Litigation Services - Attori Law
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Litigation Services Experienced Lawyers

We represent clients across criminal, civil, labour, corporate, tax, and family litigation in the Thai courts, from first-instance proceedings to the Supreme Court. Debt recovery, contract enforcement, employment disputes, regulatory claims, and more. We build the case, run the procedure, and pursue the outcome you came for.

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Areas of Litigation

Criminal

  • Fraud, forgery, embezzlement

  • Defamation (civil and criminal)

  • Theft

  • Assault and bodily harm

  • Narcotics

  • Money laundering

  • Regulatory violations

  • Cyber law

Civil

  • Breach of contract and damages

  • Property ownership disputes

  • Negligence and tort claims

  • Loan and debt disputes

  • Insurance claims and indemnity

  • Landlord-tenant disputes

  • Partnership and joint venture disagreements

Labour

  • Wrongful termination

  • Breach of employment contract

  • Unpaid salary, bonuses, or benefits

  • Severance pay and compensation

  • Workplace harassment and discrimination

  • Occupational safety disputes

Corporate

  • Shareholder and partnership disputes

  • Breach of directors' fiduciary duties

  • Company dissolution and liquidation

  • Mergers and acquisitions

  • Breach of joint venture agreements

  • Trade and commercial competition cases

  • Business torts

  • Intellectual property

Tax

  • Tax fraud or evasion defense

  • Business tax disputes

  • Withholding tax compliance issues

  • Customs duty valuation and classification disputes

  • Excise tax assessments and appeals

  • Tax refund denials and audit challenges

  • Appeals before the Tax Court and Supreme Court

Family

  • Divorce and marital dissolution

  • Child custody

  • Spousal and child support (alimony and maintenance)

  • Marital property division

  • Adoption proceedings

  • Domestic violence cases

  • Will contests and succession disputes

  • Estate administration and probate

YOUR BEST ROUTE FORWARD

Litigation Alternatives

Litigation isn't always the right route, and we'll tell you when it isn't. Many disputes are better resolved, faster and at lower cost, through one of these alternatives.

    Negotiation

    Direct discussion between the parties, often started through a formal demand letter, aimed at resolving the dispute without escalating it further. Many disputes end here, avoiding the time and cost of a courtroom entirely, especially when both sides genuinely want a quick resolution.

    Mediation

    A neutral third party helps both sides work toward a settlement they can each accept. Thai courts offer their own court-annexed mediation process, and cases resolved this way, rather than proceeding to trial, can often conclude in a matter of months instead of years.

    Arbitration

    A binding decision from an independent arbitrator, outside the court system, commonly used for commercial disputes. Arbitration awards are often easier to enforce internationally than a Thai court judgment, which is why we recommend arbitration clauses in cross-border contracts specifically.

    Settlement Agreements

    Once terms are agreed, whether reached through negotiation, mediation, or partway through a court case, we formalize the outcome in a binding settlement agreement, so the resolution genuinely holds and doesn't leave either party exposed to the dispute reopening later.

HIGHLY EXPERIENCED

Why Partner With Attori Law

    01

    Foreign perspective, Thai legal expertise

    Foreign-owned ourselves, we understand both how international clients think and how Thai courts actually work, a genuine advantage when you're navigating a system that isn't your own.
    02

    Representation across the full range of disputes

    Criminal, civil, labour, corporate, tax, and family litigation, all under one firm. If your situation touches more than one area, you're not being passed between separate lawyers who've never spoken to each other.
    03

    Honest case assessment, not just reassurance

    We'll tell you what your case actually looks like, including the weak points, before we tell you what we can do about them. Litigation is expensive and stressful enough without false confidence added on top.
    04

    Experience at every level of the Thai court system

    From first-instance proceedings through to the Supreme Court, so your case doesn't need to change hands if it escalates.
    05

    Direct access to the people handling your case

    You deal with the lawyer running your matter, not a rotating point of contact with no real authority over it.
    06

    Clear cost expectations from the outset

    Litigation costs can run long and unpredictable. We give you a realistic picture upfront, and keep you updated as the case develops, rather than letting the bill become its own source of stress.

SUPPORT FROM START TO FINISH

The Litigation Process

STEP 1

Consultation and Case Assessment

We review the facts, assess the strength of your case honestly, and advise whether litigation is the right path or whether negotiation, mediation, or arbitration would serve you better.

STEP 2

Pre-Litigation Steps

Gathering evidence, sending formal demand letters, and attempting direct negotiation. Many disputes resolve here before a case is ever filed.

STEP 3

Filing at the Court of First Instance

The case is formally filed with the relevant court. Thailand's Court of First Instance hears both the facts and the law, and includes specialized divisions such as the Labour Court and Tax Court depending on the dispute.

STEP 4

Judgement

The Court of First Instance issues its decision. This is not necessarily the final word, either party may appeal.

STEP 5

Appeal if Pursued

The Court of Appeal reviews both facts and law, primarily through the case record rather than new testimony. A further appeal to the Supreme Court (Dika Court) isn't automatic, it requires leave to appeal, generally granted only for matters of significant public interest, conflicting precedent, or an unsettled point of law.

