Kan Ruksasook has 20 years of extensive experience in both private practice at leading law firms and well-known multinational companies in Thailand. He also has experience in international business laws and cross-border transactions in ASEAN and other countries across Asia, particularly in the healthcare industry. Kan is a qualified and well-rounded lawyer with deep business insights, high integrity, a results-oriented approach, a commitment to self-development, reliability, and a pragmatic mindset.

What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have recently been involved in?

In late 2022, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced its intention to separate the Consumer Health Business to accelerate innovation, better serve patients and consumers, and unlock the organisation’s value. J&J remains laser-focused on addressing unmet medical needs and significantly advancing the standard of care for patients around the world through its Innovation Medicine and MedTech business sectors. The Consumer Health Business will be spun off to form a globally leading company and will carry out an IPO on the NYSE in the U.S.

With this separation, there are tremendous legal undertakings in 2023 and beyond. These include the transfer of businesses, assets, employees, and agreements; the setup and restructuring of new legal entities; the acquisition of prerequisite operational licenses; and the transfer of product registrations and licensed manufacturers. Additionally, we will be advising on the global operating model.

In Thailand, the largest and most complex market in SEA, we have successfully executed the project, ensuring that the new J&J can commence business on the intended date without any disruption.

How do you see the general counsel role evolving in Thailand over the next five-ten years?

With uncertainty across the global economy, geopolitics affairs, and the disruption of technology, the role of general counsel will need to evolve globally, not only in Thailand. The modern general counsel will have to be adaptive, agile, and flexible to new challenges. They will need to invent a new way of working by using innovative tools and technology to their fullest potential.

There will be a higher demand from the company and management for the general counsel to make business-related decisions frequently. Therefore, pure legal knowledge and skill may not be sufficient for the future. The general counsel should explore and acquire further knowledge and skillsets, such as business acumen and strategy, risk management, compliance, finance controlling processes, ESG, and more. This will enable to general counsel to envision the holistic view of the business and the risks the company may face, as well as gain trustworthiness from the management and wider organisation.

How do you motivate and manage your legal team well?

The concept of Connect, Shape, and Grow applies to both team leaders and members, where we establish certain behaviours to follow. Goals and objectives for each member, as well as development plans outlining what and how to reach these goals, will be agreed upon between team leaders and members. This approach aims to drive team member performance by managing energy and taking ownership of outcomes.

Importantly, we ensure that diverse points of view are heard and engage in open and honest conversations. Moreover, we encourage our team to try new things, test, and learn from mistakes.