Corporate Secretarial Services in the Kingdom of Thailand

In today's dynamic business world, the success of corporate governance largely depends on fulfilling a multitude of secretarial works, legal necessities, and constitutional compliances. No matter it is a small business set up or a large business corporation, corporate secretarial services are essential for the success and existence of a business.

Corporate secretarial services are simply services undertaken in order to comply with the regulatory requirements put forward by a company's registered jurisdictions. These services are usually carried out by reputable law firms.

In the Kingdom of Thailand, corporate secretarial services are primarily offered in connection with the formation and registration of new company, Thai limited partnership, and procedures for filing in order to qualify for protection under the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand.

However, in most cases, these services are categorized into: basic services, services in connection with attending of meetings on behalf of clients, and complex projects. Basic secretarial services consist of maintenance of statutory books, filing of returns, and provision of company secretary. Among the complex corporate secretarial projects are procedures in connections with the purchase of shares, restructuring of company, modeling of financial statements, implementation of management systems and control, and registering and reregistering of companies.

Depending upon the unique requirements of corporate clients, services offered in connection with corporate secretarial vary from firms to firms. As mentioned earlier, corporate services consists of establishment of business structure in Thailand, providing advice on foreign investment rules, providing advice on exchange control, maintenance of statutory records and company filings, processing and monitoring trade documentation, and providing advice on international trade as well as trade finance. In some instances, corporate secretarial services in the Kingdom of Thailand include:

- Providing facilities in order to keep and maintain company books and company seals
- Arrangement for the provision of nominee directors
- Proper maintenance and revision of company statutory registers and minute books
- Organizing as well as attending of meetings of directors
- Preparation of resolutions for the purpose of meetings of directors and shareholders
- Preparation of minutes for annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings

Some legal firms provide such services as:

- Local advertising
- Establishing as well as maintaining directors', shareholders', and officers' registers
- Arrangement for banking relationships and maintenance of bank accounts
- Filing statutory records with the government authorities of the Kingdom of Thailand
- Liaising with auditors, brokers, legal advisors, accountants, custodians, and shareholders
- Filing of annual returns
- Ensuring efficiency of corporate firms through maintenance of separate fax, telephone, and other electronic services for the company

Different types of corporate secretarial services also cover providing guidance as well as practical support to directors, communicating with shareholders in order to ensure that due regard is paid to their interest, providing assistance and advice for establishing corporate actions such as bonus issues and script issues, and ensuring that all of the company's activities including holding of shareholders' meetings, issuance of notice, maintenance of statutory records, dividend payments and corporate governance, are carried out in accordance with the requirements of Companies Act and Regulatory authorities. Above all, corporate secretarial services also consist of preparation of share certificates and registers and company searches.

Corporate secretarial services rendered by reputable law firms provide a host of benefits to corporate clients. One of the key benefits is that it allows you to focus on your core business activities. Another advantage is that these services undertaken by good service providers ensure that all the activities with regard to company is carried out and maintained in good standing.

Thailand has a plethora of law firms to render the best in corporate secretarial services. But, it is important that you should make a thorough investigation with regard to the professionalism as well as the way they render the corporate secretarial services, prior to approaching a law firm in Thailand. It must also be checked whether the attorneys are licensed by the Law Society of Thailand.

Many of the reputable law firms assist and guide their clients through the business and legal environment. Some of them even address prospective issues that a new investor may encounter. There are also some reputable law firms in Thailand that render a range of management functions to its corporate clients, such as, accounting, banking, and invoicing services, apart from corporate secretarial services.