Keerati Saneewong Na Ayudthaya
Biography
Keerati joined Baker McKenzie in 2013 and is currently active in the Tax Practice Group and the International Commercial & Trade Practice Group. Prior to joining the Firm, he worked as an in-house lawyer at a leading automotive company, at which his areas of practice were general corporate matters, labor law, intellectual property law and customs law.
Keerati’s 10-year practice in tax, customs and trade controversies provides clients a comprehensive range of services, including post-reviews, post-clearance audits, negotiation, settlement with relevant authorities, appeals, and litigation. He has assisted clients during all stages of business: planning, business structuring, implementation, investment, and dispute resolution.
Practice Focus
Keerati’s practice includes:
- Providing legal services and assistance with indirect taxes and international trade issues.
- Providing legal advice on international trade and customs law.
- Advising clients on customs valuations, customs tariff classifications, customs duty privileges, rules of origin, and import/export requirements, including requests for advanced rulings.
- Providing pre-audit strategic work, i.e., revising internal customs handbooks and document retention policies, and advising on implications of transfer price adjustments and customs valuation reports.
Representative Legal Matters
- Assisted a major US shoe manufacturer with a GATT valuation issue and other disputes with the Thai Customs Department.
- Litigated a successful appeals case before the Central Tax Court on the customs tariff classification of automotive parts.
- Litigated a successful appeals case before the Central Tax Court on the customs tariff classification of dietary supplements.
- Litigated a successful appeals case before the Central Tax Court on the utilization of customs duty privileges when importing automotive parts into Thailand.
- Litigated a successful appeals case before the Appeals Committee and the Central Tax Court on the customs tariff classification of automatic teller machines.
- Researched local laws implementing ATIGA and import duties, in respect to ASEAN countries, for clients in the automobile business.
- Represented leading vehicle manufacturers and parts suppliers, as well as clients in the electronics, food, fashion, chemical products and pharmaceutical industries in defending customs cases and disputes with the Thai Customs Department or the Department of Special Investigation in regards to customs formalities, customs valuation, customs duty privileges and customs tariff classification of imported goods.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Customs Sub-Committee of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (Member, 2018 to present)
- Customs Sub-Committee of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (Assistant to a member, 2016 to 2017)
- Sub-Committee of the National Legislative Assembly on Tax Revenue (Assistant to a member, 2016 to 2017)
- Special Committee of the National Legislative Assembly on Consideration of the Customs Act (Assistant to a member, 2017)
Admissions
- Thailand~Thailand (2007)
Education
- Ramkhamhaeng University (B.A. Political Science, 2nd class honors) (2006)
- Chulalongkorn University (LL.B., 1st class honors) (2007)
- Universite Paul Cezanne Aix Marseille III (LL.M. General Public Law) (2010)
- National University of Singapore (LL.M. Intellectual Property and Technology Law) (2011)
- National Institute of Development Administration (Specialization Course Mini Master of Management Program) (2012)
- Thai Bar Association (Certificate in Taxation and International Taxation) (2015)
Languages
- English
- French
- Thai