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
Selected Experience
Selected Experience
- Advised on the establishment of Regen Capital Partners, a Cayman Islands search fund with a Thailand-focused investment mandate and a target capitalisation of up to US$30 million, representing the first Thai-focused search fund platform established and managed by a Thai general partner.
- Advised Sansiri Public Company Limited (SIRI), the majority shareholder of The Standard International, on its US$355 million management-led sale of the hotel group to Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
- Acted for Beacon Venture Capital Co., Ltd. on its Series A investment into Arkadiah Technology Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-incorporated technology company. Beacon VC is a corporate venture capital fund serving as the venture capital arm of KASIKORNBANK Public Company Limited (KBANK), one of Thailand’s leading commercial banks.
- Advised Morning Global (QS) Holding Limited (Morning Global) on the acquisition of PT Quantium Solutions Logistics Indonesia, as part of Morning Global’s complete acquisition of the Quantium Solutions group across five Asia-Pacific countries and territories.
- Acted for a leading airport and mass travel technology services provider in Thailand, on a strategically significant share restructuring and joint venture reorganisation.
- Represented a leading venture capital company on its Series B investment into an enterprise AI technology company.
- Represented a newly established green energy and carbon credit advisory platform on the structuring of their joint venture arrangement.
- Represented a leading venture capital on its investment into a Delaware-incorporated AI cybersecurity technology company.
- Advised Humanica Plc. on its acquisition of a Singapore-domiciled software development holding company with operations in Vietnam.
- 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 £50 million. 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 million sale of a majority stake to 10 Bridge Capital, a Bangkokbased private-equity fund. The engagement included pre-sale tax planning, corporate restructuring, and negotiation of complex earnout 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.
