About Us
Why Choose SPKL Law Office?
SPKL Law Office, established in 2016 (previously known as SP KHMER LEGAL Law Office), stands as one of Cambodia’s leading law firms. We offer legal services to both local and international clients. Our areas of expertise include criminal, civil, and commercial law. We assist clients with legal advice, consultations, contract review and drafting, business incorporation, extradition matters, legal representation, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution such as mediation and arbitration. Our team consists of skilled lawyers, knowledgeable legal advisers, dedicated assistants, and motivated interns. (See Contact Us)
Who Are We?
Founder
So Mosseny, Founder, Lawyer, Arbitrator, Mediator
Mr. So Mosseny has been practicing law since 2004, specializing in criminal, civil, and commercial cases. He is experienced in providing legal advice, conducting due diligence, and drafting contracts, including shareholder agreements, sale and purchase agreements, lease agreements, dispute settlement agreements, divorce agreements, and testamentary successions. He is licensed as a commercial mediator and arbitrator in Cambodia and is an accredited mediator with the Center for Effective Dispute Resolution in London (CEDR). Throughout his career, he has represented both local and foreign clients in all levels of Cambodian courts. Internationally, he has represented clients charged with serious crimes before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a special international tribunal.
Besides legal practice, Mr. Mosseny teaches commercial, civil, and criminal law at various universities in Cambodia. His subjects include corporate law, commercial law, taxation law, family law, civil law and procedure, and criminal law and procedure.
Mr. Mosseny trained as a lawyer at the Lawyer Training Centre of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia (BAKC) in 2002 and became a registered member in 2003. He later pursued training in arbitration and mediation, becoming a registered commercial arbitrator and mediator at the National Commercial Arbitration Center (NCAC) in 2020 and 2023. He holds a law degree (LLB, 2002) from the Royal University of Law and Economics and a master’s degree (LLM, 2008) from Pannasastra University of Cambodia.
Mr. Mosseny also has expertise in data analysis and case management.
He has worked in various roles, including as legal consultant and adviser for companies and law firms, data analyst and project manager for NGOs, director of the Research, Publication and Broadcasting Department of the BAKC, and member of the Specialized Committee of Criminal Law at BAKC. Mr. Mosseny has served as a member of the Executive Board and director of the Disciplinary Committee at the NCAC (2022–2025). He also volunteers as a coach, arbitrator and author in Moot competitions.
Mr. Mosseny is fluent in Khmer and English. He understands basic French and limited Japanese.
His major experiences include:
Business and Corporate Law
- Represented an American client in the sale and purchase of a hospitality business, including negotiation, contract drafting, due diligence, and business registration
- Supported Cambodian clients in company restructuring and share transfers for four companies, drafting shareholder agreements
- Advised and represented a Cambodian client in a management dispute, drafting a settlement agreement
- Guided Canadian and American clients on corporate registration and real estate ownership in Cambodia
- Drafted a shareholder agreement for a Cambodian client in the casino business
- Prepared share transfer agreements for Cambodian shareholders
- Advised Belgian shareholders on corporate disputes and Board of Directors roles
Real Estate
- Represented Thai-Cambodian clients in a multi-million dollar real estate transaction, drafting contracts
- Advised a Thai client in a real estate dispute
- Helped Malaysian clients through a Singapore law firm with sale and purchase agreements and due diligence
- Assisted a real estate development company with contract review and drafting
- Advised a Cambodian client on a major real estate transaction
- Drafted contracts for Cambodian clients in real estate transactions
Arbitration
- Advised a Chinese law firm on enforcing foreign awards in Cambodia
- Participated in training and arbitration moot competitions as coach and volunteer arbitrator
- Served as the presiding arbitrator on a three-member tribunal operating under NCAC rules
Mediation
- Assisted clients in IT and licensing disputes, handling negotiations, drafting correspondence, mediation requests, and settlement agreements
- Participated in mediation training and moot competitions as coach and volunteer mediator
Extradition
- Advised an international law firm on Cambodian extradition laws
Other Contracts
- Drafted a loan agreement for an American client
- Drafted commercial space leasing agreements for a French-Cambodian client
Family and Succession Law
- Advised Australian clients on succession matters
- Supported a Singaporean client with succession legal advice
- Represented an American client in succession matters
- Advised a Polish client on family and child custody issues
- Guided an Australian client through divorce, child custody, and property division proceedings
Criminal Law
- Advised clients from Thailand and New Zealand on criminal matters
- Represented an Australian client via a leading Australian law firm
- Represented clients from Britain, France, America, the Netherlands, and Canada in criminal cases
Our Team
Michael G. Karnavas (Mr), International Criminal Defence Lawyer (Of-Counsel)
Mr. Karnavas is an American-trained attorney licensed in Alaska and Massachusetts, with eligibility to appear before multiple international tribunals, including the International Criminal Court (ICC). Based primarily in The Hague, he is widely regarded as an expert in international criminal defence, encompassing pre-trial, trial, and appellate advocacy.
His practice areas include International Criminal Defence, Public International Law, consultancy for complex litigation at trial and appellate levels, International Development and Rule of Law, Criminal Defence within the United States, Litigation, Immigration, and Extradition.
Ung Pov Marada (Ms), Legal Adviser (Part-time)
Ms. Marada is a skilled legal professional with a strong passion for justice. She earned her law degree in English from the Royal University of Law and Economics in 2020. She began her career at SPKL Law Office as an intern in 2017, progressing to Lawyer Assistant and Legal Adviser.
Ms. Marada is fluent in Khmer and English, enabling her to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues. She is experienced in criminal, civil, and contract law. Ms. Marada has held key positions in organizations like Cambodia Beverage Company (Coca-Cola), Royal Group Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone, and Ezecom Co., Ltd.
Vimol Samnang (Mr), Lawyer Assistant (Part-time)
Mr. Samnang started as a legal intern with SPKL Law Office in 2022. He graduated from the Royal University of Law and Economics in 2022 and focuses on criminal law.
Keo Kimheng (Mr), Lawyer Assistant (Part-time)
Mr. Kimheng started as a legal intern at SPKL Law Office in 2022. He graduated from the Royal University of Law and Economics in 2022, with expertise in contract law and criminal law.
Oeurn Sakadavuthea (Mr), Lawyer Assistant
Mr. Vuthea began as a legal intern at SPKL Law Office in 2021. He graduated from the Royal University of Law and Economics in 2022 and specializes in criminal law.
Nuon Sreyhuoch (Ms), Lawyer Assistant
Ms. Sreyhuoch has been a Lawyer Assistant since 2016. She specializes in criminal law, civil law, and contract law.
About the Logo
SPKL Law Office’s logo comprises the Buddhist symbol for the eternal knot and two olive branches around it. The eternal knot represents its significance in Cambodia’s dominant religion of Buddhism and symbolism for wisdom and compassion. The olive branch is used for its symbolism of peace.