Counsel Shaped by Listening
Chaopraya Family was founded in Phuket to serve individuals and families who need thoughtful legal counsel — without the pressure or distance that can characterise larger practices.
Back to HomeHow We Came to This Work
Chaopraya Family opened in Karon in 2017, following years of practice across Thailand and Southeast Asia in family-related legal work. The name is borrowed from the river that runs through the heart of Bangkok — a waterway known for its patient, unhurried movement through one of the region's most complex cities.
The founding counsel had observed, across many years, that clients dealing with family matters were often poorly served by practices that moved too quickly, used language that confused rather than clarified, and left people feeling as though they had been processed rather than heard.
Chaopraya Family was established as a deliberate alternative. Small enough to give proper attention to each engagement. Experienced enough to handle complexity — including the cross-border dimensions that are common among Phuket's international community.
Our Mission
To offer family law counsel that meets people where they are — patient in its approach, clear in its language, and attentive to the human dimensions of every legal matter.
Our Values
- Patience — no client is rushed, and no matter is treated as routine.
- Clarity — legal processes explained in terms that make sense, not legal shorthand.
- Discretion — absolute confidentiality at every stage of every engagement.
- Balance — where possible, outcomes that both parties can live with over time.
The People Behind the Practice
A small, experienced team — chosen for their patience as much as their knowledge.
Kanchana Phiromrak
Founding Counsel
Called to the Thai Bar in 2005, Kanchana has worked in family law across Bangkok and Phuket for nearly two decades. She leads the separation and cross-border matters practice.
Thomas Larssen
Associate Counsel
Thomas brings experience from Scandinavian and Thai family law, making him well placed to assist clients whose matters touch multiple northern European and Southeast Asian jurisdictions.
Nattida Wongkam
Client Relations & Documentation
Nattida manages client communications, coordinates appointments, and oversees the preparation and retention of written agreements and consultation summaries.
Our Professional Standards
The standards we hold ourselves to, across every engagement, every client, every day.
Lawyers' Council of Thailand
All counsel hold active registration with the Lawyers' Council of Thailand and maintain ongoing professional development obligations.
Data Privacy Protocols
Client files are stored securely and accessed only by the counsel assigned to the matter. All digital records are encrypted and access-controlled.
Conflict-of-Interest Review
Before any new engagement begins, we conduct a conflict-of-interest check to ensure we can act independently and wholly in our client's interests.
Written Record of Advice
Every consultation appointment concludes with a written summary for the client — a clear record of what was discussed and what the client may wish to consider next.
International Coordination Network
We maintain working relationships with family law practitioners in the UK, Australia, Scandinavia, Germany, and several other jurisdictions where our clients' matters frequently arise.
Clear Fee Agreements
All fees are discussed and agreed before any work begins. There are no additions after the fact, and no charges for administrative tasks that form a normal part of providing counsel.
Family Law Counsel in Phuket
Phuket has one of Thailand's largest international communities. Many residents have connections to two or more countries — through work, family, property, or all three. When family matters arise, the legal picture is often more layered than a standard Thai family law matter would be, and finding counsel who understands that complexity is not always straightforward.
Chaopraya Family was built for precisely this environment. Our work in Karon puts us close to many of the international communities concentrated along Phuket's western coast, and our experience in cross-border family matters means we are familiar with the kinds of questions that arise when two or more legal systems are in play.
Separation agreements, children's living arrangements across borders, property held in different names and different countries, the recognition of Thai court decisions abroad — these are not unusual matters for us. We discuss them directly, in plain language, and we work through them carefully with each client before making any recommendation about how to proceed.
Ready to Have a Quiet Conversation?
There is no obligation to proceed after an initial appointment. The first step is simply to make contact and let us know a little about what you are facing.
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