DLA Piper (Thailand)
DLA Piper (Thailand) is the Bangkok office of DLA Piper, one of the world's largest law firms by lawyer count. Serves cross-border M&A, energy and natural resources, project finance, regulatory advisory, dispute resolution, and corporate advisory across Thai and ASEAN clients. Competes with Baker McKenzie Bangkok, Tilleke & Gibbins, Linklaters Bangkok, Hogan Lovells (Lee & Lee), and Allen Overy Shearman Bangkok in the international-law-firm tier.
Profile overview
DLA Piper (Thailand) is the Bangkok office of DLA Piper, one of the world's largest law firms by lawyer count. Serves cross-border M&A, energy and natural resources, project finance, regulatory advisory, dispute resolution, and corporate advisory across Thai and ASEAN clients. Competes with Baker McKenzie Bangkok, Tilleke & Gibbins, Linklaters Bangkok, Hogan Lovells (Lee & Lee), and Allen Overy Shearman Bangkok in the international-law-firm tier.
Practice areas
M&A
Cross-border M&A and corporate
Inbound and outbound M&A advisory for multinational clients transacting in Thailand, covering deal structuring, regulatory approvals, BOI investment promotion, and Foreign Business Act compliance.
Energy
Energy and natural resources
Project finance, concession structuring, and regulatory advisory for Thai power generation (IPP PPAs), LNG terminal, and renewable-energy projects. Competes with Linklaters and Allen Overy Shearman in large power transactions.
Disputes
International arbitration
Cross-border dispute resolution through SIAC, ICC, and UNCITRAL arbitration for Thai-seated and offshore disputes. Supports construction, energy, and M&A warranty-and-indemnity disputes.
Peer comparison — International law firms in Bangkok
Baker McKenzie Bangkok
Tier
Elite international
Thailand strength areas
M&A, tax, IP, employment
Bangkok office model
Full-service (largest team)
DLA Piper Thailand
Tier
Elite international
Thailand strength areas
Energy, M&A, disputes
Bangkok office model
Mid-size cross-border focus
Tier
Elite international
Thailand strength areas
Banking, capital markets, M&A
Bangkok office model
Finance-focused
Tilleke & Gibbins
Tier
Leading local-international
Thailand strength areas
IP, disputes, corporate
Bangkok office model
Thai-rooted full-service
| Firm | Tier | Thailand strength areas | Bangkok office model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker McKenzie Bangkok | Elite international | M&A, tax, IP, employment | Full-service (largest team) |
| DLA Piper Thailand | Elite international | Energy, M&A, disputes | Mid-size cross-border focus |
| Allen Overy Shearman | Elite international | Banking, capital markets, M&A | Finance-focused |
| Tilleke & Gibbins | Leading local-international | IP, disputes, corporate | Thai-rooted full-service |
Watchpoints 2025–2026
Bar access
Foreign law firm liberalisation
Thailand's Lawyers Council of Thailand and Ministry of Justice are considering limited foreign-law-firm liberalisation. Any change to the Foreign Business Act lawyer-practice restrictions would materially alter DLA Piper's Bangkok model.
Deal flow
EEC and data-centre M&A pipeline
Thailand's EEC build-out and data-centre investment wave are generating significant cross-border M&A and project-finance mandates. DLA Piper's energy and infrastructure practice is positioned to capture this deal flow.
Competition
Local firm capability upgrade
Chandler MHM, Weerawong Chinnavat, and Tilleke & Gibbins are upgrading capital-markets and M&A capabilities, creating pricing pressure on mid-size international-firm mandates.
Related Market profiles
Peers, parents, partners, agencies, and other Legal Services actors.
Competitor
Baker McKenzie Thailand
Bangkok office of Baker McKenzie global law firm; ranked top-tier in Thailand by Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific.
Open Market profile →
Competitor
Tilleke and Gibbins
Leading independent Southeast Asian law firm headquartered in Bangkok since 1890; ranked top-tier in Thailand and Vietnam by Chambers and Legal 500.
Open Market profile →
Competitor
Chandler MHM
One of Thailand's largest full-service law firms, formed by the combination of Chandler and Thong-ek with Mori Hamada and Matsumoto's Bangkok practice.
Open Market profile →
Sector peer
Allen Overy Shearman (Bangkok)
Allen Overy Shearman's Bangkok office (post-merger 2024); cross-border banking, capital markets, M&A.
Open Market profile →
Reports featuring this profile
Related Market profiles
competitor
Baker McKenzie Thailand
Bangkok office of Baker McKenzie global law firm; ranked top-tier in Thailand by Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific.
competitor
Tilleke and Gibbins
Leading independent Southeast Asian law firm headquartered in Bangkok since 1890; ranked top-tier in Thailand and Vietnam by Chambers and Legal 500.
competitor
Chandler MHM
One of Thailand's largest full-service law firms, formed by the combination of Chandler and Thong-ek with Mori Hamada and Matsumoto's Bangkok practice.