Construction law requires more than general legal knowledge.
The benefits of engaging a construction-specific practice are most visible precisely when a project comes under pressure — and that is when it matters most.
Back to HomeWhat working with Khao Counsel provides
Sole focus on construction law
No generalist distraction. Every instruction is a construction matter and the depth of knowledge reflects that.
Full FIDIC and Thai contract range
Red, Yellow, and Silver books handled alongside bespoke Thai-language developer forms and NEC-based contracts.
Thai law and international arbitration
The practice holds experience in both Thai civil procedure and international arbitration rules applicable to construction disputes.
Advice delivered within project timelines
Construction contracts carry strict time bars. Advice is delivered on the timescale the project requires, not on a general professional services schedule.
Fees discussed and fixed at instruction
Starting fees are published. Final agreed fees are set before significant work begins, with no unannounced additions.
Cross-border project coordination
Relationships with overseas counsel in major construction law jurisdictions enable coordinated advice on cross-border projects.
Core benefits explained
Construction-only professional expertise
A general commercial practice will handle construction matters when they arise, but the knowledge base is spread across many sectors. Khao Counsel's lawyers have built their careers specifically in construction and infrastructure. The result is an unusually detailed command of how FIDIC clauses interact, how Thai courts and arbitral tribunals have approached specific construction issues, and how contractors and employers typically behave at different stages of a project.
This matters most in claim situations. An extension of time claim under Clause 20 of a FIDIC Red Book requires a specific procedural sequence; missing a step can forfeit the claim entirely. Experience with that sequence — applied consistently across many projects — is a material advantage.
Structured engagement from instruction to close
Each Khao Counsel engagement follows a defined structure: intake review, conflict check, written engagement letter, scope confirmation, and regular reporting intervals for ongoing matters. This structure is not bureaucratic formality. It protects the client's interests by creating a clear record of what was asked, what was advised, and what has been done.
For the project counsel and multi-year programme engagements, quarterly reports on the project's legal position allow the client's management team to understand their exposure at any given moment — not just when a dispute has already crystallised.
Direct access to the lawyers handling your matter
Clients at Khao Counsel communicate directly with the lawyer responsible for their matter. Work is not passed to unsupervised junior staff without client knowledge. This is especially important in a construction context, where a site question or a claim notice may require same-day attention from someone who understands the project's history.
The practice is deliberately sized to maintain this level of direct access. Growth is managed so that the ratio of senior input to each instruction remains consistent.
Fee structures suited to construction project budgets
Construction projects carry significant capital commitments and tight budget control. Legal fees need to be predictable. Khao Counsel's three engagement types — contract review (from ฿4,600), project counsel (from ฿24,400), and multi-year programme (from ฿39,000) — provide a clear entry point for each project stage.
Within each engagement type, the final agreed fee is set in writing before substantive work begins. Where work expands beyond the original scope, the client is consulted before additional fees are incurred.
Legal advice that serves the project's commercial objectives
Construction law advice is most useful when it is calibrated to the commercial realities of a project. Not every clause worth noting in a contract is worth disputing. Not every variation entitles the contractor to a time extension. Khao Counsel's approach is to identify the legally significant issues and weigh them against the project's practical needs — advising when to press a point and when a commercial resolution is more appropriate.
The aim is to help the project progress, not to accumulate billable disputes. Clients working with the practice for multiple projects over several years reflect the value of that orientation.
Specialist practice versus general commercial law
| Consideration | General Commercial Practice | Khao Counsel |
|---|---|---|
| FIDIC contract knowledge | ● Variable — depends on individual lawyer | Consistent depth across all FIDIC editions |
| Response within project time bars | ● May not be flagged as urgent | Time-critical matters handled accordingly |
| Site meeting attendance | ● Typically charged additionally at high rates | Included within project counsel engagement |
| Quarterly legal position reports | ○ Not standard practice | Provided as standard on ongoing engagements |
| Cross-border counsel coordination | ● Requires separate firm appointments | Managed through established relationships |
| Pre-agreed fixed fees | ● Usually hourly billing | Scope and fees set in writing before work begins |
Distinctive features of the Khao Counsel approach
Written advice as the default
The practice defaults to written advice for all substantive matters. Verbal discussions are followed with a written summary within twenty-four hours. This is not standard in the Bangkok market. It creates a record that benefits the client in any subsequent dispute.
Thai and English contract languages
Many Bangkok construction disputes involve documents in both Thai and English. The practice works directly in both languages without requiring translation intermediaries for most standard construction documentation, reducing delay and cost.
Access to overseas construction law counsel
For projects with financing or contractors from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, or Europe, the practice maintains working relationships with construction law specialists in those jurisdictions — enabling coordinated advice without the client managing multiple separate firm relationships.
Continuity across project phases
The same counsel who reviews the contract at inception is available through the construction phase and into defects. The project's history is not lost between engagements, and advice on late-stage claims reflects the full context of the project from its beginning.
Recognition and standing
15+
Years of construction law practice
200+
Construction contracts reviewed
40+
Live project engagements completed
8
Countries with connected counsel
Is your project properly covered?
An initial enquiry costs nothing. If your project has a contract, a claim, or a dispute that would benefit from specialist construction law input, we would be pleased to hear from you.