Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited
Leveraging its expansive network of offices, Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited is capable of providing international arbitration and litigation services for clients situated in the transport, energy and infrastructure sectors. Notably, the team is also routinely engaged by litigation funders such as Augusta Ventures and Lighthouse. Steven Burkill, Kay Kian Tan, Ratthakarn Boonnua and Tossaporn Sumpiputtanadacha combine their vast experience to lead the practice. Burkill is well-versed in managing international disputes, while Tan counts a host of corporates and multinationals in his client roster. Boonnua bolsters the practice with his experience in international trade and business crime, among others, and Sumpiputtanadacha excels in international business law as well as international litigation and arbitration.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Watson Farley & Williams' Bangkok office is a market leader in the region for international arbitration in energy, oil and gas, renewables, power, utilities and infrastructure project disputes.’
‘Steven Burkill is excellent and provides a deep understanding of Thai and SE Asian disputes and dispute resolution. He is very highly regarded by Thai and international clients doing business in the region.'
'Ratthakarn Boonnua has a wide international arbitration practice and a vibrant Thai Court commercial practice acting as advocate in the Thai courts and arbitration on some of the largest commercial disputes in the country.'
Key clients
- Antanium Resources Pte Ltd
- Department of Mineral Fuels, Ministry of Energy, Government of Thailand
Work highlights
- Advising and acting for the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Energy in a multi-billion US dollar arbitration, relating to decommissioning disputes with oil major concessionaires concerning assets in the Gulf of Thailand.
Lawyers
Rising stars
Leading individuals
Ratthakarn has served as lead trial lawyer in high profile multi-jurisdictional cases for the past 25 years. He specialises in international trade, commercial disputes, business crime, arbitration and employment law. He has vast experience in the energy, maritime and insurance sectors and has acted as a legal expert witness in many international arbitrations, and English, Singapore and Hong Kong High Court cases. Ratthakarn also has extensive experience in acting for major clients in proceedings under a number of arbitration rules including the ICC, SIAC, KCAB, TAI, THAC, OIC and ad hoc arbitrations under UNCITRAL rules. Ratthakarn is fluent in Thai and English.
Steven specialises in complex international disputes, in particular, London and Asia-based arbitrations involving oil and gas, power, mining and commodities and large-scale projects. He is also highly experienced in shipping litigation. Steven has sat as an arbitrator in ICC, SIAC, TAI and ad hoc arbitrations. He has used this know-how on commercial projects to help avoid disputes and manage risk.
Kay Kian specialises in the energy, maritime and insurance sectors, where he advises corporates and multi-nationals on international commercial arbitration and litigation. He is a barrister and is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales and an advocate and solicitor in Singapore. He has worked in London and Singapore and has been based in WFW’s Bangkok office since 2001.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Steven Burkill, Kay Kian Tan, Ratthakarn Boonnua, Tossaporn Sumpiputtanadacha