IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

Clients describe Chandler & Thong-ek's offering as a "first rate service that is well worth every penny". Clients are confident in the firm's quality and abilities. As one client puts it: "Chandler & Thong-ek is hands down the absolute best full service firm in Thailand, which is why I chose them."

In 2011, the M&A team advised SunEdison Energy India and MEMC Singapore on the acquisition of five solar power projects in Thailand. The projects, which are currently in the development phase, will have a total capacity of 78MW. Chandler & Thong-ek's M&A team helped with the drafting and negotiation of agreements as well as land acquisitions for the two acquirers.

Chandler & Thong-ek's offerings are especially strong on the project finance side, where the firm has strong relationships with domestic Thai banks. Clients have high regard for founding partner Albert Chandler: "Al Chandler is the finest lawyer in Thailand," says one.

The firm's banking and projects practices are particularly adept at advising Thai banks on their investments into major regional projects. The project finance team has also been heavily involved in the developing clean energy field this year.

One of the firm's major mandates this year was acting as lead Thai counsel to the borrower Trans-Thai Malaysia and sponsors PTT and Petronas on the $200 million financing for the expansion and development of gas transit services from the Thai Malaysian Joint Development Area to a gas pipeline in Thailand's eastern seaboard. The cross-border financing between Thai Malaysia Joint Development Area and Thailand represented the first joint venture from a Thai company into the Malaysian market through a special purpose subsidiary.

Chandler & Thong-ek's team also recently represented a group of Thai banks in a dollar and baht syndicated loan for the financing of the Hongsa Thermal Power Plant and Phu Fai Mining company in Lao PDR. The Hongsa project is the largest project ever financed out of Thailand, and the $2.7 billion dollar deal is particularly exciting because it was sponsored by domestic Thai banks.