The Legal 500

‘Good for M&A work’, Allens Arthur Robinson has been busy with share transactions including BP’s $1bn divestment of interests in oil production facilities and Phu My 3 power plant, as well as advising China Investment Corporation on acquiring a 19% interest in AES – VMC Mong Duong Power BOT Company. It advised several clients on new joint ventures including a beer production deal between Sapporo Holdings Ltd and Vinataba. The firm also provides operational and contract advice, and notably collaborated with Melbourne colleagues to advise Hutchison Telecommunications (Vietnam) on rolling out its 2G and 3G networks. Its ‘good, experienced lawyers’ include Nigel Russell, Bill Magennis and financing expert Thomas Miller, who are all recommended, as are senior associates Andrew Hilton and Linh Bui.

Baker & McKenzie advised Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) on Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s strategic acquisition of a 15% stake in VIB. It also represented a manufacturer on establishing major factory operations, and advised e-commerce and beverages corporations on acquiring stakes in local companies. Yee Chung Seck and highly regarded managing partner Frederick Burke lead the practice.

Frasers ‘punches considerably above its weight with excellent understanding of the complex Vietnamese legal and business environment, delivering quality, commercially focused advice’. The firm represents numerous multinationals in the FMCG, life sciences, heavy industry and utilities sectors, advising on acquisitions, joint ventures, employment issues, distribution and manufacturing agreements and regulations. Managing partner Mark Fraser is ‘knowledgeable, commercially minded, a good communicator and always a comforting presence in what can be unfamiliar territory’, and ‘if you have his number there are few other lawyers you would need to call in Vietnam’. He is recommended along with senior lawyer Justin Gisz, who is ‘technically strong, incredibly responsive, and delivers a consistent, quality service’.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘very competitive’ practice advised Hewlett-Packard Vietnam Ltd on expansion; PepsiCo on a proposed acquisition of a listed local producer; and Tate & Lyle on divesting its stake in its local sugar-production business to TH Milk. Managing partner Tony Foster and senior associates Milton Lawson and Bui Thanh Tien are recommended, as is counsel Jérôme Buzenet, who is ‘smart, organised and provides quick turnaround’.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is ‘on top of the local rules and regulations, and the quality of service and professionalism is very good’. It advises manufacturers, food producers, banks and others on commercial operations, transactions, and corporate structuring. Clients include Bureau Veritas, Kobe Steel, Lafarge and Total. Huynh Tuong Long is recommended along with Samantha Campbell, who is ‘open minded, competent and practical, and whose advice is just what is needed to form and stabilise entrepreneurial decisions’. Antoine Toussaint and Tran Duc Son are also recommended.

Mayer Brown JSM’s ‘talented team provides excellent commercial and legal advice, while value for money is fabulous’. The group advises on establishing companies or joint ventures, on M&A, restructuring, and operational or contractual issues. It recently advised WPP Singapore on setting up two joint ventures, and is advising on the cross-border restructuring of The Yokohama Rubber Company Limited. Other clients include Chevron International, Jardine Matheson and Vietinbank. ‘Excellent’ corporate real estate expert David Lim and ‘fantastic’ managing partner Dao Nguyen, who is ‘smart, responsive, efficient and no-nonsense’, demonstrate ‘a detailed view of ongoing and likely future legal developments, a strong willingness to understand the client’s exact needs, combined with a pragmatic approach’. Hoang Anh Nguyen, Mai Phuong Nguyen and senior associate Kevin Hawkins are also recommended.

Vilaf – Hong Duc’s ‘responsive and very commercially minded’ team is especially strong on corporate and commercial matters in the projects and real estate sectors. It acted as local counsel on KKR’s purchase of a 10% stake in Masan Group in April 2011; the deal was Vietnam’s largest private equity deal to date. It also advised VimpelCom on restructuring GTEL-Mobile; Chevron on a $1bn pipeline deal with PetroVietnam; and Daio Paper Corporation on its acquisition of Saigon Paper. Tran Anh Duc and the ‘knowledgeable and very commercial’ Tran Tuan Phong are highly recommended.

‘One of the leaders in Vietnam’, YKVN advised Masan Group on selling a 10% stake to KKR, Vietnam’s largest private equity deal to date. It represents numerous major Vietnamese corporations including VNPT, Vietnam Airlines and Vinashin, and acted for PetroVietnam Exploration and Production Corporation on its acquisition of a participation interest in a Peruvian oil field. The firm’s relationship with PetroVietnam will have been strengthened by the recruitment of the excellent K Minh Dang, who opened its new Singapore office after joining from DLA Piper Singapore Pte. Ltd.. It is local counsel to clients such as Boeing, Hanes, IBM, Mitsui, Motorola, Procter & Gamble, and Samsung. Practice head Diep Hoai Nam, Truong Nhat Quang and Vu Dzung are highly recommended.

Audier & Partners Vietnam L.L.C. is ‘efficient and very knowledgeable about the Vietnamese legal market’, and is adept at establishing new corporate entities or expanding operations. It continues to assist Groupe Casino with establishing a distribution network and Accor with a new hotel chain, and several clients on greenfield investment projects to build factories. It is also advising Goldman Sachs on subscribing to a bond issuance by an infrastructure company, and advised several clients on the sale or purchase of strategic shareholdings. Nicolas Audier is ‘very good and knowledgeable’, and Hadrien Wolff is ‘responsive, well informed and really involved’. Nicolas Picard and Etienne Laumonier are also recommended.

