The Legal 500

Allens Arthur Robinson primarily advises in commercial and construction disputes. Bill Magennis ‘combines a great ability to understand what is important and the realities of doing business in Vietnam with pragmatism and admirable technical legal skills’. Hop Dang, who made partner in July 2011, is a panel arbitrator at the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). He is ‘exceptionally well qualified and has specialist knowledge on sovereign risk issues’.

Audier & Partners Vietnam L.L.C. has developed a busy commercial practice, particularly for construction contract and shareholder disputes. The team ‘knows the law in detail and can provide advice on “what really happens”, which is very important in emerging markets’. Senior associate Le Thuy Lan, the ‘very knowledgeable and efficient’ Nicolas Audier, and Bernadette Fahy, a qualified English law barrister, are recommended.

Baker & McKenzie’s practice head Ha Thi Thanh Tran is advising in a number of cases. The team’s expertise includes tax, IP and contract disputes, debt recovery claims, and litigation avoidance. Notably it is defending a client in Vietnam’s first case alleging abuse of a dominant position before the Vietnam Competition Administration Department.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advises on various matters, particularly construction and employment disputes. Managing partner Tony Foster is a qualified arbitrator, and Milton Lawson is an experienced litigator.

‘On top of the local rules and regulations, and with competent ex-pat and local lawyers’, Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. is a good option for major companies with Vietnamese disputes to resolve. It advised a commodities trader in a failure-to-deliver dispute, and represented several sizeable clients in debt recovery actions in the Vietnamese courts or VIAC. Samantha Campbell and Huynh Tuong Long are the key contacts.

VB Law, formerly known as DC Law, recently represented members of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters (VASEP) in its case before the US International Trade Commission and the US Department of Commerce regarding US anti-dumping tariffs levied against catfish imports from Vietnam. The firm is also particularly busy with contract disputes or debt recovery actions. Ngo Duy Minh is the key contact.

Vilaf – Hong Duc provides representation in court and arbitration, and advice on ADR. It recently represented Viet Gazprom before VIAC in a contract dispute following a drilling accident and took a bond-underwriting claim to the Supreme Court for ANZ. Pham Si Hai Quynh and Nguyen Duy Linh are key contacts; chairman Ngo Thanh Tung is also a renowned litigator.

Vision & Associates has been busy recently with debt recovery and bankruptcy proceedings, construction contract litigation, and labour disputes. Le Tuan Anh is recommended.

YKVN focuses on construction, shipping and commercial disputes including contract and debt recovery claims. The firm will leverage its new Singapore office in supporting arbitrations at SIAC by having litigation partner Luu Tien Dzung divide time between Singapore and Vietnam. He and Truong Trong Nghia lead the practice.

Frasers represents clients in construction and commercial contract disputes, and in employment law cases. Justin Gisz, who is ‘strong in both Vietnamese law and policy, and not passive when something needs to be done’, and Phung Phi Thanh Thao co-head the practice.

LCT Lawyers’ core strength is in construction contract disputes and debt recovery actions. It is representing WACO at VIAC in a claim relating to a real estate project funded by the World Bank; Viet Capital Securities Corporation in pursuing a stock trader for debts totalling $100m; and Huu Nghi Engineering in construction litigation. Practice head Chau Huy Quang ‘knows very well how to deal with the authorities in Vietnam to get things done; he is also very good in negotiating an out-of-court settlement’. Le Net is ‘a very capable lawyer and is very good at presenting a case that earns him the respect of the audience’.

Phuoc & Partners’s core competencies are labour disputes and debt recovery actions; it also advises on tax, insurance, maritime and commercial litigation. Dinh Quang Thuan and Pham Quoc Tuan are the key contacts.

Thang & Associates runs a good commercial litigation practice. Vinh Nhat Tran has ‘a very good ability to handle cases’, and Tran Quyet Thang is also recommended.

BD Lawyers has developed a well-respected practice focusing on contract litigation and debt recovery. Bizconsult Law Firm’ practice spans debt recovery, contract and commercial litigation. It is representing investment firms and shipbuilders in debt recovery actions and investment disputes. Nguyen Anh Tuan is recommended.

Bizlink Lawyers & Consultants focuses on commercial contract disputes in court and at VIAC. Do Trong Hai is recommended.

Bross & Partners has a good debt recovery practice for clients such as Deloitte Vietnam and Samsung. Hoang Van Dung heads the department.

Duane Morris Vietnam LLC advises on contract disputes and debt recovery claims. Clients include HongFa Granite & Sand Pte Ltd and Man Ferrostaal. Oliver Massmann is ‘particularly good’, and a fluent Vietnamese speaker.

Nguyen Quoc Tuan heads Indochina Legal Law Firm Limited dispute resolution team, which handles cases before the Hanoi courts. Luc Métivier represents several manufacturers in arbitration, and is an accredited arbitrator.

LuatViet Legal Consultants advises on contractor, shareholder, investment and employment litigation and arbitration. Nguyen Thi Minh Huyen recently defended Hyundai Mobis against a subcontractor claim. The team also includes Tran Duy Canh and Huck Nguyen.

Thomas Treutler, Michael Lee and Nga Thi Phi Nguyen are key contributors to Tilleke & Gibbins’ disputes practice, which has a particular niche in employment law and IP dispute resolution.