Conducting Corruption Compliance Interviews Abroad – Thailand
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) investigations typically involve third parties or subsidiaries located outside the US since most FCPA violations arise out of the activities of foreign third parties or foreign subsidiaries. But most guides on how to conduct FCPA investigations and interviews seem to ignore this rather obvious fact. It has not however escaped the attention of the U.S....
Overview of Thai Bankruptcy Reorganization Law
Overview of Thai Bankruptcy Reorganization Law
Bankruptcy laws often require courts and parties to make hard choices. In a bankruptcy there is simply not enough money to satisfy everyone, and difficult decisions must be made about who gets what. In a bankruptcy, property is seized, reputations are ruined, contracts are dismembered and jobs are lost.
Thai law only provided for the liquidation...
Thai to Seek Extension to File Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan
Thai Airways International Plc (“Thai”) will seek an extension to submit a bankruptcy rehabilitation plan from the end of this year until February of 2021. This could change. To recap Thai’s own history of the bankruptcy reorganization proceedings filed on behalf of or by Thai thus far:
26 May 2020 – Thai submitted a petition to enter bankruptcy rehabilitation proceedings and propose...
Draft Regulations Provide for Some Relaxation of the Foreign Business Act
The primary restriction on foreign ownership of businesses in Thailand is set out in the Foreign Business Act (“FBA”). To legally engage in activities restricted under the FBA, an alien company must obtain a Foreign Business License (“FBL”) or a Foreign Business Certificate (“FBC”) from the Department of Business Development of the Thai Ministry Commerce (“DBD”). This is often easier said...
Words That Have No Place in Your Legal Documents: “And/Or”
Never use “and/or” in legal drafting, particularly when describing an obligation. It has been correctly described as an “ugly legalism”; William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, in their classic, The Elements of Style, say and/or is “A device, or shortcut, that damages a sentence and often leads to confusion or ambiguity”. They are right.
Justice Fowler, more colorfully, described it...
Things You Never Want to Hear from Your Lawyer in Thailand
Compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is challenging in some jurisdictions, and there are some things you never want to hear from your lawyer, particularly in high-risk jurisdictions such as Thailand. Here are a few “innocent” statements that have been “repeated” as purported anecdotes, followed by comments on why these statements are dangerous indicia of corruption.
“We...
New Franchise Regulations in Thailand are a “Game Changer”
For at least the past two decades, Thailand has been on the verge of enacting a franchise law. Law firms would issue bulletins to their clients announcing that a new law was about to be enacted on franchising relationships. The announcements would often say that the draft law would be enacted by year’s end. We are now approaching the end of 2020, and Thailand does not yet have a franchising...
Effective and Persuasive English Language Advocates for Disputes in Thailand
International arbitration is the best way to resolve cross border disputes. If the arbitration is conducted by a truly international arbitration institute, such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre or the Thailand Arbitration Centre (THAC), the arbitration can be conducted in English, provided the arbitrator and counsel are capable of handling the proceedings in English. And this...
More FCPA Enforcement Activity Predicted under Biden Presidency
Although the Department of Justice (DOJ) under Trump imposed record penalties under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA”) from 2017 through 2020, it also initiated fewer and fewer new FCPA investigations during that period. Indeed, White House Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow reportedly said in January 2020 that the administration was “looking at” making changes to the law because...
High Level Overview of Steps Required to Register a Private Limited Company in Thailand
The steps required to establish a private limited company in Thailand are:
Reservation of Name
The first step involved in establishing a Thai company is to file via online an application to register the company’s proposed name(s) with the Registrar (the Registrar) of the Partnerships and Companies Registration Office, Department of Business Development (DBD), Ministry of Commerce. Within one...