We are GPS Legal, a full-service law firm providing legal counsel to resident and overseas individuals, local and regional SME’s, and global multinationals in Thailand.
With its unique culture and complexity of laws, regulations, and bureaucratic nuances, Thailand’s dynamic and shifting legal landscape often presents a maze of challenges that require precise, insightful, and discreet navigation. GPS has a solid footing in the local community with extensive networks, strong personal relationships, and insider know-how. By delivering accurate, informed, and thorough answers together with clear solutions, you can trust and rely on us to help you overcome those challenges.
Our dynamic team of lawyers and consultants has extensive hands-on experience in Corporate, Family, Entertainment Law, and Real Estate law, and can offer our clients bespoke and practical solutions to meet their specific needs. Core competencies include transactional, risk and crisis management across both corporate and personal legal landscapes.
A modern law firm with traditional values, we are a leader in offering competitive and flexible fee structures allowing our clients access to high quality legal services at a reasonable cost. We provide you with concrete, real-world solutions in both corporate matters and/or personal affairs.
GPS. Clear Direction in a Complex World.
About GPS Legal
Founded in 2014
12 people in their team
Practice areas
Languages spoken
Social media
Practice areas
Business
Throughout the lifespan of your business, GPS Legal assists you every step of the way. From simple contracts to complex mergers & acquisitions, from small business loans to multi-tranche project financing, we work with you to ensure your legal needs are met. More than that, we take the time to understand your business fully so that every transaction is legally relevant and commercially beneficial to you.
Bankruptcy & Debt
If your business runs into financial trouble or you are a creditor holding a debt in default, GPS Legal has the knowledge, credentials and skill to navigate matters of bankruptcy, reorganization and debt collection
Consumer Rights
Sometimes disputes cannot be avoided, but this does not mean that they must be contentious. Beneficial dispute resolution can be attained with the right support. GPS Legal dispute resolution experts can help you navigate this process, advocating for your best interests while resolving disagreements.
Employment & Labor
GPS Legal understands the intricacies of Thai employment law and how it relates to foreign employers and employees alike. Whether an employer or an employee, we can assist you through hiring and on-boarding, and we can advocate for you through termination and disputes.
Family
Personal and family life events may sometimes require legal advice and may often accompanied by stress, confusion, and conflicting emotions. Let us help you through these challenges while making sure that your interests are protected.
Real Estate
Relied on by developers, individual owners, lenders, and private and corporate investors, clients trust GPS Legal to manage the intricacies of their real estate transactions and disputes, integrating legal and commercial knowledge to provide counsel that translates into successful outcomes. For peace of mind in real estate matters, we can help.
Lawsuits & Disputes
Sometimes disputes cannot be avoided, but this does not mean that they must be contentious. Beneficial dispute resolution can be attained with the right support. GPS Legal dispute resolution experts can help you navigate this process, advocating for your best interests while resolving disagreements.
Media, Technology and Telecoms
Entertainment
As the premier legal advisor for entertainment production in Thailand, GPS Legal expertly guides local production service companies supporting major international series, feature films, and documentaries. We provide comprehensive counsel on all legal and business aspects, from clearance and compliance to rights negotiations and talent representation, ensuring seamless and successful productions.
Data Privacy & Security
GPS Legal stands at the forefront of data privacy and security law in Thailand, offering comprehensive solutions to navigate the complexities of personal data protection. We expertly advise organizations on compliance with local and international regulations, implement robust data protection frameworks, and provide strategic counsel on data breach preparedness and response, ensuring the trust and security of your stakeholders.
Elder Law
GPS Legal knows how to protect your family as well as your assets. Appropriate estate planning and execution can be complex, but our experienced attorney’s help you through this process so that you can be secure about the future.
Our Partners and Associates
Lawrence is a co-founding partner of GPS with practical and extensive experience in corporate and commercial transactions, with particular expertise in the formation, operation, and dissolution of businesses, including advising on corporate governance, shareholder matters, and compliance with corporate law. He advises on a wide range of legal issues related to business activities, including labour and employment, trade, contracts, and consumer protection.
As Managing Partner of GPS Legal, Lawrence drives firm strategy, growth, and culture. Under his leadership, the firm has enjoyed continuous expansion and gained a well-regarded reputation amongst its clients since its founding in 2014. He emphasizes multi-faceted legal practitioners, exceedingly dedicated client servicing, alternative fee structures and the use of today’s available technology, resulting in a highly effective legal team, efficient representation and long-lasting client relationships.
