Kudun and Partners

Kudun and Partners is an energetic and young full service firm that has grown exponentially in the past few years, pulling talent from other major competitors and being hailed as a firm to keep an eye on by peers. One firm said: “They’ve got a good book of clients and are building a good reputation. As some older, established firms lose market footing, Kudun is picking it up.” Last year the firm added its new international practice head from Weerawong C&P, partner Troy Schooneman. It also bolstered its tax, and restructuring and insolvency offering with the lateral hires of veteran partners Chinawat Assavapokee and Saravut Krailadsiri from Hunton Andrews Kurth. The firm has established a dedicated China practice staffed with native Chinese speakers. Partner and key contact Kudun Sukhumananda has vast expertise in capital markets, corporate and M&A, banking and finance, real estate, infrastructure funds and energy.

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Advised Phelps Dodge International Thailand on the $239 million acquisition financing that it received from United Overseas Bank and Kasikornbank for the indirect acquisition of Dong Viet Non-Ferrous Metal and Plastic JSC and Thinh Phat Cables JSC in Vietnam.

Key clients

Finnomena, Urban Mobility Tech

Capital markets

Work highlights

Acted for Thai Solar Energy in a complex and precedent-setting matter pertaining to its issuance of transferable subscription rights (TSRs). Very few companies have issued TSRs due to the complexities and tight time frames.

Advised JKN Global Media on its five-year convertible debenture debt offering by way of a private placement to North Haven Thai Private Equity Fund.

Key clients

MITSIB Leasing, Siam Rajathanee, Thai Bonnet Trading Zone

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Acted for Stark Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries PDITL and PD Cables as the buyers of 100% of the charter capital of Thinh Phat Cables JSC and Dong Viet Non-Ferrous Metal and Plastic JSC for $220 million.

Represented Thai plastic packaging manufacturer Eka Global on its cross-border acquisition of China-based packaging companies from the existing shareholder, a holding company based in the US.

Key clients

BG Container Glass, IT City, Thai Foods Group

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Representing NCP Consortium in a claim dispute against the Port Authority of Thailand’s administrative order in relation to its procurement of a Laem Chabang port construction contractor.

Defending two domestic technology and telecommunications companies in a massive potential class-action case that would concern more than 41 million users. The clients are challenging a request by the plaintiffs to apply class action procedure to this matter.

Key clients

Chanwanich Security Printing Company, Shinhan Bank, Volvo Group

Tax

Work highlights

Assisting fuel and lubricant company Sea Oil on its VAT assessment and mitigation of VAT penalty and providing tax planning on VAT refund for the company and its subsidiaries.

Advising a Thai renewable energy company on a complex tax planning proposal for its investment in solar power plants in Lao PDR.

Acting for a domestic marine transportation and logistics company on its annual tax planning for operations and investments of the company and its subsidiaries to mitigate tax implications after being granted tax privileges under the board of investment (BOI) promotion.

Key clients

Pilatus Marine, PM Enterprises Holding, Prime Marine, TOA Group Holding