Category: News

Blumenthal Richter & Sumet’s Tax & Customs practice under the leadership of Senior Partner Sumet Mingmongkolmitr, has excelled in the Legal 500 (2024) rankings with both the practice and individual lawyers receiving lead recognition.

Legal 500 recognition results from rigorous research conducted by The Legalese, a leading directory for the caliber of legal services globally, involving analysis of tax, customs, and related matters and interviews with clients.

Our Tax & Customs practice has received a tier 2 ranking, marking its 10th consecutive year of being highlighted in the Legal 500.

Practice-head Sumet, has also received recognition as a Leading Individual, a distinction earned for 10 years running and cementing his reputation as one of Thailand’s foremost experts in both corporate and personal tax.

Moreover, Senior Associate Sudarat Jirakietwattana, was highlighted as a Rising Star in Tax in her inaugural acknowledgement by the publication. Rising stars are associate-level lawyers who appear frequently in significant matters and are widely cited by peers and clients as having made major contributions to their practices.

Sudarat’s noteworthy client work is defending our client on grounds of good faith regarding import tariff declarations and reached a settlement agreement for the disputed products. Also, she successfully defended our client on grounds of legal regarding the principle of the share transfer and argue the Bangkok Area Revenue office tax assessment.

Clients interviewed by The Legal 500 have noted that BRS’ Tax & Customs attorneys, which also includes Associates Warumporn Chaosanguan, Yanisa Rujirawat and Sataporn Samanyaporn, display “great negotiation skills,” exhibited when they negotiate passionately with officials from The Revenue Department and Customs Department on issues and reached a settlement agreement.

Other clients have remarked that “Sumet Mingmongkolmitr and Sudarat Jirakietwattana have exceptional knowledge….[and] in depth knowledge and principles of law in various fields, especially in taxation”.

Sumet and his team has represented clients in some of the highest impact tax cases over the past years including the following example types of completed tax and customs issues, among others: successfully defending our client on grounds of good faith regarding import tariff declarations and reaching a settlement agreement for the disputed products and succsessfully obtaining a refund on corporate income tax and VAT from the Revenue Department in representing our client, valued exceeding THB 200 million. On being the first Associate from Blumenthal Richter & Sumet to receive the Rising Star accolade, Sudarat said “I want to thank my team member for their hard work and dedication and most importantly, I can’t thank our clients enough for the continued trust they placed in us. It has been incredibly rewarding to see them grow with me and with us over the past six years that I have been here.”

Moreover, Sumet remarks “It has been an honor to serve our all clients over the past years, but has been especially rewarding to receive a tier 2 ranking for our Tax practice in this year, where both our clients and our partners have significantly grown alongside each other.”

 

Blumenthal Richter & Sumet is pleased to announce our outstanding achievements in the latest Legal 500 (2024) rankings.

The firm’s Real Estate team, under the leadership of Senior Partner Robert Schuler and newly promoted Partner Weerasa Makepongtorn, has once again secured recognition for the 11^th consecutive year. The practice has been designated as one of Thailand’s top-ranked Real Estate practices, as a testament to our experience in providing specialist advice that is succinct and comprehensive, and which also takes into account the latest industry developments and our clients’ business objectives.

Robert himself has received his 11^th individual ranking as a Leading Individual, cementing his standing as one of Thailand’s real estate experts and one of the few foreign real estate veterans in the country.

Weerasa, who has been an integral part of the Real Estate team for 9 years and was promoted to partnership in 2023,  has been instrumental in broadening areas of expertise particularly related to secondary and tertiary market acquisitions and developers and unique challenges.

In addition to the promotion of Weerasa’s to the firm’s partnership and the practice’s leadership, 2023 was another successful year for BRS’ real estate practice as the year brought about many landmark deals including:

-Assisting a Thai private equity fund with strategy development, management, mechanics, and deployment of liquidity financing principally in the resort real estate market.