Duane Morris Vietnam LLC’s ‘overall service is outstanding – the firm is extremely responsive and one of the best value among Asian law firms. It is very well connected in Vietnam and aware of many things occurring behind the scenes’. It advises foreign clients on setting up in Vietnam or partnering with local companies, as well as on share transactions, M&A, and general corporate and commercial support. It advised Damen Shipyards Group on a joint venture; Bauer Vietnam on a $200m corporate structuring; and ME Vietnam Management Consultancy on acquiring stakes in local enterprises. Oliver Massmann is ‘an outstanding lawyer’ who is fluent in Vietnamese; he and the ‘responsive and insightful’ Giles Cooper are recommended.

Hogan Lovells International LLP extensively advises Sojitz Corporation on investments and acquisitions. Other recent highlights include advising an NGO on restructuring, advising an infrastructure conglomerate on a joint venture, and a media group on downsizing and dissolving subsidiaries. Of counsel Nasir PKM Abdul heads the practice.

LuatViet Legal Consultants provides ‘very good service and charges reasonable fees’. It acted on the merger to form Lien Viet Post Joint Stock Commercial Bank; advised Tan Chong Group on buying a majority stake in Nissan Vietnam; and Etika Group on purchasing a factory. Other clients include Berjaya Land Berhad, Colgate-Palmolive and Lafarge. Tran Phuong Bac is ‘timely, responsive, hands on, provides good solutions and understands business’.

Russin & Vecchi, LLC is ‘a viable alternative to some more established foreign firms’: it is ‘very responsive and provides accurate commercial advice’. It set up Vietnam subsidiaries for clients such as Intel, Johnson & Johnson, and Jotun, and has been busy with share transactions and M&A for clients including Maybank and GIC. Nguyen Huu Minh Nhut, whose advice is ‘responsive, timely and commercially useful’, is recommended along with Sesto Vecchi and Mai Thi Minh Hang.

Tilleke & Gibbins’ primary strength lies in corporate structuring and franchising. It advised Subway on establishing a franchise business, advised Brightstar on incorporation and licensing, and represents several pharmaceutical companies – including serving as local counsel to Merck Sharp & Dohme. Michael Lee and Kien Trung Trinh are recommended.

Bizconsult Law Firm advises on M&A, corporate investment, contract drafting and due diligence, as well as incorporation or restructuring. Recent clients include BaoViet, Petronas, Qatar Airways and Sojitz Corporation. Nguyen Anh Tuan is recommended.

Bizlink Lawyers & Consultants is well regarded for general corporate and commercial advice, including M&A. Do Trong Hai is recommended.

DFDL Mekong’s services are particularly geared to the media, telecoms, real estate, distribution and retail sectors. Hoang Phong Anh and Thierry Gougy are recommended, and the latter has a notable practice in employer-side labour and employment advice.

Indochine Counsel recently advised Saigon Paper on selling a 38% stake to Development Bank of Japan. Dang The Duc is recommended.

LCT Lawyers provides good-quality M&A, corporate and commercial advice. It advised Turkish Airlines on setting up in Vietnam; Toyota Tsusho Corporation on an investment into the food-processing industry; and Development Bank of Japan and Daio Paper Corporation on an M&A deal. Hoang Nguyen Ha Quyen co-heads the practice along with Vu Thi Que, who has ‘good knowledge and is a good communicator’ and who joined from an in-house counsel role in February 2011. Both are recommended along with Le Net.

Leadco Legal Counsel’s recent highlights include assisting Vinamilk and Bien Hoa Sugar JSC with setting up new factories in Cambodia. Practice co-heads Tran Si Vy and Alexandre Legendre and the ‘knowledgeable, professional and experienced’ managing partner Phan Nguyen Toan are the key figures.

Phuoc & Partners’ ‘very good’ group advises manufacturers, investors and real estate companies on corporate and commercial matters including M&A, but is perhaps most notable for its labour and employment law expertise. Nguyen Huu Phuoc and Dinh Quang Thuan are recommended.

VB Law, until recently known as DC Law, represents numerous manufacturers and real estate companies. Managing partner Nguyen Ngoc Bich and Ngo Duy Minh are the main contacts.

VCI Legal provides general corporate support and restructuring advice to manufacturers, project and real estate companies. Phung Anh Tuan is recommended.

Vision & Associates is commercial local counsel to Chevron Vietnam, and advises manufacturers and investors on commercial contracts and transactions. Pham Nghiem Xuan Bac, Luu Tien Ngoc, Ngo Trung Hieu and Le Quynh Anh are the key corporate partners.

BD Lawyers advises on M&A and investments, primarily in the projects and real estate sectors. Nguyen Thanh Ha, formerly of InvestConsult Legal Services, heads the practice.

Founded in 2008, Brendel & Associates primarily provides general corporate support to privately owned German-speaking or Scandinavian SMEs in the logistics and manufacturing sectors. Managing partner Christian Brendel is ‘practical and responsive’.

DS Avocats primarily advises European clients on foreign direct investment and local partnerships. Vanessa Brouillet is the main contact.

Three-partner Indochina Legal Law Firm Limited advises on general commercial matters and corporate licensing, and is advising Blue River on its potential sale to a Silicon Valley suitor. In June 2011, the well-regarded Mark Oakley joined as of counsel from Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.

Kelvin Chia Partnership advises Asian clients on structuring, investment and M&A, notably in the cement, beverages and food-processing sectors. Benjamin Yap is the main contact.

KhattarWong recently advised a medical devices company on a local acquisition. Tran Viet Dung is the main contact.

Thang & Associates advises investors, manufacturers and commodities clients on investments and corporate needs. Tran Nhat Vinh is recommended.

Vietbid Law Firm’s corporate and commercial clients include Hyundai, Kobenco and Schmidt Electronics. Nguyen Thanh Ha is recommended.