“Melisa Uremovic is highly regarded as ‘an excellent and seasoned trade lawyer’ and ‘a very knowledgeable expert who possesses a sharp commercial mind.” – Who’s Who Legal
Melisa is Co-Managing Partner of Rajah & Tann (Thailand) Limited.
Melisa has more than twenty years’ experience in Thailand, representing multinationals in trade and customs matters, as well as in all aspects of their licensing and compliance requirements. She has particular expertise in complex regulatory matters involving foreign ownership issues, anti-bribery, competition, and data protection, focusing on both compliance and investigations.
Melisa’s practice focuses on highly regulated industries such as telecommunications, e-commerce, tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage.
Melisa’s long-term Thailand experience, coupled with her knowledge of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, provides her with a unique ability to meet the complex needs of clients in highly regulated industries. She is also able to draw on many years’ experience in both corporate, mergers and acquisitions and dispute resolution matters to provide an effective bridge for clients experiencing investigations and administrative proceedings with Thai regulators, particularly in areas with little or no precedent.
Melisa is one of a small number of attorneys recognised in Who’s Who Legal – Trade & Customs 2022, 2023 and 2024 for Thailand. According to The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, “the team has a standout practice in trade and customs, where Melisa Uremovic is a name to note.”
EXPERIENCE
Competition
- Representing a Europe-headquartered company in respect of a post-merger notification – the first in Thailand.
- Representing a Japanese manufacturer in respect of a post-merger notification filed in Thailand.
- Representing a Japanese steel company in its merger control filings and advisory on various transactions and potential merger control filings.
- Representing the Thai subsidiary of a multinational company in an investigation by the TCCT in respect of allegations of anti-competitive conduct.
- Advising various multinationals, including European and American conglomerates, on their competition law concerns and compliance programs.
- Representing a global technology company in respect of competition law matters.
- Advising a multinational importer and distributor of fast-moving consumer goods, on a routine basis, in assessing its trade program compliance with competition laws.
- Advising a PRC-based technology company in respect of competition compliance matters.
- Advise a European headquartered company in respect of competition law concerns arising from a potential acquisition.
Customs & Trade Law
- Representing a leading tobacco importer in its Criminal Court and appeal proceedings regarding alleged duty evasion involving imports from Indonesia and the Philippines.
- Advising a global e-commerce company on various import licensing requirements applicable to data centre equipment.
- Advising legal counsel to the Government of the Philippines on an international trade dispute brought to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the Government of the Philippines against the Government of Thailand.
- Advising a global e-commerce company on export/import due diligence regarding various products and services, relevant licensing requirements and other related compliance matters.
- Advised a US law firm regarding export restrictions on face masks and personal protective equipment, to send out as a public service to hospitals and other parties who are trying to obtain this equipment in the US.
- Advised a US-headquartered manufacturer on import licensing requirements and restrictions of various products, including those subject to hazardous substances provisions.
- Advising a US-headquartered manufacturer on the potential application of anti-dumping proceedings to its products.
- Representing a leading tobacco importer in its successful appeal to the Thai Board of Appeal against an uplift of their declared customs values on imports from the Philippines.
- Advising a US-headquartered manufacturer on legislative developments in respect of plastics in Thailand on an ongoing basis.
- Advising an NYSE-listed alcoholic beverages company on customs valuation disputes, as well as its settlement of a dispute with Thai Customs and use of preferential tariff rates.
- Advising a Japanese automotive exporter on a potential tariff classification dispute involving its subsidiary in Thailand.
- Advising a Japanese importer of vehicles and automotive parts on its use of JTEPA.
- Advising a Japanese pharmaceutical company on its importation and licensing of pharmaceutical products.
- Advising Japanese steel mills in various Thai Government safeguard proceedings.
- Advising Japanese steel mill(s) in various Thai Government anti-dumping review and sunset review proceedings.
- Advising various multinationals, including American conglomerates, on the importation of products such as medical devices, hazardous products and technology products.
Regulatory & Investigations
- Advising a healthcare company on the privacy implications of criminal record checks and sanctions screenings.
- Advising an NYSE-listed alcoholic beverages company during their FCPA investigation by the US SEC.
- Advising an American heavy vehicle manufacturer on an issue regarding compliance with anti-corruption laws.
- Advising a US-headquartered importer of fast-moving consumer goods on the filing of a complaint to the NACC.
- Advising a European telecommunications company on a foreign ownership investigation by the Ministry of Commerce and Economic Crime Division.
- Advising a European telecommunications company on its shareholdings in a Thai mobile telecommunications company, including concession and licensing related issues.
Corporate/M&A
- Representing a China-headquartered e-commerce company in respect of its entry into a joint venture and further potential acquisition in Thailand.
- Representing a Thai conglomerate in its acquisition of a cryptocurrency business.
- Advising a European telecommunications company on its acquisition of stakes in a Thai listed mobile telecommunications company, and various related matters following the acquisition.
- Advising a Singaporean holding company on its acquisition of stakes in a Thai listed mobile telecommunications company, and various related matters following the acquisition.
- Advising a PRC gaming company on its establishment of a joint venture in Thailand.
- Advised a US multinational on the potential shutdown of its operations in Thailand.
- Advised a Europe-headquartered multinational in respect of its market exit, including in respect of various shareholding and dissolution/liquidation issues.
- Advising a Europe-headquartered company on foreign ownership and licensing issues in Thailand.
- Advising various multinationals, including European and American conglomerates, on foreign ownership and licensing issues in Thailand.
TMT
- Advising various multinationals, including European and American conglomerates, on their Privacy Statements, privacy implications of various programs, as well as their implementation of data protection regimes under the newly enacted Personal Data Protection Act.
PUBLICATIONS
- Contributor, “Regional Competition Bites Q1 2024″, Lexology (May 2024)
- Contributor, “New Cybersecurity Subordinate Laws”, Lexology (Apr 2024)
- Contributor, “Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act – A Year in Review 2023”, Lexology (Jan 2024)
- Contributor, “New Law to Combat Online and Phone Scams – The Emergency Decree on Measures for Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crimes B.E. 2566 (2023)”, Lexology (Apr 2023)
- Contributor, “Major Changes in Law Related to Private Limited Companies”, Lexology (Feb 2023)