Rachata Champathong
Rachata is an Of Counsel in disputes practice with a particular focus on class action and international arbitration.
Rachata has extensive experience advising both domestic and international clients on a wide range of commercial disputes. His practice focuses on class actions, international arbitration, cross-border disputes, and complex commercial litigation.
Rachata is experienced in class action litigation, having represented clients in some of Thailand's most significant and high-profile collective proceedings. He advises clients on all aspects of class action disputes, from risk assessment and defence strategy to procedural challenges, and trial proceedings. His extensive experience in this evolving area of law enables him to navigate complex procedural and substantive issues while developing effective strategies to protect clients' commercial interests.
Rachata also has substantial experience in international arbitration and cross-border dispute resolution. He has represented clients in arbitrations conducted under the rules of major institutions, including SIAC, ICC, HKIAC and TAI, across a broad range of commercial disputes. He is also a registered arbitrator with the Thailand Arbitration Institute. Having served as both counsel and arbitrator, Rachata brings a valuable tribunal-side perspective to dispute resolution, enabling him to provide strategic and commercially focused advice throughout the proceedings.
Highly regarded by clients and recognised by leading legal directories, Rachata frequently appears before Thai courts in high-value and complex commercial disputes. He advises clients on a broad range of domestic and cross-border disputes, developing and coordinating dispute resolution strategies across multiple jurisdictions. His secondment to our Singapore office during 2023 and 2024 provided him with valuable exposure to one of Southeast Asia's leading business and dispute resolution hubs. This experience broadened his skills, strengthened his commercial acumen, and enhanced his ability to deliver practical, business-oriented solutions to clients.
Accolades
- Top 40 under 40
Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific, Thailand, 2026 - Future Star, Commercial and Transactions
Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific, Thailand, 2025 - 2026 - ALB Thailand Rising Stars
Asian Legal Business, Thailand, 2023 - Client Choice Awards
Lexology, Thailand, 2021 - 2022 - "Rachata is an extremely capable lawyer", "proactive in foreseeing and pre-empting emerging issues", "very practical and has excellent communication skills in delivering detailed and complicated information" and "Rachata put us at ease in relation to proceedings in a foreign jurisdiction"
Lexology - "detailed and meticulous associate", "one to watch", "competent and well organised" and for "high-quality advice and professionalism"
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
Experience in International Arbitration
- Southeast Asia’s prominent cement and construction company in an international arbitration with regard to a breach of the joint venture agreement for approximately US$ 400 million under ICC Rules in Singapore
- a leading multinational energy company in an international arbitration with regard to a breach of the sale agreement for approximately THB 600 million under ICC Rules in Singapore
- an American energy and defence company in the arbitration proceedings with respect to a nuclear infrastructure project in Thailand with the combined disputed amount of approximately THB 8.5 billion
- domestic and international clients in international arbitration under the auspices of ICC, SIAC and HKIAC, including representation of Southeast Asia’s brewery and distribution company in a potential international arbitration with regard to a breach of joint venture agreement for approximately USD 250 million under SIAC Rules in Singapore
Experience in Class Actions
- a listed Japanese holding company for finance businesses and its Singapore subsidiary in relation to a security class action lawsuit brought against them in Thailand in relation to its investment in a Thai listed company and litigation arising from suspected fraudulent use of the invested monies with the disputed amount over THB 2.6 billion
- a leading real estate developer in relation to a consumer class action lawsuit arising from one of the residential projects worth over THB 2 billion
- domestic clients on defences against foreign class action lawsuits, including the representation of a leading multinational energy company in Thailand in relation to class action lawsuits launched in a foreign jurisdiction
Experience in Commercial Disputes and others
- a subsidiary of one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of pulp and paper in Southeast Asia, in a commercial dispute arising from call and put option deed for approximately THB 2.8 billion at the Thai court in parallel with an international arbitration under SIAC Rules at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre
- a global hotel chain in a commercial dispute involving torts claim, contractual dispute, business trade secrets arising from one of the luxury projects in Thailand at the Thai court in parallel with an international arbitration under SIAC Rules at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre
- a listed Japanese holding company and its Singapore subsidiary, in defending a tort claim brought against them in the Thai court by a Thai listed company for approximately THB 9.1 billion
- domestic and international clients on the enforcement of international arbitral awards and setting aside of arbitral awards at the Thai courts, and local courts in other jurisdictions
- domestic and international clients on legal issues specific to a wide range of industries, such as consumers, insurance, energy, automotive and aircraft. Noting in particular, the successful representation of an insurance company against a case filed by a Fortune 500 automobile company valued at THB 2.1 billion
Background
Rachata has a bachelor's degree in law from Thammasat University. He has two master's degrees from Thammasat University and University College London. Rachata is qualified as a Thai Barrister-at-law and is a current member of the Thai Bar Association. He also serves as a guest lecturer at leading law schools in Thailand. He is native in Thai, and fluent in English.
Memberships
- Member, The Thai Bar Under the Royal Patronage
- Lawyers License, Lawyers Council of Thailand under the Royal Patronage
- Registered Arbitrator, Thailand Arbitration Institute (TAI)
