offer a fully integrated legal service.

Energy and infrastructure: Our energy and infrastructure team combines in-depth industry knowledge and a deep-rooted understanding of the legal, commercial, financing and licensing factors to provide innovative advice to owners, financial institutions, developers, operators, contractors and suppliers. Major players in these sectors rely on our team’s industry experience, technical expertise and creative problem solving. We advise on all phases of project development, from planning and financing to implementation and ongoing post-completion legal support.

Labour and employment: We offer a labour and employment team that is well versed in the complexities of Thailand’s Labour Protection Act, and the practices of the Ministry of Labour and the Thai Labour Court. With regard to organized labour, our experienced team can negotiate with labour unions and advise on the Labour Relations Act.

Immigration and foreign employment: Our immigration lawyers provide fast, reliable and practical legal advice to assist clients across all industries and professions. We advise our corporate clients on visa and work permit requirements with respect to foreign personnel employment arrangements, international personnel transfers and secondments.

Hospitality and lifestyle: Our work in the hospitality industry involves hotel as well as residential and retail developments, including mixed-use projects and project management, large-scale hotel condominium projects with office, residential and retail components, luxury destination resorts and spas and high-end restaurants, F&B operations, leisure and recreational facilities. We represent hospitality entrepreneurs and businesses of all types and sizes, from investors and high-net-worth individuals to locally owned boutique hotels, leisure facilities and restaurants, to international hotel chains and resorts.