STEP 6

Enforcement

A favorable judgment isn't the same as payment. Enforcement, seizing assets or bank accounts through the court's enforcement officer, is a separate stage, and one that can move slower than the judgment itself if the other party resists.

TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY

What Clients Say

LUKAS KIRCHBERGER

Very professional and reliable law firm with excellent communication. They were clear, responsive, and provided practical legal advice without unnecessary complications. I felt well supported throughout the entire process and can highly recommend Attori Law to both individuals and businesses seeking legal assistance in Thailand.

CONRADO CATIMBANG

I had the pleasure of working with this company for registering my business, as well as handling my visa, work permit, and trademark filing. The entire process was seamless and efficient. They were consistently professional, knowledgeable, and provided amazing suggestions whenever I had concerns. They also kept me updated every step of the way, making the experience stress-free. Their kindness and helpfulness truly stood out. I highly recommend them!

SANKET VELHAL

I was handling a complicated situation around Thai business compliance + immigration/Non-B visa process, with deadlines and a lot of moving parts. Their team stayed calm, explained things clearly, and gave me realistic options instead of false promises... ... If you’re an expat or business owner in Thailand and you need help with visa/work permit, company filings, or compliance, I would definitely recommend Attori Law. They know what they’re doing and they treat clients with respect.

TRYSTAN TRESTCHENKOFF

Me and my partner registered a company with Attori and for now the service is reliable, good and on time. I recommend them to anyone willing to register a company in Thailand.

Scott

Simple and straightforward to talk to for all business and work permit related matters. Excellent customer service!

JOHN BEARDMORE

Attori Law provides excellent legal support. Golf offers a very personalized service, taking the time to understand every detail and making the whole process smooth and professional. Highly recommended.

Common Litigation Mistakes

two litigation lawyers in bangkok discussing a case

  1. Waiting too long to act

    Prescription periods vary by claim type, as short as one year for some tort claims. Once that window closes, the right to sue is gone, regardless of how strong the case might have been.

  2. Not preserving evidence early

    Documents, correspondence, and records have a way of disappearing or becoming harder to verify the longer a dispute drags on before anyone takes formal steps.

  3. Assuming a Supreme Court appeal is automatic

    Since 2015, an appeal to the Supreme Court requires leave to appeal. It isn't a guaranteed next step, and most petitions don't meet the bar for it to be granted.

  4. Underestimating how long enforcement takes, even after winning

    A favorable judgment isn't the same as being paid. Enforcement is a separate process, and a losing party can delay it further through their own appeals.

  5. Ruling out mediation or arbitration without considering them

    Going straight to litigation without weighing faster, lower-cost alternatives can mean spending years and significant costs on a dispute that might have been resolved in months.

  6. Going to trial without a realistic view of costs and timeline

    Litigation in Thailand can run well over a year at first instance alone, and longer with an appeal. Understanding that timeline upfront avoids surprises partway through.

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Litigation

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FAQs

Do I have to be in Thailand for the case?

Not for most of it. A Power of Attorney lets us act for you on filings, hearings and correspondence. There are points where the court requires you personally, and those are known well in advance rather than sprung on you. If you live abroad, we plan the case around the dates that genuinely need you here.

Will this actually go to court?

Often not. Thai courts actively encourage settlement and will refer parties to mediation, and a great many disputes resolve before trial. That is usually the better outcome rather than a compromise, because trial is slower and more expensive than most claims justify. We tell you at the outset which of the two your case is likely to be.

How are cases decided?

By judges. Thailand has no jury system, and it is a civil law jurisdiction, so courts apply the codes rather than being bound by earlier decisions. Supreme Court judgments carry persuasive weight but are not binding precedent. In practice this means the strength of your documents matters more than the strength of your argument.

Can I make the other side hand over documents?

Largely no, and this is the biggest surprise for anyone from a common law country. Thailand has no real disclosure or discovery process. You prove your case with the evidence you hold, not with evidence you compel from the other party. It is why what you gathered before the dispute started often decides the outcome, and why written contracts matter far more here than people expect.

Is there a deadline for bringing a claim?

Yes, and it varies considerably by the type of claim. Some periods are short enough that a dispute which has been rumbling on informally for a year may already be out of time. This is worth checking early, because it is the one issue that can end a case before it is heard regardless of its merits.

What can I realistically recover?

Actual proven loss. Thai courts award compensatory damages and do not award punitive damages the way US courts do, so the figure is tied to what you can document rather than to the conduct of the other side. Winning is also separate from being paid, and enforcement against a party with no traceable assets is its own exercise. We assess both before you commit.

What language are proceedings in?

Thai, throughout. Foreign language documents need certified translation before they can be submitted, which takes time and cost that is easy to leave out of a budget. If your contracts and correspondence are in English, factor the translation in at the start rather than discovering it mid-case.

What if the judgment goes against me?

Appeal is available, but it is a decision to weigh rather than an automatic next step. We assess whether there are real grounds, what it will cost, and whether a negotiated settlement or an enforcement arrangement serves you better. Appealing a sound judgment for the sake of it adds cost without changing the outcome.