Pornapa Luengwattanakit > Baker McKenzie LLP > Bangkok, Thailand > Lawyer Profile

Baker McKenzie LLP
5TH, 10TH, AND 21ST-25TH FLOORS, ABDULRAHIM PLACE
990 RAMA IV ROAD
BANGKOK 10500
Thailand

Position

Partner

Career

Pornapa Luengwattanakit currently leads Baker McKenzie’s International Commercial & Trade, Competition, and Tax Practice Groups, and co-heads the Corporate and M&A Practice Group in Thailand.

Pornapa Luengwattanakit is the only lawyer in Thailand from private practice who has had a major involvement and is instrumental in the shaping of the Thai trade competition landscape, particularly through her contribution to the new Trade Competition Act, which came into effect in 2017 in Thailand.

Pornapa has over 40 years of experience advising multinational clients in corporate and commercial matters. She is exceptionally fluent in Competition and Antitrust matters and is highly recognized by for her skills in strategic advice with respect to trade competition issues. It can be confidently said that Pornapa Luengwattanakit is the only lawyer in Thailand from private practice who has had a major involvement and is instrumental in the shaping of the Thai trade competition landscape, particularly through her contribution to the new Trade Competition Act, which came into effect in 2017 in Thailand. She has advised numerous industry leaders and major corporations on a wide range of trade competition matters, from internal audit and compliance review to defending complaints and merger control matters. She is highly experienced on issues relating to merger control, cartels, unfair trade practice and competition compliance and has been involved in many high-profile competition cases in Thailand. Pornapa is also fluent in international trade law, and has successfully assisted multinational companies on a wide range of related matters, including assisting in anti-dumping investigations; providing advice on sunset reviews; and offering recommendations on international trade agreements, trade regulations, WTO-related matters, safeguard measures, rules of origin, and GSP issues.

Pornapa is well-regarded in the areas of taxation and customs, particularly with regard to foreign investments in Thailand. She routinely advises multinational and local companies across various industries on tax, customs and transfer pricing matters. Pornapa has served as vice chairperson of the Tax Committee of Thailand Board of Trade and chairperson of the Custom Subcommittee of Thailand Board of Trade.

Languages

Thai and English

Memberships

  • Pornapa has served as Vice Chairman of the Tax Committee of Thailand Board of Trade.
  • Pornapa has served as Chairman of the Custom Subcommittee of Thailand Board of Trade.
  • Served as member of the Legal Committee of Thailand Board of Trade.
  • Advisor to the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry.
  • Member of the committee of Legal Development comprising of three private institutions: the Thailand Board of Trade, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Bankers Association.
  • Member of NLA Ad-Hoc Committees Considering Draft Trade Competition Act and Draft Custom Act, as well as Advisor to the NLA Ad-Hoc Committees Considering Transfer Pricing law and WMD law.
  • Member of the Trade Competition Committee and served in various subcommittees / working groups of the Trade Competition Office, including the subcommittee on prescription of business merger criteria of the Trade Competition Office, Department of Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce.

Education

  • Harvard Law School (LL.M.) (1989)
  • Harvard Law School (Certificate International Tax) (1989)
  • University of Texas at Dallas (Certificate Comparative American Law) (1986)
  • Thammasat University (LL.B.) (1982)

Lawyer Rankings

Thailand > Customs and international trade

(Leading individuals)

Pornapa Luengwattanakit – Baker McKenzie LLP

Baker McKenzie LLP maintains a broad offering, covering global tax policy, dispute resolution cases and wealth management matters, with an increase of digital economy related work. The team’s multijurisdictional expertise and global network enables them to handle international transactions capably. Pornapa Luengwattanakit, Panya Sittisakonsin, Aek Tantisattamo, Nopporn Charoenkitraj, Keerati Saneewong Na Ayudthaya and Geoffrey Soh jointly lead the team, combining their wealth of experience to do so.

Thailand > Corporate and M&A

Spearheaded by Pornapa Luengwattanakit, Jakkarin Bantathong, Peerapan Tungsuwan, Sorachon Boonsong, Sivapong Viriyabusaya, Yuthana Sivaraks and Sumet Orsirivikorn, Baker McKenzie LLP‘s key sector strength lies in the consumer goods, energy, financial institutions, healthcare, industrials and technology fields. Praised for its ‘commitment, dedication, and excellent work quality’, the team is routinely entrusted by clients to handle both domestic and cross-border transactions, alongside a wealth of experience across real estate finance transactions and the acquisition of shares and securities, among other issues. Tungsuwan is well-versed in handling corporate and M&A work arising from highly regulated industries, such as healthcare and life sciences. Luengwattanakit has particular strengths on the trade competition side of the practice, while Boonsong’s varied experience includes handling deal structuring, joint venture arrangements and legal due diligence. Thananan Sangnuan departed the team to join DLA Piper in March 2023.