Warathorn Wongsawangsiri

Managing Partner, Bangkok Office
Partner Office Managing Partner
Bangkok

Warathorn serves as Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's Managing Partner for the Bangkok office and leads the Bangkok's disputes practice group.

Warathorn is widely recognised as one of the leading advocates in the market, with over twenty years of experience in Thailand and across Asia. He has established a solid reputation in the Thai legal industry, supported by top-tier rankings, awards, and recognition from prestigious legal directories such as Chambers, Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation, Lexology Index, and Asia Business Law Journal. Deeply trusted by his clients, Warathorn has extensive experience in representing major corporations and conglomerates in some of the country’s most complex and high-value commercial disputes.

He is highly skilled in advising clients through the entire dispute resolution process, including Thai court litigation, class actions, domestic and international arbitration (TAI, THAC, ICC, SIAC, and HKIAC), and mediation. Warathorn also advises on administrative law, bankruptcy and rehabilitation, corporate and commercial matters, corporate governance, director liability, corporate investigations, compliance, concessions, and product liability.

Warathorn's established capability spans a wide range of industries, including aviation, banks and financial institutions, construction and engineering, concessions, consumer, energy, government and public sector, healthcare, hospitality and real estate, insurance, transportation and logistics, and TMT.

Warathorn serves as a facilitator at the Thai Institute of Directors and is a guest lecturer and various law schools in Thailand. He is a distinguished public speaker who regularly participates in seminars, sharing his insights and resource with diverse audiences. Additionally, he serves as an arbitrator, appointed by various institutions (SIAC, THAC, TAI, and YSIAC) as a sole or co-arbitrator.

Experience & capabilities

Selected matters

Experience in Arbitration and International Arbitration

  • a leading scientific equipment distributor in Thailand and ASEAN region in relation to bid rigging investigations by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission in Thailand
  • Southeast Asia’s prominent cement and construction company in an international arbitration with regard to a breach of the joint venture agreement for the amount worth approximately US$ 400 million under ICC Rules in Singapore
  • Southeast Asia’s large brewery and distribution company in a potential international arbitration with regard to a breach of joint venture agreement for approximately US$ 250 million under SIAC Rules at Singapore International Arbitration Centre
  • a major real estate developer in Phuket, Thailand in relation to a contractual dispute under SIAC Rules at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre
  • a publicly listed company in an international arbitration pursuant to the breach of Shareholder Agreement under SIAC Rules at Singapore International Arbitration Centre
  • one of the World's largest hotel companies with more than 1,400 hotels in its portfolio in an international arbitration pursuant to the breach of the Hotel Management Agreement under SIAC Rules at Singapore International Arbitration Centre
  • Thailand’s largest publicly listed mobile and telecommunications company in an arbitration claim for payment of THB 31.158 billion (approximately US$ 985 million) for concession fees. The claimant is a former state enterprise of the Thai government. The client won the arbitration case
  • a major Thai conglomerate in an international arbitration under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce concerning shareholder disputes over the acquisition of shares in a major renewable energy business in Thailand. The disputed amount was over US$ 350 million (THB 12,250 million)
  • a publicly listed TV broadcaster in a successful arbitration related to claims and counterclaims valued at THB 100 billion (approximately US$ 3.3 billion) with respect to the termination of the television broadcasting concession between a private sector and the governmental authority
  • a subsidiary of a global petroleum exploration and production company in an arbitration arising from a joint operating agreement in connection to a concession in the Gulf of Thailand granted by the Ministry of Energy. The total amount of damages claimed was approximately THB 1 billion (US$ 28 million)
  • a publicly listed construction company in ICC arbitration arising from the wrongful termination of a subcontract agreement in relation to the construction of a UHV plant project. The total amount of damages claimed was approximately THB 350 million (US$ 10 million)
  • an international pioneer in the aerospace sector in an international arbitration pursuant to commission dispute under the purchase of aircrafts under ICC Rules in Singapore
  • the owner of a luxury office building and hotel in Myanmar in an international arbitration in Hong Kong in relation to a hotel management agreement
  • a renowned international insurance group and part of a large property insurance company in Japan, in insurance and re-insurance disputes before the Thai Arbitration Institution

