Ittirote is a Partner in the Shipping and Insurance & Reinsurance Practices of Rajah & Tann (Thailand) Limited.
Ittirote brings more than 24 years of extensive experience in the legal industry, specialising in litigation and dispute resolution in Thailand. His in-depth expertise covers a broad spectrum of legal matters, with a particular focus on complex insurance disputes, both domestic and international. He has successfully represented numerous prominent local and multinational organisations across a wide range of legal issues, including civil and criminal cases, commercial disputes, reinsurance matters, as well as domestic and international arbitration.
In addition to his hands-on experience, Ittirote is highly knowledgeable in his field and has contributed as a co-author of several publications on shipping and insurance disputes in Thailand. His scholarly work further demonstrates his insight into these areas.
Throughout his distinguished career, Ittirote has gained invaluable experience working with a leading Thai law firms, a prominent regional law firms, and, most recently, the Bangkok office of one of the largest and most respected international law firms in Thailand. His substantial experience in insurance and dispute resolution, combined with his academic contributions, positions him as a recognised individual in the field.
Ittirote completed his studies in reinsurance at the Singapore College of Insurance and holds both a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws degrees from Thammasat University.
Ittirote is a member of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and an extraordinary member of the Thai Bar Association. He is fluent in Thai and English.
EXPERIENCE
Insurance Litigation
- Represented UK-based marine insurers and reinsurers of a leading freight forwarder in defending and settling various cargo claims related to damaged commercial cargo. These cases required complex multi-party negotiations to apportion liability among various airlines and freight forwarders.
- Acted on behalf of numerous insurers and reinsurers in the defence and settlement of property damage and business interruption claims valued at over US$700 million, arising from the 2011 floods in Thailand.
- Represented a panel of international reinsurers in one of Thailand’s most significant insurance cases, involving losses suffered by the owner of a prominent Bangkok department store during the “Red Shirt” riots of 2010. The clients’ interests were valued at over US$150 million.
- Advised a panel of global insurers on coverage issues and disputes arising from the collapse of Saddle Dam D in Champasak Province, Laos.
- Represented a leading Danish reinsurance company and its Thai cedant in a business interruption claim stemming from a fire at a Thai wind farm, which was alleged to have been caused by a machinery issue at the insured’s site.
- Assisted a global insurance broker in defending itself against negligence allegations made by one of its policyholders, a local glass manufacturer, which suffered a fire at its premises and made a claim under its insurance policy for property damages and business interruption losses.
- Represented a multinational life insurance and financial services company in a dispute with one of its sales agent service companies, in which the plaintiff raised critical allegations about the client’s life insurance agency business model.
- Defended an American insurer in a coverage dispute over a claim made by the asset management subsidiary of a major Thai bank. The asset management subsidiary filed a THB 120 million (US$3.4 million) claim under its investment management liability policy issued by a Thai insurance company which was reinsured by the client.
- Represented the insurers of a multinational logistic corporation in a matter involving a fire at a 5,000 square meter warehouse in Samut Prakan.
- Represented a Thai local insurer in proceedings issued by owner of orchid farm against their insured and its subcontractor in the course of the construction of a gas pressure station, caused damage to her orchid farm by way of dust, vibration, and flooding.
General Litigation and Arbitration
- Represented a multinational IT company in pursuing claims valued at over THB 200 million against one of the largest hospitality and leisure companies in the Asia Pacific region under IT services agreements.
- Represented a leading French multinational corporation specialising in the digital transformation of energy management and automation for homes, buildings, data centres, infrastructure, and industries, in pursuing civil claims valued at over THB 40 million against its subcontractors under a services and maintenance agreement.
- Represented a major Thai real estate developer in various arbitration proceedings filed against its subcontractors under the TAI rules.
- Represented a group of international financial institutions and global aircraft leasing corporations, as well as key multinational business corporations, in the restructuring and rehabilitation process of a major Thai full-service airline listed on the Thai Stock Exchange, concerning their claims for repayment of debts under the business rehabilitation proceedings.
- Represented clients, as debtors, in preparing rehabilitation petitions and managing the rehabilitation proceedings.
- Represented a group of major airlines and other key creditors in the bankruptcy proceedings of a Thailand-based low-cost airline.
- Represented a Taiwanese financial company in enforcing share pledges against pledgors in a transaction valued at over THB 60 million, and assisted the client in pursuing claims against the borrower under a loan agreement.
- Represented a Japanese client in defending multiple labour cases filed by a former top executive and other employees involving allegations of a kickback scheme.
- Represented a financial institution based in Saipan, USA, in recovering a loan amounting to THB 500 million. The court ruled in favour of the client, ordering the debtor to repay the loan along with interest and damages under the loan agreement.
- Represented an Israeli bank in claims against its debtors for repayment of funds owed and enforcement of mortgages.
- Represented a major financial institution in a dispute with its debtor concerning unpaid rent and damages under a lease agreement for a Ferris wheel, with a claim amounting to approximately THB 200 million.
Intellectual Property (Contentious and Non-Contentious)
- Represented a key client involved in the manufacturing and sale of luxury brand products, including handbags, accessories, and shoes, in registering trademarks and patents, recording copyrights, and preparing and submitting appeals to the Board of Appeal. Additionally, represented the client in pursuing claims against intellectual property infringers related to copyrights, patents, and trademarks.
- Representing a Swedish fitness company in registering trademarks and preparing and submitting appeals to the Board of Appeal.
Labour and Fraud Investigations
- Represented various key Japanese multinational companies in conducting fraud investigations and addressing related labour issues.
Regulatory
- Acted as external counsel for the largest US social networking platform, providing legal advice and analysis on various issues, including TDRs, election-related content in Thailand, OTT broadcasting, and the obligations and liabilities of service providers and ISPs under the Computer Crime Act.
MEMBERSHIPS / DIRECTORSHIPS
- Extraordinary Member, Thai Bar Association
- Lawyer Council of Thailand
PUBLICATIONS
- Contributor, “Lexology In-depth: Shipping Law 2024 – Thailand”, Lexology (Jun 2024)
- Contributor, “Lexology Panoramic: Insurance Litigation 2024 – Thailand” Lexology (Feb 2024)
- Contributor, “In brief: commercial general liability policies in Thailand” Lexology (Feb 2024)
- Contributor, “First-step analysis: bringing insurance litigation proceedings in Thailand” Lexology (Feb 2024)
- Contributor, “Thailand: Shipping – Country Comparative Guides “, Legal 500 (2023)
- Contributor, “The Shipping Law Review Ninth Edition Thailand Country Chapter”, The Law Reviews (2022)
- Contributor, “A general introduction to shipping law and practice in Thailand”, Lexology (Jun 2022)
- Contributor, “Spotlight: shipping contracts in Thailand” Lexology (Jun 2022)
- Contributor, “Getting the Deal Through – Insurance & Reinsurance” Law Business Research (Aug 2015)
