The firm was delighted to welcome Durham University student Ms Lavanya Dev-Kauffmann onto its Summer Internship Programme.
Lavanya, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Laws degree at the distinguished UK university, was a pleasure to get to know during her time with us last month.
With a diverse educational background spanning Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe, Lavanya was able to bring a global perspective to her assignments and to discussions with the firm’s legal personnel. Her prior experience in leadership roles in different legal-focused academic societies allowed her to settle in and contribute straight from the off.
As part of her internship, Lavanya gained exposure to intra-ASEAN cross-border transactions involving Thai companies, researched and prepared updates regarding recent changes to the law in Thailand, attended a knowledge sharing session with quantum experts from a corporate/cyber investigations unit, and helped our attorneys translate various Thai laws and regulations into the English language, among other activities.
Yesterday, on 21st August 2024, the Office of the Personal Data Protection Committee (the “PDPC”) and the Ministry of Digital Economy & Society announced a significant enforcement action. The Expert Committee on Technology & Related Issues (Committee 2) imposed a fine of up to THB 7,000,000 (Seven Million Thai Baht) on a major private company engaged in online trade.
The fine was levied due to the company’s failure to adequately protect personal data, leading to a breach that exposed sensitive information to call centre gangs.
The company had collected personal data from over 100,000 customers but did not appoint a Data Protection Officer, as mandated by Section 41 of the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) (the “PDPA”). From the PDPC’s investigation, the Company was found to have insufficient security measures in place to protect customer data as required by Section 31(1). They also failed to identify the breach and notify the affected customers and the PDPC of the breach in a timely manner, in violation of Section 37(4).
This is the first administrative fine to be issued under the PDPA. Such enforcement action reflects the PDPA’s alignment with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”).
Mr Prasert Jantarawongthong, Minister of Digital Economy & Society, emphasised that this decision underscores the importance of compliance with data breach reporting requirements and serves as a cautionary message to all organisations. A further release of the full directive is expected and should benefit other operators in implementing their own compliance practices. It will also provide a clearer picture of the PDPC’s enforcement approach.
For guidance on navigating the PDPA and ensuring the compliance of your organisation, please contact us. Our team of lawyers is here to help you implement effective data protection strategies and avoid regulatory pitfalls.
This article was researched and prepared by Ms Lavanya Dev-Kauffmann.
In 2023, from 39.22 million employed people in Thailand, as many as 52.19% or 20.46 million were self-employed. This was an increase from the previous year and the number of people freelancing is likely to continue to grow.
Yet, freelance workers often face difficulties such as slave contracts, delays in payment, unreasonable work modifications, or even not clearly stating remuneration due to the employer’s concerns. So, what do you need to know to protect yourself and protect your rights?
Join the discussion with IAS Advisory co-founding partner Mr Anuwat Ngamprasertkul in an episode of the popular evening TV programme Home Economy, hosted by veteran news anchor, reporter and journalist Dr Wit Sittivaekin.
This episode premiered on Wednesday 19th June 2024 on Thai PBS, Thailand’s public broadcasting service. Disclaimer: all content is owned by Thai PBS. Visit the Thai PBS website here: https://www.thaipbs.or.th/home
The workshops will take place in September and October and cover the family charter, family wealth management, family holding companies/restructuring, accounting and tax, M&A for stability, and wills. IAS Advisory co-founder Mr Anuwat Ngamprasertkul will be leading the series’ closing educational seminar on wills.
The training workshops will take place at hotel venues in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok and run from 09:00-16:00. Registration starts at 08:00.
More information about the AFBE, including membership options and registration for events, is available on its website HERE.
Register now for all six training workshops to receive special AFBE privileges! Those interested in attending can register directly using the AFBE’s Google Forms service HERE.
Siratan impressed everybody with his assuredness and positivity and his ability to get the job done, and Nantikarn and Kwachuen proved themselves highly professional and capable on assignments as well as active and enthusiastic members of our team.
IAS Advisory has so far welcomed 10 students onto its internship and training programme since last year. The firm is committed to providing opportunities for growth and giving young people a platform to learn and make a difference.
