Ittichai is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation Practice of Rajah & Tann (Thailand) Limited with extensive dispute resolution experience. Ittichai is a licensed Thai lawyer. He is fluent in Thai, English and Japanese.
EXPERIENCE
Ittichai has over 20 years of experience advising and representing both Thai and international clients in commercial disputes at all levels of the Thai Courts, from the Court of First Instance to the Supreme Court.
He is highly knowledgeable in general commercial matters, including tax disputes, construction, trade competition, joint ventures, shareholder disputes, and customs cases.
Another of Ittichai’s strengths is tax litigation, where he specialises in the revocation of orders from the Revenue Department’s Appeal Committee and the refund of corporate taxes.
He is skilled in employment litigation, handling cases related to unfair dismissal, labour unions, and the revocation of orders from the Ministry of Labour, Labour Protection Officer, and Labour Relations Committee.
In 2024, Ittichai was recognised as a recommended lawyer in Labour and employment by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific.
Ittichai also focuses on providing advice and assistance in both contentious and non-contentious matters related to consumer protection laws.
His expertise includes managing product liability cases arising from defective products and developing legal strategies for amicable settlements, such as product recall plans for leading international companies. This work involves navigating the legal processes of the Court, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, the Thailand Consumers Council, and the Consumer Protection Police Division of the Central Investigation Bureau, for both civil and criminal disputes.
Moreover, he is also well-versed in bankruptcy and business rehabilitation cases, arbitration proceedings, and intellectual property cases, including those involving patents and copyrights.
Consumer Protection
- Represented leading European companies at the Office of Consumer Protection Board and the Consumer Protection Police Division in many consumer protection cases involving construction disputes, label matters, and product liability issues, including product recalls.
- Represented a leading Japanese electric equipment company at the Court in a consumer protection case, defending a civil lawsuit related to defective safety equipment, and assisted with a product recall strategy.
- Represented a leading Japanese automobile company in many cases at the Thailand Consumers Council and the Court in consumer protection cases to defend the civil complaint related to product liability for damages arise from defect of air bag in variety car models and assist to find an amicable settlement for cure measure including product recall.
- Advised and assisted Japanese law firms and clients in the paint manufacturing industry on Thai industrial standards laws, non-compliance issues and assessing the need for a product recall under Thai consumer laws.
- Defended a major US fast food chain at the Court in a civil case concerning unfair contract terms and breach of lease agreement conditions.
Commercial Litigation & Arbitration
- Represented a leading Australian logistics and warehouse company in defending and counterclaiming against a customer’s main claim in domestic arbitration and court, related to a logistics and warehouse service agreement.
- Represented a major Thai-Japanese manufacturer and distributor of trucks and buses in the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court concerning a trade secret dispute.
- Represented a Thai-Chinese joint venture construction company, both as debtor and planner, in a financial restructuring process that led to business rehabilitation proceedings in bankruptcy court.
- Represented a leading Japanese automobile company in Civil Court disputes concerning breaches of both the Automobile Dealer Sales Service Agreement and the Trademark License Agreement.
- Acted for a major Japanese car leasing company for injunction process at the Court to return the cars which arose from sales and purchase agreement and wrongful act.
Labour & Employment
- Represented an offshore drilling company in multiple labour court disputes.
- Defended a large US consumer products company and a major food and beverage company against unfair dismissal claims by executive employees.
- Represented a leading Australian logistics company in labour union claims related to employment conditions.
- Defended a leading Thai beverage company against unfair dismissal claims due to reorganisation and redundancy.
- Acted for a US gold decoration and jewelry company to revoke orders from the Labour Relations Committee and Ministry of Labour.
- Acted for a US medical company to revoke an order from the Labour Protection Officer.
- Defended a leading international insurance company against unfair dismissal claims by an executive employee.
- Represented a leading Thai and US exhibition company in a business competition dispute involving management’s involvement in a competing business.
- Assisted in internal investigations for a leading Japanese leasing company and auto parts manufacturer, advising on misconduct and representing clients in civil disputes regarding employment agreements and compensation.
Tax
- Advised a top Japanese auto parts company on customs tax issues.
- Represented major Thai property developers and a private electricity producer at the Central Taxation Court for refunds and order revocations.
- Successfully represented a leading insurance company in a VAT dispute, with the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the client.
- Represented a major Thai bank at the Central Taxation Court to revoke a Revenue Department order and secure a refund for tax-deductible losses.
- Represented a major Thai coal power plant company in Central Taxation Court Cases against the Revenue Department for revocation of the order and refund of the corporate income tax for different accounting years.
MEMBERSHIPS / DIRECTORSHIPS
- Extraordinary Member, Thai Bar Association
PUBLICATIONS
- Contributor, “Regional Round-Up 2023 (Year in Review Edition): Thailand”, Lexology (Feb 2024)
- Contributor, “Contract Laws of Asia – Limitations of Liability (Thailand Chapter)”, Asian Business Law Institute and Singapore Academy of Law (Jul 2023)
- Contributor, “Contract Laws of Asia – Liquidated damages (Thailand Chapter)”, Asian Business Law Institute and Singapore Academy of Law (Mar 2023)
- Contributor, “Regional Round-Up 2022 (Year in Review Edition): Thailand”, Lexology (Feb 2023)
- Contributor, “Contract Laws of Asia – Indemnities (Thailand Chapter)”, Asian Business Law Institute and Singapore Academy of Law (Sep 2022)