Prior to founding GPS, Lawrence was a Partner at a leading, mid-size Thai law firm in Bangkok, where he oversaw the firm’s commercial practice and served as the firm’s “closer”. Living in Asia since 1990, he has gained extensive cross-border experience across numerous countries in Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand. This hands-on familiarity allows him to advise his firm’s clients from a position of broad practical know-how.
Lawrence currently sits on the Board of Directors of several privately held Thai companies, serves as a founding board member of ProSeed Asia, a founding member of Asia Pillars, and served several terms as President and Vice President of the Inspire Chapter of BNI Thailand.
Pattaraporn (“Pum”) Chamnankit is a Partner and co-founder of GPS Legal, and leads the firm's Corporate & Commercial, and Private Client Practice areas.
Pum represents both private HNW, UHNW and corporate clients in relation to business startup, registration and licensing, corporate governance, private and commercial real estate transactions, labor and employment, BOI and Foreign Business Act companies. She has advised on several transactions in relation to corporate restructuring for regional SME’s and liquidation for publicly listed, global multinationals. She has successfully represented clients as lead attorney in various private individual and family matters, including adoption, divorce, and custody disputes, probate and succession disputes. Her international background and expertise give her a global perspective and an ability to work effectively within a multi-cultural environment.
Pum was a top-ranked graduate of Assumption University, Bangkok, Thailand where she obtained a Bachelor of Law (LLB) in 2012. She also holds an MBA from Ramkamhaeng University. Pattaraporn is a licensed attorney, admitted to the Lawyer’s Council of Thailand, is a member of the Bar Association of Thailand as well as a licensed Notary Public.
Jonathan is a senior partner with GPS Legal and primarily oversees the firm's Entertainment Practice. He has extensive experience in both transactional and litigation matters, with specific expertise in contracts, commercial, and compliance law.
Since 2007, Jonathan has served, among other things, as counsel to local production service companies on over twenty major series, feature films, and documentaries shot in Thailand by foreign producers.
He also advises and supports productions on a broad range of legal and business matters, including clearance, tax, insurance, labor, and compliance issues (including but not limited to compliance with anti-corruption laws and regulations such as the FCPA and the UK Bribery Act). He is able to draw directly upon his litigation background to advise clients on litigation risks as well as liaise with outside and studio counsel with respect to third party claims.
The more high profile foreign productions that he has worked on include ""Thirteen Lives" (MGM), "Ms. Marvel" (Disney), "The Serpent" (Netflix/BBC), and "The Hangover, Part 2" (WB)
Jonathan also represents foreign filmmakers in rights negotiations with Thai counterparties, and advises local talent in their dealings with financiers, studios, distributors, and talent agencies.
Jonathan is a New York State admitted attorney, having graduated with honors from the University of Michigan Law School in 1990. He practiced as a commercial and civil litigator in New York City until moving to Bangkok, Thailand in 2004.
David has practiced in corporate and commercial law in the U.S. and Thailand for the best part of two decades. Graduating from Columbia Law School in 2004, he served in the distinguished role as Managing Editor of the Columbia Law Review.
David commenced his career in the corporate department at Kaye Scholer’s New York office, gaining extensive experience in their public and private securities practice on behalf of registrants, issuers, and shareholders. He has over 20 years' experience in capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, securities issuances, and other areas of private and corporate law. David brings broad, practical experience to the firm’s Corporate Practice and is the Private Client / Private Equity team leader.
Kim is a Senior Associate at GPS Legal and is the firm’s Data Privacy & Security Practice team leader. Her leadership in this critical area is complemented by a robust background in corporate and commercial transactions, contracts, compliance, and corporate governance.
Drawing on significant experience in the intricacies of data privacy, Kim expertly guides clients through the complexities of data protection laws. She provides strategic counsel to ensure not only compliance but also the robust safeguarding of their interests in an increasingly digital world. Her deep understanding of this rapidly evolving field has established her as a trusted advisor for organizations navigating the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.
Itchaya's broad experience across diverse legal matters provides her with a well-rounded perspective and a nuanced understanding of Thailand’s legal landscape. She holds an LLB from Chulalongkorn University and is a licensed attorney admitted to the Lawyer’s Council of Thailand.
Legal guides
- Land Ownership in Thailand: Title Deeds (20/04/2022)
- Thailand’s SMART Visa program: What you should know (17/09/2021)
- Estate planning goes beyond wills (17/09/2021)
- Buying a condo in Thailand as a foreigner (16/09/2021)
- Real Estate Due Diligence in Thailand (16/09/2021)
- On Becoming a Permanent Resident in Thailand (16/09/2021)
- Buying a condo or investing money in Thailand? You may qualify for an investment visa (01/09/2021)
- New Interest Rules for Loans in Thailand (01/09/2021)