Litigation in Thailand

Litigation in Thailand. Thailand operates under a civil law system with strong German and French influences, codified in:

• Civil and Commercial Code (CCC)
• Civil Procedure Code (CPC)
• Penal Code
• Specialized statutes (e.g., Consumer Protection Act, Labor Protection Act)

1.2 Court Structure

Thailand’s judiciary is divided into three tiers with specialized courts:

Specialized Courts:

• Intellectual Property & International Trade Court
• Labor Court
• Tax Court
• Bankruptcy Court
• Juvenile and Family Courts

2. Civil Litigation Process

2.1 Pre-Trial Phase

Case Evaluation

• Statute of Limitations:
  • Contract claims: 10 years
  • Tort claims: 1-10 years (depending on type)
  • Property disputes: 1-10 years

Pleadings

• Complaint Requirements (Section 59 CPC):
  • Must include parties’ details, facts, legal basis, and relief sought
  • Filing fees: 2% of claim value (capped at THB 200,000)
• Answer Filing:
  • 15 days to respond (extendable)
  • Counterclaims must be filed simultaneously

2.2 Evidence Gathering

Discovery Limitations

Thailand has no formal discovery process. Evidence is submitted through:

• Documentary evidence: Must be translated to Thai
• Witness statements: Direct examination required
• Court-appointed experts: Common in technical cases

Evidence Rules

• Burden of proof: On plaintiff (except defamation cases)
• Document authentication: Requires certification
• Electronic evidence: Admissible under Electronic Transactions Act

2.3 Trial Procedure

Hearing Structure

• First hearing: Case management conference
• Subsequent hearings: Witness examination
• Final hearing: Oral arguments

Key Characteristics

• No jury system
• Bilingual proceedings: Available in IP/IT Court
• Expedited procedures: For claims <THB 300,000

2.4 Judgment & Enforcement

Rendering Judgments

• Typically 3-12 months post-trial
• Must contain detailed legal reasoning

Enforcement Mechanisms

3. Commercial Dispute Resolution

3.1 Contract Litigation

Common Issues

• Breach of contract claims
• Force majeure disputes (post-COVID interpretations)
• Penalty clause challenges (limited to 15% under CCC)

3.2 Shareholder Disputes

• Derivative actions: Permitted under Public Limited Companies Act
• Oppression remedies: Available for minority shareholders

4. Criminal Litigation

4.1 Prosecution Process

• Police investigation: 30-180 days
• Public prosecutor review: 30-90 days
• Court proceedings: 6-24 months

4.2 Defense Strategies

• Bail applications: Strict conditions common
• Plea bargaining: Limited availability
• Alternative resolutions: Increasingly used for minor offenses

5. Intellectual Property Litigation

5.1 IP & IT Court Procedures

• Specialized judges with technical training
• Expedited timelines: Cases typically resolved within 12-18 months
• Preliminary injunctions: Available but require strong evidence

5.2 Damages Calculation

• Actual damages: Must be proven
• Statutory damages: Up to THB 800,000 for copyright infringement
• Punitive damages: Rarely awarded

6. Alternative Dispute Resolution

6.1 Arbitration

• Enforcement: Thailand is New York Convention signatory
• Institutional options: THAC, BAC, ICC
• Recent developments: New Arbitration Act (2019) reforms

6.2 Mediation

• Court-annexed mediation: Mandatory in some courts
• Success rates: ~40% for commercial disputes

7. Foreign Litigant Considerations

7.1 Jurisdictional Issues

• Forum selection clauses: Generally enforced
• Service of process: Hague Convention applies

7.2 Enforcement of Foreign Judgments

• No automatic enforcement: Requires retrial under CPC Section 222
• Exception: Reciprocal treaty arrangements

8. Recent Legal Reforms

8.1 E-Court Initiatives

• Electronic filing: Pilot program in Bangkok
• Virtual hearings: Limited adoption post-pandemic

8.2 Procedural Changes

• Case management systems: To reduce backlog
• Expert witness rules: Stricter qualifications

9. Strategic Considerations

9.1 Case Assessment Factors

• Judicial leanings: Vary by court specialization
• Political sensitivities: Impact on high-profile cases
• Cost-benefit analysis: Average litigation costs THB 500,000-5M

9.2 Evidence Strategies

• Early document preservation
• Strategic use of court experts
• Witness preparation protocols

10. Comparative Regional Analysis

11. Conclusion: Key Takeaways

Thailand’s litigation system presents:
✔ Structured procedures with civil law predictability
✔ Specialized courts for technical matters
✔ Improving efficiency through digital reforms

Critical challenges remain:

• Lengthy timelines in complex cases
• Evidence limitations without discovery
• Enforcement difficulties for foreign judgments

Strategic litigation requires:

• Early case assessment
• Local counsel engagement
• Alternative dispute consideration

The system continues evolving with:

• Technology integration
• Procedural streamlining
• International standard alignment