Month: October 2023

Senior Partner Robert Schuler was awarded gold member status in recognition of his outstanding commitment and substantial contributions to IR Global network.

Robert received this honor at IR Global’s Annual Conference, which took place in Amsterdam in September 2023, from IR Global’s Business Development Director, Ross Nichols (pictured).  Robert’s recognition is a testament to his outstanding contribution to IR Global’s thought leadership as a favorite contributor and author of real estate and commercial articles for the network, where he explores legal developments and their impacts on clients from both a legal and commercial perspective. He is also committee member for Asia Pacific and passionate supporter of IR Global’s affiliated Sinchi foundation, which focuses its advocacy and service on issues related to indigenous rights, the preservation of cultural and the protection of nature.

A U.S.-licensed attorney, Robert has been working in Southeast Asia for more than 20 years. He leads Blumenthal Richter & Sumet’s Real Estate & Hospitality Group, advising investors and family offices, institutional investors and private equity funds to locally owned boutique hotels, leisure facilities, restaurants and F&B operations and international hotel chains and resorts on all aspects of the industry. Robert and his team has been recognized for their excellence in the real estate and hospitality sector by leading international directories including Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

“I want to express my gratitude to my IR Global peers,” remarks Robert, “It has been great working together and sharing knowledge to build the synergy to most effectively assist our clients as their work becomes increasingly global in nature and crosses into more and more jurisdictions”.

Robert has been a member of IR Global – a multi-disciplinary professional services network that provides legal, accountancy, financial advice to companies and individuals around the world which is listed by The Legal 500 and ranked by Chambers & Partners in its global list of “Leading Law Firm Networks” – since 2017 an exclusive member for Real Estate and Project Finance in Thailand.

Learn More about IR Global Here: https://irglobal.com/about/

 

On September 5, 2023, prominent leaders from Blumenthal Richter & Sumet (“BRS”) in Bangkok and the Beijing-headquartered Zhonglun W&D Law Firm (“Zhonglun W&D”) convened to reflect on their five-year collaboration and explore strategies to further strengthening their dynamic working relationship. The primary objective of this gathering was to foster dialogue and reaffirm their shared commitment to delivering exceptional legal services to Chinese clients seeking investments in Thailand.

Present at this meeting were distinguished individuals from the Bangkok office, including Senior Partner Andreas Richter, a renowned expert in foreign direct investment with over three decades of professional experience. Joining him were Partner Ekkarat Ritthiplang, specializing in corporate law and cross-border transactions, who excels in managing interactions between foreign clients and Thai authorities, and Partner Stefan Riedl, a distinguished expert in Corporate and Contract Law as well as M&A, recognized for his proficiency in crafting and negotiating robust commercial agreements.

Also in attendance was Tongxin Xie, a Partner at Zhonglun W&D Law Firm based in Shanghai. Splitting her time between Bangkok and Shanghai, Tongxin plays a pivotal role in advising Chinese companies on their investments in Thailand. Collaborating closely with Andreas, Ekkarat, and Stefan, her practice revolves around guiding Chinese clients through Thailand’s investment framework, establishing foreign-owned subsidiaries, securing Board of Investment promotions, and obtaining relevant licenses and permits.

Leveraging Tongxin’s unique expertise in both Thai and Chinese law and business practices, BRS and Zhonglun W&D have strategically combined their strengths to form a collaborative working alliance that caters to the legal needs of large Chinese corporations and high-net-worth individuals seeking to establish and expand their businesses in Thailand. BRS’ China Desk, supported by two additional native Mandarin-speaking attorneys, provides specialized legal assistance to Chinese enterprises navigating the intricate landscape of the Thai market, particularly within regulated sectors such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, and other manufacturing and service industries. Together, the China Desk has already successfully represented Chinese clients in market-leading inbound transactions, including many state-owned enterprises.

“Zhonglun W&D is one of the earliest-established Chinese law firms and has evolved into one of China’s premier law firms with a global outlook,” remarked Andreas. “We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to collaborate with a firm that boasts such a long and successful history in China and abroad. This cooperation uniquely positions us to harness our combined expertise in fostering cultural and economic connections between businesses in Thailand and China.”

Blumenthal Richter & Sumet (“BRS”) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of our 2023 internship season, marking yet another enriching and diverse experience for 11 aspiring legal practitioners.

Over the past few months, BRS had the privilege of hosting a diverse group of interns, including students from the legal faculty of leading local institutions Thammasat University and Chulalongkorn University. Furthermore, the firm proudly welcomed students from international backgrounds. Our interns included two outstanding individuals from International School Bangkok (“ISB”), one of Thailand’s most prestigious international schools, where our Senior Partner Andreas Richter serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees. Additionally, we had the honor of hosting an ISB alumna currently studying at Stanford University, one of the world’s top-ranking educational institutions. Expanding our global reach, we welcomed an intern who graduated from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in Germany.

Partner Ekkarat Ritthiplang, an alumnus of Chulalongkorn University who plays a key role in recruiting and supervising interns from local universities, affirms, “Our Thammasat and Chula interns displayed remarkable dedication and adaptability in tackling complex legal tasks in both Thai and English language. I am deeply impressed with the quality of their work and hope to see many of them join our firm in the near future”.

Looking ahead with enthusiasm, Ekkarat is excited for the upcoming 2024 season and is eager to get to know the new class of interns, as BRS has now launched its recruitment and application period. As part of our outreach, Partner Weerasa Makepongtorn, recently promoted at Blumenthal Richter & Sumet, participated as an esteemed speaker at the Thammasat University Internship Fair, held on September 19 at the University’s Rangsit campus.

Weerasa participated in a panel discussion where she shared what sets BRS apart as a truly international law firm – our roster of attorneys and consultants hailing from Thailand, Germany, America, Austria, China and Japan and our long-term affiliation with prestigious international networks Interlaw and IR Global. She emphasized our firm’s recognition as one of the most entrepreneurial and progressive firms in Thailand – characterized by our open-door policy, transparent communication and pillar of providing commercially minded and business-oriented legal advice.

This event held special significance for Weerasa, as it marked one of her first speaking engagements as a Partner representing BRS. She shared, “Returning to Thammasat, my alma mater, as a Partner feels like a full-circle moment for me. It’s a testament to the firm’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth. I very much look forward helping Thammasat’s students advance in their legal careers as part of their internship with us.”

Weerasa also expressed her excitement about conducting interviews with internship applicants. She said, “I am genuinely excited about the interview process. It’s an opportunity to identify the future stars of our profession and bring fresh talent into our dynamic team. Ekkarat, myself and the internship committee are very much looking forward to getting to know the newest potential members of the BRS team.”

We had a wonderful time meeting prospective interns at Chulalongkorn and Thammasat University’s Open Houses and are delighted to announce that applications are now open for our local internship program.

More information about our internship program for Thai university students is available on our social media channels.