IAS Advisory made the news again recently as legal counsel overseeing the high-profile business collaboration between Anya Meditec Co., Ltd. and Nexter Living Co., Ltd.
On 28th June 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Anya Meditec, a leading provider of comprehensive sleep health services in Thailand, and Nexter Living, which is renowned for its advanced engineering solutions and innovations.
The collaboration will focus on integrating Nexter Living’s innovative “DoCare” system, a cutting-edge telehealth monitoring tool designed to enhance patient care with advanced sleep monitoring technologies.
The aim of the collaboration is to improve overall health outcomes by addressing sleep disorders such as sleep apnea (which is linked to chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s) and somnambulism, and will allow patients of Anya Meditec to receive accurate sleep quality checks from home.
The firm was delighted to host pupils from Amnuay Silpa School (ANS) during their Work Experience Week.
Secondary School phase Year 12 students Mr Isaac Uzarraga, Ms Thanyarat Supsamutchai, and Mr Pakarath Pitakchatiwongjoined our internship programme from 1st-5th July to explore possible career options.
Isaac, Thanyarat, and Pakarath impressed everybody with their eagerness to learn and with how quickly they settled into our team. They were enthusiastic and inquisitive, proving themselves highly capable as well as excellent ANS representatives.
ANS is a Bangkok-based coeducational private school that teaches kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. Founded in 1926, its distinguished alumni include six prime ministers of Thailand. ANS is the only English/Thai bilingual school in the country awarded CIS (Council of International Schools) accreditation.
Running a successful family business requires understanding each family member’s needs and concerns; also, collaborating constructively in terms of legal compliance, business possibilities, and family conflict management.
So, how do you work through tensions and keep relationships intact for the long term? How do you resolve family-related conflict and work as a team to ensure fairness and preserve wealth for inheritance? How can you safeguard your estate to avoid family disputes?
Join the discussion with IAS Advisory co-founding partner Mr Anuwat Ngamprasertkul in an episode of the popular evening TV programme Home Economy, hosted by veteran news anchor, reporter and journalist Dr Wit Sittivaekin.
This episode premiered on Monday 10th June 2024 on Thai PBS, Thailand’s public broadcasting service. Disclaimer: all content is owned by Thai PBS. Visit the Thai PBS website here: https://www.thaipbs.or.th/home
As a sponsor of the Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC), IAS Advisory proudly invites all in-house legal counsels, legal advisors, and others to join “Thailand Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Week 2024,” from 18th-20th September 2024.
This year’s event, “Emerging Trends in ADR,” takes place over three days at the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, with sessions focused on the future of dispute resolution through international and regional developments.
Guest speakers include Police Colonel Mr Tawee Sodsong from Thailand’s Ministry of Justice and Prof Dr Mohamed S Abdel Wahab, founding partner and head of international arbitration, construction, and energy at Zulficar & Partners Law Firm (Egypt).
IAS Advisory is honoured to co-host, together with THAC and Watson Farley & Williams, the session “The ASEAN Way: Implications for Disputes along the OBOR (One Belt, One Road)” on Day 2.
Seats are limited, so book now! The early bird registration fee for “Thailand ADR Week 2024” is THB 4,900 until 31st July 2024, after which the cost of registration will increase to THB 6,700. For more information, visit: https://thac.or.th/thailand-adr-week-2024/
The firm was delighted to welcome pupils from Bangkok’s renowned NIST International School onto its internship programme recently.
Year 11 students Ms Rani de Smet and Ms Ebba Bryneson were with us from 7th-13th June, and Ms Patvitra Reanchareonsuk joined us from 24th-28th June. They were warmly welcomed and integrated seamlessly as part of our team.
Rani, Ebba and Patvitra represented NIST admirably. They impressed us with their can-do attitude, their performance on assignments, and their creativity and team spirit on collaborative projects.
NIST International School in Bangkok is a not-for-profit full IB World School offering a premium international education. The school is well known for its commitment to building a community of diverse perspectives and experiences, and prides itself on developing students who are ready and ambitious to make a positive impact.