Paul Papon Charoenpao
- Managing Partner PDLegal Thailand
Papon is dedicated to providing strategic counsel and legal solutions in the areas of mergers & acquisitions, financial services, venture capital & private equity financing, and fintech, including Web3 based projects. With a focus on emerging technology companies, Papon offers comprehensive guidance to a diverse range of clients, including financial institutions, deep-tech startups, and Web3 tokenization projects.
With a strong foundation in corporate and commercial law, Papon is well-versed in corporate and tax structuring, inbound and outbound investments, and general corporate and commercial matters.
Papon has advised prominent venture capital funds and corporate venture capitalists (CVCs) on early-stage and growth-stage investments, both onshore and offshore. By conducting thorough due diligence and implementing effective risk-mitigation strategies, Papon facilitates successful investment transactions, enabling clients to capitalise on valuable investment opportunities. Papon also provides invaluable guidance to high-net-worth clients and corporations seeking to invest in private equity and venture capital funds.
Endorsed by clients for being a “highly commercial and pragmatic lawyer who provides clear, actionable advice tailored to our business and investment needs”, Papon brings extensive expertise in fundraising and regulatory compliance, guiding clients through critical stages of development, ensuring compliance and facilitating success from the early stage to the growth and exit stages. He is praised for being “responsive, professional, and dependable, making him a trusted advisor”, and was recognised as one of the Top 10 Powerful Asian Business Leaders 2025 by CEO Insights Asia Magazine, reflecting his commercially driven leadership approach and focus on technology-enabled legal solutions.
At his previous practice at an international law firm, Papon played an integral role in advising clients on fundraising strategies, both on-shore and off-shore tax planning, and corporate structuring, as well as regulatory compliance matters on an ongoing basis.
Papon holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Kent in the UK and Chulalongkorn University, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Cornell University.
Qualifications
- Cornell University, LL.M.
- University of Kent, LL.B.
- Chulalongkorn University, LL.B.
Speaking engagements
Memberships
Highlights
Highlights
- Advised Humanica Plc. on its acquisition of a Singapore-domiciled software development holding company with operations in Vietnam.
- Advised Sansiri Public Company Limited (SIRI), the majority shareholder of The Standard International, on its US$355,000,000 management-led sale of the hotel group to Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
- Advised Muangthai Life Assurance Public Company Limited and Rutnin Medical Group on their joint venture arrangement to establish a new medical services business in Thailand. Acted as deal counsel representing both parties in structuring the joint venture, marking Muangthai’s entry into the medical services sector.
- Advised Micro Plus Software (Tollring), as Thai counsel, on its strategic alliance and share sale arrangement with Amity Solutions, valued at approximately GBP50,000,000. The transaction involved components of a convertible debt arrangement under Thai law as part of the overall share acquisition consideration, and advising on the cross-border structuring and strategic collaboration aspects of the transaction.
- Advised the shareholders of Bio-Active Co., Ltd., a leading distributor of scientific instruments in Thailand, on the US$37,000,000 sale of a majority stake to 10 Bridge Capital, a Bangkok-based private-equity fund. The engagement included presale tax planning, corporate restructuring, and negotiation of complex earn-out mechanics to optimise value for the sellers. The cross-border transaction involved Thailand, the British Virgin Islands, and Hong Kong.
- Advised Megachem (Thailand) Public Co., Ltd. on their offshore strategic investments into Jios Aerogel Holdings Pte Ltd, a large chemical producer with operations in Singapore.
- Advised Megachem (Thailand) Public Co., Ltd. on their investments in ABio Materials, an exosome and genetic engineering technology research and development company.
