Stephenson Harwood is expanding in Asia by acquiring DLA Piper’s Bangkok office, adding a more than 40-strong team, including four partners.
The Bangkok office – its 12th globally – will deepen the firm’s Asian network, joining its offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul. The Bangkok office will add Thai and cross-border expertise across debt restructuring, corporate M&A, finance and project transactions, employment, real estate and disputes matters.
The new Thai partners are financing and restructuring lawyer Waranon Vanichprapa, corporate lawyer Thananan Sangnuan, disputes lawyer Komson Suntheeraporn and white-collar investigations lawyer Santipap Dumprapai.
Eifion Morris, Stephenson Harwood’s outgoing chief executive, said: “Thailand is an important market within Southeast Asia, and the addition of the Bangkok team complements our existing offices in the region. The team brings local market specialism and experience that will support our clients where they require advice in Thailand, and on cross-border matters where we can draw on the strength of our offices across Asia and our international network.
“This move marks an important step in Stephenson Harwood’s growth strategy and its continued focus on being a leading firm across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.”
Vanichprapa brings almost three decades of experience to Stephenson Harwood with a career that spanned practice in Thailand, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. He was country managing partner of DLA Piper Thailand and head of its Asia finance practice group. He will become Stephenson Harwood’s Bangkok managing partner.
Sangnuan arrives after just over three years at DLA Piper, having previously spent almost 25 years at Baker McKenzie in Thailand, including nearly 12 years as partner.
Suntheeraporn joins after 16 years at DLA Piper, having previously practised at a number of local Bangkok firms, including Chandler and Thong-Ek Law; Dumprapai arrives after almost 13 years at DLA Piper.
Vanichprapa said: “We are delighted to be joining Stephenson Harwood and embarking on a new chapter for our clients, our people and our business and this is the first time in Thailand that a transaction of this nature has taken place.
“We have built one of Thailand’s leading international legal practices over the past 23 years, and we are confident that this move will enable us to develop our team and continue to deliver great value for our clients. We will continue to work closely with DLA Piper on their Thailand matters.”
The transfer of DLA Piper’s Bangkok office to Stephenson Harwood follows a 12-strong DLA Piper team decamping to Clyde & Co in Bangkok back in April, including partners Robert Tang and Samata Masagee, alongside Akyn Suttawatanadech, who made partner on the move.
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