Vietnam > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Allens Arthur Robinson ‘provides a high-quality, responsive, commercially astute professional service, underpinned by quality international legal knowledge and deep experience in Vietnam’. The Vietnam team recently worked alongside Melbourne colleagues to advise Hutchison Telecommunications (Vietnam) on rolling out its 2G and 3G networks, and on converting its joint venture with Hanoi Telecom into a joint stock company structure. 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’, and Thomas Miller is ‘an international-quality finance lawyer, whose advice is reliable and service dependable’. The pair is representing VimpelCom on a complex preference shares investment to increase its stake in GTEL-Mobile. Newly promoted partner Hop Dang and senior associate Andrew Hilton are also recommended.
Baker & McKenzie provides corporate, commercial and regulatory advice on Vietnam’s highly regulated telecoms and internet sectors. Recently the group has been advising international clients on establishing business partnerships with local telecoms players, and advising on share transactions. Practice head Yee Chung Seck is recommended along with IP group head Manh Hung Tran.
‘Very positive and very responsive’, Frasers advised EVN Telecom on its equitisation process during 2010. It also advised a media-sector client on establishing a joint venture, a local client on a broadcast rights agreement, and a foreign investor on acquiring a software developer. Managing partner Mark Fraser, who has ‘a strong grasp of the overall environment and issues necessary for an overseas operator to be aware of’, plays a significant role in the practice, which is headed by Nguyen Viet Ha.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advises various technology manufacturers and service providers – including Hewlett-Packard and WPP – on commercial matters, and advised Singapore Technologies Telemedia on its proposed investment into state-owned EVN Telecom. Managing partner Tony Foster and Vietnamese associates Nguyen Thi Lang and An Hoang Ha are the key lawyers.
Recent highlights for Vilaf – Hong Duc’s busy and successful telecoms practice include advising VimpelCom on restructuring GTEL-Mobile into a joint stock company, as well as on financing. It also advised Viettel Corporation on buying a sizeable stake in Telecommunications d’Haiti, and SK Telecom on restructuring its mobile phone network in Vietnam. Other clients include Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Company (VNPT), Alcatel-Lucent and Qualcomm. Tran Tuan Phong and Tran Anh Duc are practical and commercial.
YKVN continues to advise VinaCapital on the acquisition of Mobile Information Service JSC (MIS), a specialist building and leasing network towers for mobile telecoms, following the acquisition of a majority stake in March 2011. