Sakchai Limsiripothong

Senior Partner

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Sakchai Limsiripothong has almost 30 years of experience representing both international and Thai clients in litigation, as well as domestic and international arbitration proceedings, involving complex, high-value commercial disputes. His practice focuses particularly on matters relating to construction and mega projects, energy, business restructuring, especially labour issues, shareholder disputes and white-collar crime.

He previously served as Legal Counsel to a Thai Senator from 2005 to 2006. Mr. Sakchai has also played an active role in the Lawyers Council of Thailand, serving on several committees, including the Foreign Affairs Committee (2000–2004) and the Notaries Public Committee (2004–2006). In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Sakchai is a guest lecturer at leading national universities such as Chula, Thammasat and Ramkhamhaeng university, where he teaches commercial litigation and arbitration, business law, construction law, labour law, and criminal law. He is also a special speaker for the Lawyers Council of Thailand, regularly providing professional training for professional lawyers on contract drafting and negotiation skills.

Sakchai is a contributing author to Court Procedures and Business Restructuring Law in Thailand, published as part of the World Bank’s Doing Business Project, which assessed laws and business regulations across 190 jurisdictions worldwide (2004 – 2021). He is also a co-author of articles published in the Asia Business Law Journal (2024), including “Anti-Bribery Rules in Thailand: A Simple Guide” and “Thailand”, as well as a co-author of A Guide to Anti-Corruption Legislation in the Asia Pacific, 7th edition (2023), published by Clifford Chance.

Recent Experience

Commercial Litigation

Representation of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the official export credit agency of the Federal Government of the United States and a major creditor in the petrochemical industry, in the successful defense of tort claims valued at THB 190 billion (approximately USD 5.9 billion)—the largest claim ever brought before the Central Bankruptcy Court. The matter was recognized as an Impact Case by the Asialaw Awards and the Benchmark Litigation Awards in 2020 and 2021.

Representation of one of the major property developers in Thailand in relation to disputes between the major shareholders of the company in a project that had been recognized at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2019-2020 (High-Rise Development category (Thailand)), in which the disputed project value was THB 6,500 million (approximately USD 203 million), regarding many civil cases between the major shareholders of the company.

Representation of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, Thailand’s largest and one of Asia’s leading integrated petrochemical and refining companies, in a civil action defending claims exceeding THB 9,300 million (approximately USD 290.6 million) arising from supply agreements.

Representation of the owner and director of multiple hotels, and a shareholder, in a THB 1,400 million (approximately USD 45 million) shareholder dispute relating to hotel operations. The claim was brought by other shareholders, including the TUI Group, alleging mismanagement and white-collar crime. The dispute involved parallel civil and criminal proceedings concerning fraud, employment law, and internal control investigations, with enforceable assets located in Thailand. The matter required coordination with German counsel, as the shareholder agreements were governed by German law.

Representation of Credit Suisse in multiple proceedings arising from an alleged breach of a THB 7,500 million (approximately USD 250 million) facility agreement.

Representation of Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited, TMB Bank Public Company Limited, Kasikorn Bank Public Company Limited, and Krungthai Bank Public Company Limited, four major Thai banks, in a civil action against the Thai Pollution Control Department involving a THB 2,797 million (approximately USD 87.4 million) bank guarantee connected with one of Thailand’s largest construction projects.

Construction

Representation of THK Real Estate Company Limited, a multinational engineering construction company and real estate developer, in a civil action defending claims of THB 6,482 million (approximately USD 202.5 million) brought by a major Thai real estate company in connection with a construction agreement.

Representation of Nippon Steel Engineering Company Limited (Japan), one of Japan’s largest engineering and construction companies, in a civil action defending a THB 1,712 million (approximately USD 53.5 million) claim brought by one of Korea’s leading engineering construction companies.

White-Collar Crime

Representation of a Japan-registered company, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of printed wiring boards and a major listed company in Japan, together with its affiliated companies, in related criminal and civil proceedings arising from a dispute with a former director involving false statements and bad-faith conduct.

Representation of an Indonesian entrepreneur in multiple civil and criminal disputes with a co-owner of a technology and cloud-computing business in Thailand. The matters concerned corporate control, cross-border embezzlement of funds, and misappropriation of investments arising from a prolonged course of fraudulent conduct, with an aggregate amount in dispute of approximately USD 25 million.

Representation of the CEO of a real estate company and other senior executives in proceedings relating to allegations of filing a false criminal complaint and perjury against a former CEO, in connection with a major shopping mall development in Phuket.

Representation of a major Thai airline with Chinese investors in the prosecution of a white-collar crime case involving fraud committed by former directors, including cross-border transfers of funds through Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand, with amounts in issue totalling THB 200 million (approximately USD 6.2 million).

Arbitration

Representation of an international hotel company in Thai court proceedings for the enforcement of a successful arbitral award. The Court granted our petition to enforce the arbitral award and dismissed the application to set aside the award.

Business Rehabilitation

Representation of the Planner and Plan Administrator of Thai Petrochemical Industry Public Company Limited / IRPC Public Company Limited, a pioneer in the integrated petrochemical industry in Southeast Asia, in multiple civil and criminal proceedings arising from the administration of debts exceeding THB 120 billion (approximately USD 3.75 billion).

