BANGKOK, 5 May 2026 – Krissen Pillay has joined Kudun and Partners as Counsel in the firm’s International Practice, where he will lead the firm’s Vietnam-focused offering, with a particular focus on Thai and broader Southeast Asian companies investing in Vietnam. He has over 13 years of experience across South Africa, Vietnam, and Thailand, specialising in M&A, corporate, and banking and finance. Krissen joins from YKVN LLC, where he served as Counsel in Ho Chi Minh City. Prior to YKVN, he worked with Bowmans in Johannesburg and Werksmans in Cape Town.
Krissen brings significant on-the-ground experience in Vietnam, having advised on a wide range of inbound and outbound investments, as well as complex regulatory and transactional matters in one of Southeast Asia’s most active investment destinations. He has particular depth in financial services, logistics, healthcare, and real estate transactions, and is experienced in both inbound investment and the structuring of complex multi-jurisdictional deals in the market.
“Krissen’s addition enhances our ability to support clients navigating increasingly sophisticated cross-border investments into and out of Southeast Asia,” said Troy Schooneman, Partner and Head of International Practice. “We are seeing strong growth in Thai companies investing in Vietnam, and Krissen’s deep experience in that market makes him a valuable addition to our team as we continue to support clients expanding regionally.”
Kudun Sukhumananda, Founding Partner, added: “Vietnam is one of the most active deal markets in Southeast Asia right now, and Krissen’s appointment positions us to serve clients pursuing opportunities there with genuine on-the-ground capability. His ability to bridge legal and regulatory systems across multiple jurisdictions reflects exactly the kind of practical, commercially-focused advisory we are building at Kudun and Partners.”
About Krissen Pillay
Krissen brings deep on-the-ground experience in Vietnam, where he has advised corporates, financial institutions, and private equity sponsors on some of the market’s most significant transactions. His work spans strategic acquisitions and disposals, control and minority investments, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, and financing transactions across a range of high-growth and developing markets in Southeast Asia and Africa.
He is particularly experienced in structuring and executing multi-jurisdictional transactions in Vietnam and other emerging markets, delivering commercially practical solutions across diverse legal and regulatory frameworks, often within tight timelines.
Krissen’s sector experience includes financial services, logistics, healthcare, and real estate, where he has supported clients on high-value and strategically significant investments.
He is an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa and holds an LL.B. from the University of Cape Town (Dean’s Merit List).
About Kudun and Partners
Founded in 2015, Kudun and Partners is an award-winning full-service law firm headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. Led by some of Southeast Asia’s most accomplished lawyers, the firm advises domestic and international clients across a broad range of practice areas including corporate and M&A, capital markets, dispute resolution, projects and energy, foreign direct investment, restructuring and insolvency, and tax. The firm’s International Practice advises on cross-border transactions throughout Southeast Asia, with dedicated focus on inbound and outbound investment involving Thailand, Vietnam, and the wider region. Kudun and Partners has been recognised as Thailand Law Firm of the Year by The Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards (2020/21 and 2023) and is the exclusive representative of Thailand in the World Services Group, one of the world’s most prominent networks of independent law firms.
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