Suksawat Watewai
Biography
Suksawat Watewai is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Dispute Resolution Practice Group, with over two decades of experience advising multinational and domestic clients. He has represented clients across industries such as construction, automotive, telecommunications and finance. His practice covers complex disputes involving administrative law, environmental regulation, taxation and commercial matters.
Practice Focus
Suksawat focuses on complex litigation, particularly in construction, administrative, tax, and environmental disputes. He regularly represents clients before Thai courts and advises on cross-border matters involving regulatory and commercial issues. His experience also includes serving on working committees dedicated to tax relief initiatives, corporate debt restructuring and legal reform.
Representative Legal Matters
- Represented a major construction company in an administrative dispute concerning a large-scale public infrastructure project valued at approximately USD 280 million, involving issues related to procurement and contract interpretation.
- Advised a consortium of industrial companies in a landmark environmental case involving the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, where 76 large-scale projects were halted by court injunction. Successfully petitioned the court to allow partial continuation of project activities.
- Represented Thailand’s premier real estate developer in a civil lawsuit concerning access rights to a road within a luxury residential project in Bangkok, brought by a neighboring landowner.
- Acted for a group of leading beverage manufacturers in a high-profile excise tax dispute with the Excise Department, challenging the legality of a tax notification in the Thai Tax Court.
- Defended a world-renowned automotive manufacturer in excise tax litigation, achieving a favorable outcome with tax savings of approximately USD 160 million.
- Represented a global electronics manufacturer in a landmark tax assessment case concerning investment promotion privileges, resulting in the revocation of a tax assessment by the Revenue Department.
Professional Honors
- Highly Regarded in Tax Controversy, World Tax, 2019–2025
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Lawyers Council of Thailand
- Thai Bar Association
Admissions
- Thailand (1998)
Education
- Sasin School of Management (MBA) (2005)
- University of Washington (LLM in Taxation) (2002)
- George Washington University (Certificate in Orientation to the US Legal System) (2001)
- Ramkhamhaeng University (LLB) (1996)
- Chulalongkorn University (BEng) (1994)
Languages
- English
- Thai
Baker & McKenzie Ltd. is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.