Representation of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Japan), Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (Singapore), and Export-Import Bank of Thailand in the business reorganization proceedings of a major ceramic company in Thailand before the Central Bankruptcy Court, involving debts exceeding THB 2.9 billion (approximately USD 90.6 million).

Representation of TAEL Partners (Singapore), a leading financial institution in Asia, in the business reorganization of its debtor before the Central Bankruptcy Court, involving debts of more than THB 3.886 billion (approximately USD 121.4 million).

Real Estate

Representation of Nirvana Daii, one of the key players in the Thai real estate market and a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, in a dispute arising from a joint venture with a Singapore-registered company relating to one of the largest luxury condominium developments in Bangkok, with a project value exceeding THB 6.5 billion (approximately USD 200 million).

Representation of the owner and operator of a community mall in Chiang Mai in simultaneous bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, which resulted in a creditor being compelled to suspend operations. Weerawong C&P enabled the client to continue operating during receivership, successfully negotiated debt reconciliation exceeding THB 3 billion, and facilitated agreements with leading franchise brands, including KFC and Starbucks, as well as one of Thailand’s largest construction materials retailers. This marked the first case in Thailand in which a business continued operations despite an absolute receivership order issued by the Central Bankruptcy Court.

Representation of multiple property funds of TCC Land Company Limited, one of Thailand’s leading real estate developers, in several civil actions concerning ownership of significant land parcels in Bangkok and southern Thailand, with an aggregate disputed value exceeding THB 10 billion (approximately USD 312.5 million).

Representation of the Crown Property Bureau, a quasi-government agency responsible for managing Crown property in the Kingdom of Thailand, in multiple civil land disputes, including one involving claims exceeding THB 1.039 billion (approximately USD 32.4 million).

Representation of Royal Phuket Marina Company Limited, the developer of one of Asia’s largest marina projects, in a land dispute concerning a marina development valued at more than THB 6 billion (approximately USD 187.5 million).

Employment and Labour

Representation of Skillpower, a member of the Manpower Inc. group, a world leader in employment services, in proceedings before the Central Labour Court concerning the disclosure of confidential information with significant impact on employment market conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the termination of a senior executive.

Representation of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited, the operator of Thailand’s largest hospital group, in multiple labour disputes, including one of the highest-value claims ever brought before the Central Labour Court, exceeding THB 500 million (approximately USD 15.6 million).

Representation of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Japan) in several legal proceedings involving labour law, criminal law, and contract law matters.

Intellectual Property / Copyright and Patent

Representation of CP All Public Company Limited, the sole operator of 7-Eleven Thailand and Thailand’s largest convenience retail chain, in copyright and patent proceedings before the Intellectual Property and International Trade Court.

Representation of Mainmark Group Engineering (Australia) in proceedings concerning copyright, trade secrets, and confidentiality agreements against former senior management before the Intellectual Property and International Trade Court.

Other clients represented in pre-litigation and litigation matters include GE Capital, Mizuho Bank Ltd., Wells Fargo Bank International Operations, Mitsui & Co. (Thailand) Limited, HOYA Corporation, Ford Motor Company Limited, Bridgestone Corporation, The Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited, Accor Group, Bangkok Airways, Sri Trang Agro-Industry, GrabTaxi (Thailand), GMM Grammy Public Company Limited, iNOVA Pharma (Thailand), United Overseas Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited, Major Development Public Company Limited, TOIC Investments Ltd., TOA Paint (Thailand), TAEL One Partners Ltd., Nakornthai Strip Mill Public Company Limited, The One Enterprise, Rever Automotive, One 31, Boat Lagoon Yachting, Warmoll Foods, Duravant, Sinohydro (Thailand), and Phelps Dodge International (Thailand).

Education

LL.B., Ramkhamhaeng University, 1992

LL.M., Commercial and Corporate Law, University of New South Wales Australia, 2000

Advanced Diploma in International Business, Australia, 1998

Certificate, International Property Law, Institute of Legal Education, 2001

Certificate, Institute of Intellectual Property & Professional Training, Thailand, 2006

Bar Admissions

Thai Bar Association, Lawyers License of Thailand, admitted 1994

Notary Public Services, Lawyers Council of Thailand, 2003

Citizenship

Thai

Languages

Thai, English

Recent Accolades

Dispute Resolution:

- Lawyer of the Year - Thailand, Benchmark Litigation Awards, 2020-2022, 2025

- Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers, Asian Legal Business, 2022, 2024

- Thailand’s Top 100 Lawyers, Asia Business Law Journal, 2021-2024

- Litigation Star - Commercial and Transactions, Benchmark Litigation, 2020-2025

- Distinguished Practitioner - Dispute Resolution, Asialaw Profiles, 2019-2024

- Band 2 – Dispute Resolution, Chambers and Partners, 2023-2025

- Recommended Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, The Legal 500, 2017-2025

- Recommended Lawyer – International Arbitration, The Legal 500, 2022-2023

- Recommended Lawyer, Employment, Chambers and Partners, 2021-2023

- Outstanding Practitioner: Thailand, Asialaw Regional Awards, 2019

- Impact Case – TPI record USD 6.4 billion tort dispute, Asialaw and Benchmark Litigation Awards, 2020

Restructuring and Insolvency:

- Highly Regarded Lawyer - Restructuring and Insolvency, IFLR1000, 2020-2024

- Recommended Lawyer - Restructuring and Insolvency, The Legal 500, 2017-2019