-Assisting one of the most prestigious universities globally with respect to their land acquisition lease agreement as part of the client’s joint venture to establish a foundation for the development of a tropical medicine research center with Borderland Health Foundation.

-Advising on the acquisition of a hotel and additional land source for the expansion of a leading real estate developer in Thailand

-Performing acquisition due diligence for preliminary deal structuring including multiple hotel, residential and retail units in southern Thailand

The Legal 500 is a prominent international directory that annually assesses law firms worldwide, offering a comprehensive overview of the global legal market. With a history of over three decades, the organization continually updates its research program to provide the most current insights into the capabilities of law firms across more than 150 jurisdictions. Rankings are determined through a meticulous evaluation process considering various criteria. The focus is on identifying practice area teams that deliver cutting-edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel. This evaluation utilizes feedback from 250,000 clients globally, submissions from law firms, interviews with leading private practice lawyers, and the expertise of a research team deeply familiar with the legal market.

Regarding his recognition by the directory, Robert remarks, “Weerasa and I are dedicated to providing our esteemed clients with top-tier advisory services from a business-oriented perspective. We are incredibly grateful to clients and look forward to continuing to grow with them.”

 

We are pleased to announce our ongoing recognition by the Legal 500 (2024), a prominent global directory spotlighting premier law firms and lawyers.

The directory continues to highlight three of our practices:

– Our Real Estate practice, under the leadership of Senior Partner Robert Schuler, has received recognition for the 11th consecutive year.

– Our Tax & Customs practice, under the leadership of Senior Partner Sumet Mingmongkolmitr, has achieved recognition for the 10th consecutive year.

-Our Corporate / Mergers & Acquisition practice, under the leadership of Senior Partner Andreas Richter, has been acknowledged for the 11th consecutive year.

Furthermore, 3 of our individual legal professionals have earned well-deserved accolades:

-Robert has been acknowledged as a “Leading Individual” for the 11th year, solidifying his status as one of Thailand’s foremost experts in Real Estate law and the hospitality sector.

-Sumet has received additional recognition as a “Leading Individual” for the 10th year, reinforcing his standing as one of Thailand’s prominent tax experts.

-Senior Associate Sudarat Jirakietwattana, who supports Sumet in leading the day-to-day operations of the Tax & Customs team, has garnered her inaugural acknowledgment as a “Rising Star” in Tax.

The Legal 500 is renowned for its comprehensive coverage of recommended law firms and lawyers globally. With over three decades of experience, the publication conducts meticulous research across 120 jurisdictions, interviewing more than 250,000 clients globally, reviewing deal highlights, and analyzing peer feedback from leading private practice lawyers to identify firms and lawyers offering the highest quality services.

Our consistent recognition attests to the exceptional legal services we provide, supporting multinational corporations, family offices, and Thailand’s largest companies in Real Estate, Tax & Customs, and Corporate matters. It underscores our lawyers’ adeptness in solving complex legal issues, offering business-oriented advice, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes in a responsive and personable manner.

We extend our gratitude to our clients for their continued trust and to our Partners and Associates for their unwavering commitment over the past year.

Blumenthal Richter & Sumet (“BRS”) ’s Tax & Customs Practice, led by Senior Partner Sumet Mingmongkolmitr, received its first practice ranking on Chambers & Partners 2024, ranking as a Band 2 on Tax Practice Area, which was recently released this month.

Although the individual recognition of Sumet Mingmongkolmitr, one of Thailand’s respected authorities on Tax & Customs, as a Band 3 individual may not come across as surprise to members of the legal community, we at BRS are particularly elated to share news of the first time his team has achieved their ranking, as this recognition attests to the more holistic caliber of not only Sumet, but also of his Associates and the development of his practice.

BRS’s Tax & Customs Practice has seen rapid growth over the past years with Sumet bringing in an impressive rostrum of Associates with bespoke experiences at leading global Tax matters and advising in-house at Thailand’s largest corporations. The team is bolstered by the leadership of Senior Associate Sudarat Jirakietwattana, who assists Sumet in leading the team’s day-to-day operations.

