DFDL Mekong has hired Rashane Leerabandhu, the Thai head of Herbert Smith’s corporate & commercial practice to join its Bangkok office as a partner.

Leerabandhu, who spent six years as the director of legal services unit of PriceWaterhouseCoopers Thailand prior to his time at Herbert Smith, had also spent three years with the Siam Commercial Bank as an in-house lawyer.

 A member of the Thai Bar, qualified with an LL.M from the University of London, Leerabandhu specializes in corporate finance, capital markets, mutual funds and in the hospitality industry. His previous firms include Baker & McKenzie and Clifford Chance amongst others.

Some significant deals he has worked on include the joint venture between Siam Cement and Mitsubishi Corporation on TV tube production plant; the acquisition of Siam City Asset Management Company by ING Bank and the acquisition of Bank of Asia by ABN AMRO Bank. 

 DFDL Mekong is a pan-ASEAN law firm focused on emerging markets, specializing in tax and legal issues.  It currently has 250 lawyers, spread across nine offices. The firm recently launched an office in Singapore, at the start of 2011 to service the growing number of Singapore companies investing in renewable energy projects in the Mekong region and to act as a regional hub for the firm’s tax practice.ALB

Other related stories:

• DFDL Mekong to consolidate pan-ASEAN reach with Singapore office in 2011 (7 Dec 2010)
• DFDL bolsters tax practice with PwC hire (17 Jan 2011)