Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Aug / Sept 2017: The Kids & Family Issue | Page 42

Business
UMPIRE LEGAL:
Taking Care
of Business
F
ledgling law firm Umpire Legal
have had a busy few months
since first opening in September
2016. Though this time has not been
without challenges — as expected
for any new business — it has proven
two things for managing partner Simi
Singhsachthep: One, that the future
looks bright for her booming firm,
and two, that experiencing the start-
up journey first-hand places her in an
even better stead to help her clients.
Though the Asoke-based company
specializes in several areas of law, in-
cluding family, property, and media-
tion, most of Simi’s clients come to her
for assistance with their new business
ideas: “The majority of my clients are
expats or foreigners looking to move
and do business here,” she explains,
and it’s easy to see why this is the case.
“There’s always scope for business in
Thailand; it’s been like that for decades.
Though other Southeast Asian coun-
tries are now opening up to foreign in-
vestment, they’re not quite as devel-
oped and prepared as Thailand is.”
Corporate law of Thailand is the
firm’s main area of legal practice, as-
sisting with company formation and
business registration requirements.
Simi and her team have experience
working with a range of foreign and
international companies in forming
their subsidiary, branch or representa-
tive offices in Thailand, as well as with
small and medium enterprises operat-
ed by foreign and local entrepreneurs.
42 WANDERLUST
A lot of those entrepreneurs are
expat moms who, like Simi, were
looking to branch out independent-
ly and become their own bosses. She
has worked with many women who
experimented with their business
ideas until they got to a point when it
was time to take things further.
“I know so many women here with
great ideas,” she says, “but they’re not
aware of the legal requirements for
starting their own business.” Whether
it’s selling homemade crafts at a farm-
er’s market, marketing consulting,
or fitness instruction, every business
needs to follow the law of the land.
“It can be daunting, especially that
initial meeting to understand the
process,” Simi explains. “That’s why a
lot of what we do here is answering
questions and providing reassurance.
We don’t overwhelm clients with in-
formation, but rather provide easy-
to-digest advice at a pace they feel
comfortable with.”
Umpire Legal’s corporate law ser-
vice includes:
¬ ¬ Company and business reg-
istration
Umpire Legal can assist in the
registration of your business and
clearly setting out the rights and
obligations of all parties. The pro-
cess takes no longer than one
week if all information is in order.
¬ ¬ Partnership registration
Simi and the team can advise on
the preferred structure for your
partnership registration and help
you weigh up the pros and cons of
each option for your business de-
pending on your requirements.
¬ ¬ Foreign business licensing
While applying for a Foreign
Business License is not a simple
process, it can be successfully ob-
tained with the right guidance and
step-by-step assistance through-
out the application process.
¬ ¬ Board of Investors (BOI)
promotion
If your business is eligible for BOI
promotion, Umpire Legal encour-
ages you to apply for investment
promotion due to the benefits that
you will be entitled to. The team can
review your business and advise on
the BOI category under which you
may be eligible, and assist you with
the application process.
¬ ¬ Intellectual property registration
Umpire Legal offers a profession-
al registration service for the pro-
tection of your intellectual prop-
erty with the Thai Department
of Intellectual Property, whether
it’s your trademark, copyright or
patent.
There is much more to the service the
firm provides, of course, not least of
which is the essential guidance it pro-
vides on all things immigration. Simi
explains that immigration matters go
hand-in-hand with corporate law in
Thailand, as anyone wishing to work or
do business here requires a visa and a
WWW.WANDERLUSTMAG.COM
At just 28, Simi Singhsachthep is managing partner at burgeoning law
firm Umpire Legal. Annaliese Watkins caught up with her to find out
more about the essential work she and her expert team do for expats
in Thailand, from assisting with business start-ups and advising on
important family matters, to helping bring Ben’s Cookies to Bangkok.