Sudarat, who has worked with Sumet for over 6 years, was promoted to Senior Associate at the beginning of this year. A seasoned tax lawyer, she is highly regarded for her expertise in taxation, customs law, and general corporate matters. Specializing in advising both multinational and domestic corporate clients, she excels in intricate corporate tax issues such as customs duty exemption, business import, and Tariff Code. Her proficiency extends to corporate matters, where she has a proven track record of providing meticulous corporate law advices to high-net-worth clients. This includes guidance on business setup, employment, school operations, tourism and wills. Sudarat demonstrates professionalism in providing customs and tax advice to clients, particularly when they are facing complex issues such as goods inspection and categorization with Thai local authorities like the Customs Department and the Revenue Department.

Apart from her professional role, Sudarat is also a prominent member of the BRS office as the Head of BRS’s Internship Committee. Motivated by a passion to promote legal education and career, Sudarat manages the firm’s internship program, leading recruiting and marketing efforts at the faculties of laws of various Thailand’s leading universities. She is frequently a speaker at Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University on panels promoting the BRS and the legal profession.

With Sudarat at the helm, Sumet’s team is further supported by Warumporn Chaosanguan, who joined his team from major Audit firm, bringing expertise in delivering comprehensive tax opinions and advice to multinational and domestic clients, offering support during tax audits, and providing expert assistance in reviewing tax-related transactions. Rounding out the team’s expertise are Yanisa Rujirawat, who was also a legal consultant at one of the major Audit firms as well as an in-house advisor for one of Thailand’s leading conglomerates, having extensive experience in advising multinational and domestic clients in corporate and commercial transactions, and Sataporn Samanyaporn, who plays an integral role in providing customs, legal and regulatory compliance advice to companies engaging in various industries, i.e. logistics, technology, trading, and manufacturing. “In many ways, I am prouder of this team recognition than my own,” remarks Sumet, “I am incredibly proud of the diverse yet complementing strengths and experiences of my team. Thank you to all of our clients for your continued trust in our team.”

BRS’ internationally ranked Tax and Customs practice is well-reputed and advises on all aspects of domestic and cross-border taxation. Our lawyers are experienced in the full range of business tax and customs matters, among other areas such as corporate matters, labor, education and tourism.

 

 

Blumenthal Richter & Sumet (“BRS”) is pleased to share that two of our most prominent practices and lawyers have continued to gain international recognition for their outstanding work in the Real Estate and Tax market.

Ranked as a Band 2 practice in the 2024 guide, BRS’ Real Estate practice has received its fifteenth listing in Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific, a testament to the team’s experience in advising multinational corporations, institutional investors, private equity funds, SMEs and entrepreneurs on a wide range of transactions, involving various types and classes of real estate assets.

Senior Partner Robert Schuler, Head of Real Estate Practice, was also listed as a Band 2 individual marking his eight year of recognition by the leading global directory.

The Real Estate team, led by Robert and bolstered by recently promoted Partner Weerasa Makepongtorn, an attorney highly skilled in assisting foreign and local clients in navigating the complexities of establishing and successfully developing their businesses in Thailand, boasts a formidable reputation in advising on the legal aspects of stages of property acquisition including hotels & resorts, retail, mixed-use and residential properties.

Moreover, BRS’ Tax practice has received its inaugural listing on the directory, opening strong as a Band 2 practice.

BRS’s Tax attorneys, led by Senior Partner Sumet Mingmongkolmitr and supported by Senior Associate Sudarat Jirakietwattana, who has worked with Sumet for 6 years, are known for their acumen in advising on structuring complex business transactions and arrangements and delivering pre-emptive tax solutions and investment strategies to meet a diverse range of local and international legal requirement.

