From left: Supasit Boonsanong and Charuwan CharoonchitsathianNagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu has hired partners Supasit Boonsanong and Charuwan Charoonchitsathian as part of a six-lawyer team for its Bangkok office to bolster its capabilities in energy and technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) for both Japanese and international corporate clients.
“Their [Boonsanong and Charoonchitsathian] combined experience will enable us to provide comprehensive legal support in renewable energy project development, regulatory compliance and policy advocacy, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the energy sector,” Shohei Sasaki, partner and head of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu’s Bangkok office, told Asia Business Law Journal.
Boonsanong and Charoonchitsathian have joined the firm from Tilleke & Gibbins where they both served as partners, with the other four lawyers from the same Thai firm having joined as associates.
Boonsanong brings more than 15 years of experience as in-house counsel for Thailand’s National Petrochemical Company, followed by over two decades practising energy law. He advises energy companies on project development, joint ventures, licensing, supply, construction and financing agreements. He also leads the legal team advising Thai authorities on petroleum law amendments
Charoonchitsathian is a corporate, commercial and joint ventures lawyer, renowned for advising and representing clients in a wide array of transactions in Thailand. She provides legal counsel on business operations, M&A and a spectrum of high-value private M&A matters, including share buybacks, takeovers and other strategic transactions. Her expertise extends to offering regulatory advice in sectors such as renewable energy, fintech, payment systems, OTT (over-the-top), IoT (internet of things) and TMT.
While the firm did not officially position Boonsanong and Charoonchitsathian as heads of a practice group, it expected them to take on leadership roles in the energy and TMT practice, said Sasaki. They would contribute their expertise across related areas such as construction, project finance, corporate and M&A, he added.
Sasaki also highlighted the shift towards clean energy sources in Thailand, such as solar farms, floating solar, rooftop solar and waste-to-energy projects. He said these trends required deep expertise in project development, financing and regulatory compliance.
He added that governments were introducing new laws to address climate change and promote green energy. A prime example was Thailand’s upcoming Climate Change Act, which would introduce mechanisms such as carbon pricing and emissions trading, said Sasaki.
The draft amendment to the Petroleum Act was also being developed to support carbon capture, utilisation and storage, added Sasaki.
By leveraging Boonsanong and Charoonchitsathian’s knowledge and experience, the firm aims to provide its clients with the legal advice necessary to navigate this changing energy landscape and capitalise on new opportunities, said Sasaki.