A legal practice that moves
at the client's pace.
Garuda Legal was founded in Bangkok to serve individuals and families who need careful, patient legal support in pension matters — without pressure, without jargon, and without haste.
Back to HomeFounded with a specific purpose
Garuda Legal opened its Bangkok office in 2016 after its founders observed a consistent gap in the legal services available to retired and near-retirement individuals dealing with pension disputes. Most law firms treated pension cases as a secondary concern — handled by junior counsel, often in the same queue as unrelated commercial matters. Clients reported feeling rushed through consultations and uncertain what they had actually decided.
The practice was structured differently from the start. Pension matters are the only work we take. Every client is seen by a qualified senior lawyer. Appointments are given adequate time, written summaries are produced after each meeting, and next steps are always framed as optional — because legal decisions made under pressure rarely serve the client well.
Over the years we have assisted clients with Social Security Office disputes, Government Pension Fund corrections, private occupational scheme beneficiary issues, and formal litigation through Thailand's administrative court system. We have also worked alongside medical specialists, employment historians, and actuarial consultants on complex cases requiring expert input.
We work in Thai, English, and Mandarin. Many of our clients are expatriates, returning workers, or the adult children of elderly clients who need assistance understanding a pension situation on behalf of a parent.
Our Mission
To provide thoughtful, client-paced legal counsel for pension matters in Thailand — so that individuals and families can understand their rights and act on them with confidence.
Our Values
- Patience over pressure
- Plain language over legal jargon
- Senior attention on every file
- Honest expectations at every stage
- Transparency in costs and timelines
9+
Years of focused pension practice in Bangkok
Counsel who specialise in pension law
Siriporn Phromma
Senior Counsel · Founding Partner
Called to the Thai Bar in 2004. Siriporn established Garuda Legal after a decade handling pension disputes within a larger commercial practice. She leads all litigation matters and speaks Thai, English, and Mandarin.
Krittaphat Nantakorn
Associate Counsel
Krittaphat focuses on beneficiary designation updates and records inventory consultations. His background in Thai administrative law is particularly useful in cases involving the Social Security Office and Government Pension Fund.
Wanida Charoenwong
Client Relations & Documentation
Wanida coordinates client appointments, prepares written summaries following consultations, and maintains ongoing communication with clients throughout the course of their matter. She is often the first point of contact for new enquiries.
How we maintain quality at every stage
Lawyers Council of Thailand
All practising counsel at Garuda Legal hold current licences under the Lawyers Council of Thailand and comply with the council's continuing education requirements.
Strict Confidentiality
Client files are held under attorney-client privilege. Physical documents are stored in a locked filing system accessible only to the assigned legal team. Digital records are encrypted at rest and in transit.
Written Summaries Standard
Every consultation and each significant procedural step produces a brief written summary in plain language. Clients receive this within two working days of the meeting.
Senior Review Policy
All court filings, formal correspondence, and client-facing documents are reviewed by a senior counsel before submission or delivery. Junior staff do not independently handle client matters.
PDPA Compliance
We comply fully with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act. Client data is collected only for the purpose of legal representation and is retained only for the period required by law.
Multilingual Communication
All client communications — consultations, written summaries, and telephone follow-ups — are available in Thai, English, or Mandarin. Clients need not arrange separate translation for any standard interaction.
Pension law in Thailand — what clients should know
Thailand's pension landscape involves several overlapping systems: the Social Security Office administers provisions for private-sector employees, the Government Pension Fund covers civil servants and state enterprise workers, and private occupational pension schemes operate under the Civil and Commercial Code or individual scheme rules. Each system has its own procedures for challenging a decision, designating beneficiaries, or correcting errors in records.
The administrative court system — specifically the Central Administrative Court and the Administrative Court of Appeal — handles formal legal challenges against decisions made by government bodies, including pension authorities. These proceedings require careful preparation: evidence must be gathered, a formal complaint drafted, and the legal basis for the challenge clearly set out. Timelines can be long, and the procedural requirements are strict. Clients benefit considerably from representation that understands both the substantive law and the procedural expectations of the court.
For individuals dealing with beneficiary designations, the relevant rules differ by fund type. Social Security Office designations follow a specific administrative process; private scheme designations may be governed by the scheme deed; and assets held through a private pension plan may interact with estate planning considerations. A review that maps all relevant accounts and their current designation status is often the most useful starting point.
Garuda Legal maintains current knowledge of the regulations, circulars, and court decisions that affect pension rights in Thailand. We also stay informed about procedural developments at the administrative courts. This allows us to give clients accurate, current advice rather than relying on outdated general principles.
Ready to talk through your situation?
The first consultation is designed for people who are unsure whether they need legal advice at all. There is nothing to prepare and nothing to commit to beforehand.
Arrange a First Visit