Herbert Smith expands Bangkok corporate practice

Herbert Smith is gearing up its corporate team in Bangkok in an effort to broaden its practice in Thailand. Traditionally focused on disputes and construction, the firm has hired Rashane Leerabandhu to lead a mainstream corporate and commercial practice.

Leerabandhu joins from PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was head of the corporate and mergers and acquisitions practice. Before his spell with PwC, Leerabandhu was a partner with Clifford Chance, also in Bangkok.

"This is a tremendous step forward for the firm in Bangkok, reflecting our confidence in this market," says Alastair Henderson, Bangkok managing partner at Herbert Smith. "I am confident that his practice and experience will build our reputation for corporate work alongside the existing profile for disputes."

Leerabandhu brings a wealth of experience in M&A, corporate finance and capital markets together with a client base that includes several international private equity funds.

"There are excellent opportunities for us to develop the corporate practice further, both within Thailand and cross-border via the strength of the firm's Asia network," says Leerabandhu.