Insurance

Baker McKenzie LLP

Counting international and local insurers, as well as self-regulatory bodies, among its key roster of clients, Baker McKenzie LLP's broad range of capabilities extend from regulatory and policy issues, to subrogation matters and insurance technology work. The practice is jointly led by Sivapong Viriyabusaya and Sorachon Boonsong, with the former being vastly experienced in insurance technology, as well as M&A and insurance regulation. Ampika Kumar is well-versed in M&A, corporate restructuring and business integration in the insurance arena, while key contact Amnart Pitakgorn is routinely engaged in regulatory and transactional matters. Thananan Sangnuan departed to join DLA Piper in March 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'Excellent technical skills and commercial understanding. In-depth, detailed knowledge of industry and regulatory environment results in efficient solutions. This practice compares highly favourably to other firms.'
'Ampika Kumar has excellent technical skills and commercial understanding, and provides effective, practical advice. She is also highly responsive and solution-focused.'

Key clients

Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited
Liberty
Allianz Ayudhya
Thai Life Insurance
Ocean Life Insurance
Generali
Howden Maxi
Chubb Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
ThaiSri Insurance Public Company Limited (subsidiary of ERGO International, a company within Munich Reinsurance Group)
Dhipaya Group Holdings Public Company Limited
Office Of Insurance Commission (OIC)
ERGO International AG
Falcon Insurance Public Company Limited

Work highlights

Assisted Dhipaya Group Holdings, a Thailand-based holding company focused on insurance assets, with the acquisition of 4.56 million shares in Erawan Insurance Public Company Limited.
Assisted ERGO with its contemplated acquisition of a Thai insurance target, a publicly listed insurer. The target company is regulated by both insurance law and capital market regulation, while the potential acquirer (i.e., ThaiSri Insurance Public Company Limited) is also regulated by insurance law.
Assisted Thai Life Insurance to apply for lifting up the foreign shareholding limit from 25% to 49% from the Office of Insurance Commission (“OIC Approval”). Normally, the OIC Approval would be issued to the specific strategic foreign investor holding 49%. However, for this approval, we had to seek the approval in a broadened manner, so that the IPO shares would be more flexible for foreign investment, one of the key objectives (fundraising from the foreign investor).