Stephenson Harwood LLP is acquiring DLA Piper’s Bangkok office, adding a team of more than 40 including four partners and opening its 12th office, the firm announced on 30 October 2026.

According to the announcement, the Bangkok team will advise on domestic and cross-border matters in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Its practice areas are debt restructuring, corporate M&A, finance and project transactions, employment, real estate and disputes. It joins Stephenson Harwood’s offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul.

Waranon Vanichprapa, a financing and restructuring lawyer, will become Bangkok managing partner. Global Legal Post reported that he was country managing partner of DLA Piper Thailand and head of its Asia finance practice group. The other partners are Thananan Sangnuan (corporate), Komson Suntheeraporn (disputes) and Santipap Dumprapai (white-collar investigations).

Law.asia reported that the office opened on 2 November 2026. It also reported that the arrangement runs through an exclusive referral relationship between the firms. Under it, Thailand-related matters will be directed to Stephenson Harwood’s Bangkok team, subject to conflict clearance.

Eifion Morris, described by Global Legal Post as Stephenson Harwood’s outgoing chief executive, said in the announcement: “Thailand is an important market within Southeast Asia, and the addition of the Bangkok team complements our existing offices in the region. The team brings local market specialism and experience that will support our clients where they require advice in Thailand, and on cross-border matters where we can draw on the strength of our offices across Asia and our international network.”

Vanichprapa said: “this is the first time in Thailand that a transaction of this nature has taken place.” Global Legal Post reported that he said the team will continue to work closely with DLA Piper on its Thailand matters.

Jean Pierre Douglas-Henry, DLA Piper’s Managing Director, Asia Pacific, said in the Stephenson Harwood release that the transition gives the Bangkok team an opportunity to grow and gives clients continuity.

No financial terms were given in the announcement. Law.asia reported that the firm plans to keep growing headcount and that Morris told Asia Business Law Journal it plans to add new partners in Bangkok.

Why it matters A partner at an international firm with Asia offices or Thai-facing clients now has a live example of a Bangkok practice changing firms. Under the reported arrangement, the practice’s former firm stays linked to it through referrals, and Stephenson Harwood has said it plans to add partners in the city.