The Legal 500

Allens Arthur Robinson’s ‘very professional’ team of ‘good, experienced lawyers’ acts on some of Vietnam’s signal projects. It is advising Vung Ang II Thermal Power JSC on establishing a 1,200MW thermal power plant, Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Company on the Nghi Son 2 project, and for an investor on the 1,240MW Mong Duong 2 coal-fired power plant. It is advising Premier Oil on financing a FPSO platform. Bill Magennis, newly promoted partner Hop Dang, and financing expert Thomas Miller are recommended.

A regular on top-end mandates, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is advising AES Corporation on the $2.1m development and financing of Mong Duong 2, and advising the investor consortium on Nghi Son 2. Its mining sector experience is substantial and includes advising Asian Mineral Resources on financing for Ban Phuc nickel mine. It is also handling financing for Cai Lan Port project, and is very active in oil and gas transactions. Managing partner Tony Foster, Milton Lawson and Bui Thanh Tien are key figures in the group, which is ‘very comprehensive and complete, with excellent knowledge’.

Mayer Brown JSM’s ‘talented team provides great value, and excellent commercial and legal advice’. It advises on establishing joint ventures, on investments, and is representing a consortium in bidding for a BOT power project. Practice head Dao Nguyen may be ‘the top lawyer in Vietnam for a complicated important energy project: she is smart, responsive, efficient, and provides practical advice that resolves a problem or challenge. The government agencies also respect her experience and knowledge’.

Orrick in association with LVN & Associates has become a key player in Vietnam, particularly in the energy sector. It is representing the Ministry of Industry and Trade on BOT and supply agreements for Vinh Tan 1, a 1,200MW coal-fired power plant, and advised Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) as an off-taker in negotiating a power purchase agreement with AES from Mong Duong 2 power plant. It represented developer Thang Long Thermoelectric JSC in negotiating with Wuhan Kaidi a $645m EPC contract for the 600MW Thang Long power plant. Hanoi-based Doan Quynh Linh works alongside Christopher Stephens in Hong Kong.

Vilaf – Hong Duc recently advised the lenders on financing of the Nghi Son refinery, is advising Chevron Group on its $1bn gas pipeline project, and advising the sponsors on Vinh Tan 1 and 3 power plants. Its infrastructure credentials are excellent, having advised the sponsors on development and financing of Saigon container port terminal and the lenders on Thi Vai port complex. Tran Anh Duc, Tran Tuan Phong and Dang Duong Anh are recommended.

Audier & Partners Vietnam L.L.C. advises lenders on power project financing, such as Vinh Tan 1. Nicolas Audier and Etienne Laumonier are recommended.

DFDL Mekong is advising the Ministry of Trade and Industry on contracts for a $2bn BOT coal-fired power plant, and on the tender for a new BOT gas-fired power plant. Its developer clients include EDF. Martin Desautels and Hoang Phong Anh are recommended.

Duane Morris Vietnam LLC exhibits ‘good knowledge, and provides comprehensive advice and good suggestions’ on a range of smaller infrastructure and green energy projects. It is advising Metawater Co on potential water treatment plants, and advising on numerous biofuel and wind energy projects. It is representing Exxon Mobil Gas Venture Inc on a gas exploration programme. Oliver Massmann is ‘an outstanding lawyer, fully fluent in Vietnamese, and very well respected by the ministries’, and Giles Cooper is ‘excellent, professional and courteous’.

Frasers advises oil and gas companies on documents and operations, and recently represented an international lender on a major BOT power project. It also acted for several clients buying or selling stakes in projects, and has a track record in the mining sector. Mark Fraser has ‘a very good knowledge base due to his time on the ground in Vietnam’; senior Vietnamese lawyers Pham Ba Linh and Nguyen Viet Ha are key contributors to this practice.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. advises international developers, operators and managers on water treatment and waste-to-energy plants. It is also advising on construction of a factory. Samantha Campbell leads the practice. Projects specialist Ha Dang Quang joined from Russin & Vecchi, LLC in November 2010.

Vietbid Law Firm is advising the government on Nghi Son 2 and Vung Ang 2 power projects, and is local counsel for AES on Mong Duong 2. Nguyen Thanh Ha is excellent.

YKVN expertly advises lenders and arrangers on project financing. It is local counsel to Export-Import Bank of Korea and the mandated lead arrangers in the $1.5bn financing of Mong Duong 2 BOT power project. It is assisting the IFC in advising the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Nghi Son 2, and advising Czech Export Bank on the dual-currency financing of Quang Binh Kaolin Bohemia Company’s kaolin washing plant. Managing partner Truong Nhat Quang, Vu Dzung, Diep Hoai Nam and Duong Thu Haare recommended.

Clifford Chance’s Singapore office has experience acting for sponsors and lenders on two major BOT projects. Ting Ting Tan heads the team.

James Harris in the Singapore office of Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee represents Sojitz Corporation on Vietnamese power project bids and developments. The firm has on-the-ground Vietnam projects capability through Nasir PKM Abdul and Stanley Boots, the latter dividing his time between Vietnam and Hong Kong.

Leadco Legal Counsel provides ‘effective legal advice’, and represented international sponsors in obtaining approval for two large BOT projects: the Duyen Hai 2 and Hai Duong 1,200MW coal-fired power plants. Nguyen Bao Huy heads the team.

Linklaters is advising the sponsors on financing the Vinh Tan 3 and Vung Ang 2 power projects, and assisted DP Word Asia Limited on restructuring the financing facility for Saigon Premier container terminal. Stuart Salt in Hong Kong and Richard Ginks in Singapore are the key contacts.

Pinsent Masons’ Hong Kong team is primarily recommended for advising large contractors on transport infrastructure projects. It is also advising Black & Veatch on developing the Long Phu power plant. Tu Dinh is recommended.

Russin & Vecchi, LLC advised Saigon Premier Container Port on debt restructuring. The firm’s primary strength lies in real estate projects (see the Real Estate and construction editorial). Sesto Vecchi and Nguyen Huu Minh Nhut are highly recommended.

In Shearman & Sterling LLP’s Singapore office, Bill McCormack and associate Scott Baggett have been representing the borrowers on financing for two large coal-fired power plant projects in Vietnam.