Experience in Commercial Litigation and Other Disputes

  • one of the consortiums consisting of a public company being a majority shareholder of Bangkok mass transit system company, a regional airline based in Bangkok and a publicly listed engineering and construction company in Thailand in a dispute regarding an international airport project
  • a publicly listed real estate developer in a dispute in relation to a construction agreement for one of the largest global chained-brand hotels valued at US$ 400 million
  • a large publicly listed real estate developer, in a dispute in relation to a construction agreement for several projects in Thailand
  • a leading digital asset exchange in Thailand with respect to advice regarding compliance to the Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Business Operation B.E. 2561 (2018)
  • China’s largest construction and real estate conglomerate and dominant contractor with respect to legal advice and representation in a civil lawsuit against their contractor
  • a subsidiary of one of the largest global construction and engineering companies in a dispute related to a construction agreement for their project in Thailand
  • Dubai-based emerging airline cargo company in a commercial dispute concerning two Boeing aircrafts worth approximately US$ 16.9 million. Injunction was placed on the client prohibiting from flying these two aircrafts out of Thailand. The firm successfully challenged the injunction on an emergency basis and the injunction was lifted within one day
  • a major mobile service provider in Thailand in a dispute at the Administrative Court regarding the revocation of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission’s order with respect to additional payment during the remedy period
  • an owner of an international hotel management and operator in providing general legal and commercial advice on day-to-day business operations in Singapore, Myanmar and Thailand
  • a subsidiary of one of Japan’s largest general trading companies in a commercial dispute worth approximately THB 150 million
  • a subsidiary of one of the world's largest tire and rubber companies in a commercial dispute with respect to a breach of the sale and purchase agreement
  • 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 2,800 million. The matter was under contemplation of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre while an interim injunction was also filed at the Thai court to seek a prevention of the sale of shares
  • a market leader in advertising, payment and logistic platforms in Thailand in two commercial litigation claims arising from the termination of an agency agreement and outstanding advertisement and production fees
  • highly respected and globally renowned international arbitrators in successfully defending claims brought against them in the Thai court in their capacity as arbitrators in an ICC arbitration that had taken place in Bangkok. The claim was brought by the losing party at the arbitration and was entirely dismissed by the Court of First Instance
  • a joint venture between a utility provider and a developer in a dispute against its insurer in an insurance litigation with the claim amount of THB 950 million
  • a leading pharmaceuticals company in two sets of arbitration proceedings filed at THAC in relation to the acquired company’s failure to disclose certain information prior to the acquisition of a pharmaceutical company
  • a leading telecommunications company in relation to an administrative dispute arising out of a merger of two large telecommunications companies

Background

  • Master of Laws (Honours), Northwestern University School of Law, United States of America, 2010
  • Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, 2004
  • Graduate member of the Director Certification Program and Director Leadership Certification Program
  • Board of director member of a listed company

Accolades

  • Band 1, Dispute Resolution
    Chambers Asia Pacific, Thailand, 2025
  • Band 1, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration
    Chambers Asia Pacific, Thailand, 2025
  • Next Generation Partners, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration
    Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Thailand, 2023 - 2025
  • Client Choice Awards, Commercial Litigation
    Lexology Index, Thailand, 2025
  • Thailand Lawyer of the Year
    Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific Awards, Thailand, 2024
  • Litigation Star, Commercial and Transactions
    Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific, Thailand, 2022 - 2025
  • The A-List, Thailand's Top 100 Lawyers
    Asia Business Law Journal, Thailand, 2020 - 2024
  • Recommended, Arbitration
    Lexology Index, Thailand, 2024
  • Recommended, Southeast Asia Arbitration
    Lexology Index, Southeast Asia, 2023 - 2024
  • Thought Leader, Commercial Litigation
    Lexology Index, Thailand, 2023 - 2024
  • Recommended, Southeast Asia Commercial Litigation
    Lexology Index, Southeast Asia, 2023 - 2024
  • Future Leader, Arbitration Future Leaders - Partners
    Lexology Index, Thailand, 2024
  • Recommended, Commercial Litigation
    Lexology Index, Thailand, 2024
  • Legal 500 Southeast Asia Arbitration Powerlist
    Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia, 2023

Publications

  • Co-author of Asia-Pacific Competition Law Guide, Seventh Edition, Asia-Pacific Competition Law Guide, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, 2025
  • Co-author of Thailand's jurisdiction in the ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin, Issue 3, International Chamber of Commerce, 2024
  • Co-author of Thailand's chapter in the Brazilian ADR Journal: Mediation in Thailand, Brazilian ADR Journal, 2023
  • Co-author of Thailand's chapter in The Restructuring Review, Thirteenth Edition, The Law Reviews, 2020
  • Co-author of COVID-19: People: FAQ on measures for employees (Thailand), Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, 2020
  • Featured in Inside Arbitration: Spotlight on Bangkok: Chinnawat Thongpakdee and Warathoron Wongsawangsiri, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, 2020
  • Co-author of Protecting your company’s critical resource: Is your company PDPA ready?, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, 2020
  • Co-author of the Thailand's chapters in The International Arbitration Review, Sixth; Seventh and Tenth Editions, The Law Reviews, 2015 - 2016, 2019
  • Co-author of Thailand's chapters in the Dispute Resolution Law Guide, LexisNexis, 2018 – 2019

Memberships

  • Member, The Thai Bar Under the Royal Patronage
  • Lawyer License, Lawyers Council of Thailand under the Royal Patronage
  • Commission on Arbitration & ADR of ICC Thailand
  • Registered Arbitrator, Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC)
  • Registered Arbitrator, Thailand Arbitration Institute (TAI)
  • Member, Thai Institute of Directors (IOD)
  • Reserved Arbitrator, Singapore International Arbitration Centre
  • Young SIAC (YSIAC) Committee, Singapore International Arbitration Centre