Panupan Udomsuvannakul

Special Recognitions

• The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026 - Recommended lawyers: Corporate and M&A | TMT
• IFLR1000 2025 - Notable practitioner - M&A
• ALB Asia’s Super 50 TMT Lawyers 2023
• ALB Asia’s Super 50 TMT Lawyers 2022

Key Qualifications

Panupan Udomsuvannakul is a leading practitioner in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, foreign direct investment, and technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) matters. With over a decade of transactional experience, Panupan advises multinational corporations, Japanese companies, and Thai enterprises on high-value investments in Thailand and across Southeast Asia. He is one of the few Thai lawyers fluent in Japanese, having studied in Japan with Japanese government scholarship.

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Since 2012, Panupan has led cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate transactions for multinational corporations and Japanese companies expanding into Thailand, as well as Thai companies pursuing outbound investments. His M&A practice spans deal structuring, comprehensive legal due diligence, transaction documentation, and post-merger integration across diverse industries. He regularly advises on share acquisitions, mergers, asset deals, corporate restructurings, and strategic joint ventures involving both inbound and outbound investments in Thailand.

Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT)

Panupan heads the firm's Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) practice group. He advises technology companies, fintech platforms, e-commerce businesses, and digital asset operators on regulatory compliance, data protection, licensing, and technology-related transactions in Thailand. His TMT practice encompasses artificial intelligence regulation, digital asset frameworks, cryptocurrency and blockchain regulation, NFT issuances, cybersecurity, electronic transactions, and data privacy.

Japan Practice and Japanese Language Capability

Panupan is one of the few Thai lawyers fluent in Japanese, having earned both a Master of Laws (LL.M.) and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Tokyo. His native-level Japanese fluency and deep understanding of Japanese business culture make him uniquely positioned to serve as lead counsel on Thai-Japanese cross-border transactions and to advise Japanese companies on their strategic investments in Thailand.

Relevant Client Experience

Some Representative Transactions:

Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions

• Represented Resonac Corporation in the transfer of its automotive molded parts business in Japan and Thailand to Moriroku Co⁠, Ltd⁠.

   

• Assisted Thai listed companies in relation to their relation to their investment in renewable energy sector in Japan.

   

• Represented Thanachart Bank Pcl. in relation to a sale of a majority stake in Thanachart Fund Management to Prudential Corporation Holdings/Eastspring, in a transaction valued at more than USD 250 million.

   

• Advised a leading Japanese e-commerce company on the successful divestiture of its Thai subsidiary.

   

• Advised leading Japanese real estate developers on significant investments in premier condominium development projects in Bangkok.

   

• Served as lead local counsel on multiple multi-billion dollar global, regional, and cross-border transactions for Fortune 500 and other multinational companies.

   

• Advised major international investors on complex joint venture arrangements and strategic investments in Thailand across heavily regulated sectors.

   

• Represented a global trading company on the delisting of a Thai listed company, including public tender offer.

Technology, Media and Telecommunications

• Advised leading global payment networks and fintech companies on strategic market entry into Thailand, including regulatory structuring for merchant acquiring and payment services.

   

• Advised fintech platforms on innovative receivables financing, factoring structures, and cross-border supply chain finance transactions in Thailand.

   

• Advised global clients on prepaid card programs and e-money products, navigating complex regulatory approval and compliance requirements.

   

• Acted for technology clients on brokerage and financial licensing applications with Thai regulators for technology clients entering the Thai market.

   

• Advised clients on Thailand’s evolving crypto asset and digital asset regulatory frameworks, including licensing strategy, AML compliance, and Thai SEC requirements.

   

• Served as lead local counsel for a global market-leading software solutions company in its strategic acquisition of a regional business.

   

• Served as lead local counsel on the acquisition of a major Thai software group.

Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure

• Advised several leading international data center operators and digital infrastructure investors on market entry into Thailand, including investment structuring and regulatory strategy.

   

• Provided strategic regulatory advice on cloud infrastructure, digital infrastructure investments, and cross-border data operations.

Financial Services / Insurance Licensing & Regulatory

• Advised various technologies clients on innovative financial and insurance related services models.

Japanese Client Practice

• Represented Resonac Corporation in the transfer of its automotive molded parts business in Japan and Thailand to Moriroku Co⁠, Ltd⁠.

   

• Advised Japanese clients on comprehensive market entry strategies into Thailand, including foreign investment structuring and regulatory compliance.

   

• Advised leading Japanese investors on the acquisition of significant strategic stakes in Thai companies across regulated sectors, providing end-to-end support on structuring, due diligence, and transaction execution.

   

• Serves as a trusted Japanese-speaking Thai lawyer, bridging headquarters in Japan with regional teams through seamless bilingual coordination.

Background

• Columbia Law School (LL.M. with James Kent Scholar, 2018)
• The University of Tokyo (Graduate Schools of Law and Politics, LL.M., 2012, with KDDI foundation scholarship)
• The University of Tokyo (LL.B., 2010, with Japanese government scholarship)

Qualifications

• Admitted in New York State, 2020
• Thai lawyer license, 2014

Memberships

• Member of New York State Bar Association
• Extraordinary Member of Thai Bar Association, 2014
• Member of permanent license to practice law, the Lawyers Council of Thailand