Nam-Ake Lekfuangfu

Nam-Ake Lekfuangfu

Partner
Baker & McKenzie Limited Attorneys at Law

Biography

Nam-Ake Lekfuangfu is a partner of the Labour and Employment practice group in Bangkok. Over 10 years of experience, his extensive legal expertise, combined with insights on industrial knowledge and practices have contributed to him being named a “Next Generation Lawyer for Labour and Employment” in Thailand by Asia Pacific Legal 500 in 2019.

Mr. Lekfuangfu was lead lawyer for a wide range of employment matters involving high profile clients. He assists clients on employment and immigration work, ranging from day-to-day advice to complex matters, such as advising on employment trends impacting employers globally, including global mobility, the use of a modern workforce, and addressing the gender pay gap.

Practice Focus

Mr. Lekfuangfu has also assisted clients extensively regarding employment issues in M&A transactions. He is a lead lawyer, conducting and supervising employment due diligence work to help clients identify any potential issues or deal breakers in the proposed transactions. In doing so, he helps clients plan how best to move employees from one company to another in different types of M&A transactions, and also helps the clients in actually implementing the plans (e.g. preparing FAQs for clients and attending meetings with employees).

Representative Legal Matters

  • Advising and assisting multinational companies on employment issues associated with joint ventures, corporate structures and restructuring, corporate management and control, and mergers and acquisitions (both in terms of the business and its assets and shares), including internal corporate spin-offs

  • Reviewing, drafting, and commenting on employment-related documents, including work regulations and employee handbooks, and assisting in filing them with relevant officials

  • Reviewing, drafting, and commenting on HR-related commercial contracts, service agreements, hire-of-work contracts, employment contracts, outsourcing agreements

  • Conducting due diligence and risk assessments regarding compliance with employment laws and regulations

  • Advising on visa and work permit requirements

  • Assisting clients in the ending of employment (including large-scale layoffs as well as termination of managerial and executive level personnel), including planning and advising on the options, steps, procedures, risks, and exit strategies, as well as preparing relevant documents

  • Advising and assisting clients in restructuring their workforce and implementing the restructuring, including preparing relevant documents

  • Advising and assisting clients in preparing for labour-related litigations, including planning strategies and options to deal with former employees as well as dealing with labour relations and labour unions

  • Assisting clients with their investigation of their personnel, including advising them on the steps and procedures for the investigation, reviewing the investigation reports, commenting on possible options and relevant risks, and preparing relevant documents

  • Advising and planning on cross-border employee mobility, including planning and preparing relevant documents on international assignment or secondment arrangements

Professional Honors

  • "Next Generation Lawyer," in Labour and Employment, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2019

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Thai Bar Association
  • Law Society of Thailand

Admissions

  • Thailand

Education

  • New York University (LLM) (2008)
  • University College, London (LLM merit) (2006)
  • Chulalongkorn University (LLB honors) (2005)

Languages

  • English
  • Thai

Publications

  • Co-author, "Major Changes Definitely Coming to the Labour Protection Act," 8 October 2018

  • Co-author, "Forms and Methods to Notify Work Permit Officials for Foreign Employees Employed Before 28 March 2018," 16 May 2018

  • Co-author, "New Amendments to Work Permit Law and New Notification Requirements for Employers and Employees," 19 April 2018

  • Co-author, "Ebola and beyond: issues for employers when a disease outbreak strikes," Bangkok Post, 24 January 2015

  • Co-author, "Toeing the line: disciplinary actions against employees," Bangkok Post, 15 December 2014