Sumet himself further received his seventh listing in Chambers Asia Pacific as an Band 3 individual. “To make our debut on this list is incredible,” remarks Sumet, “But more so, to break in at Band 2, is something I could not be prouder of. I am also incredibly delighted to hear of continued success from Robert, who I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 20 years.”

 

 

 

 

 

Andreas Richter, Senior Partner at Blumenthal Richter & Sumet, has been honored with the prestigious Interlawyer of the Year Award for 2023 by INTERLAW in acknowledgment of his unwavering dedication, commitment, and camaraderie within the legal community. This distinguished award was presented to Andreas during INTERLAW’s annual conference, held in Costa Rica in October 2023.

Blumenthal Richter & Sumet serves as the exclusive Thailand representative of INTERLAW, a renowned global network of independent law firms comprising over 7,500 lawyers situated in more than 150 cities worldwide. Recognized for legal excellence for over four decades, INTERLAW consistently holds a Band 1 ranking in leading legal directories such as The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

Andreas’s illustrious career spanning three decades in the areas of foreign direct investment and corporate law set him apart as a worthy recipient of this accolade. Beyond his unwavering commitment to his clients, Andreas has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to nurturing enduring relationships within the global legal community. His proficiency in collaboration and knowledge-sharing has solidified his role as a mentor and friend, particularly within the INTERLAW Network.

Notably, Andreas played a pivotal role in successfully organizing INTERLAW’s Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Bangkok earlier in the year, attended by over 60 legal professionals from the Asia Pacific region. Additionally, Andreas exhibited exceptional collaborative and synergy-building skills within the INTERLAW community, collaborating with fellow INTERLAW member firms on various cross-border initiatives, including the establishment of the firm’s Japan Desk in partnership with the esteemed Tokyo law firm Momo-O, Matsuo & Mamba.

We, at Blumenthal Richter & Sumet, extend our heartfelt congratulations to Andreas Richter for this well-deserved recognition.

 

 

 

 

Renowned international law firms, Blumenthal Richter & Sumet (“BRS”) and Zhong Lun W&D (“ZLWD”), one of the largest law firm in the People’s Republic of China, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an informal strategic alliance and inaugurate their collaborative “China Desk.”  The “China Desk,” staffed by proficient Thai and Chinese attorneys, is ardently devoted to addressing the distinct needs of Chinese corporate clients conducting business in Thailand, as well as Thai companies investing in China.

The signing of the MoU was attended by BRS Senior Partner Andreas Richter, the driving force behind the China Desk practice. Also present were Partner Stefan Riedl, a distinguished expert in Corporate and Contract Law, as well as M&A, and Partner Weerasa Makepongtorn, a key member of the internationally acclaimed Real Estate & Hospitality team.

The event also welcomed Tongxin Xie, a Partner of ZLWD, who divides her time between Bangkok and Shanghai, and Wei Lin Liang, a Senior Partner of ZLWD based in Shanghai with over 30 years of experience in Chinese inbound and outbound foreign direct investment.

Tongxin plays a pivotal role in advising Chinese companies on their investments in Thailand. Collaborating closely with Andreas and his corporate team, her practice focuses on guiding Chinese clients through Thailand’s foreign investment framework, establishing foreign-owned subsidiaries, factory and  land acquisitions, securing Board of Investment promotions, and obtaining relevant licenses and permits.

Wei Lin, an authority in the Chinese foreign direct investment landscape, boasts a market-leading practice representing large-scale enterprises, including multinational corporations and leading Chinese conglomerates, in corporate governance, investments, mergers & acquisitions. He is also a veteran in helping Chinese companies establish their presence in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

“BRS and ZLWD are committed to further developing and enhancing our cross-border expertise, enabling Chinese clients to successfully enter the Thai market and establish their business operations in Thailand and Southeast Asia,” remarks Andreas Richter. “I have known and worked with Wei Lin for over 15 years; our joint collaboration is based on mutual professional respect and a long and trusted personal friendship. My team and I eagerly anticipate working with Wei Lin and Tongxin to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between China and Thailand.”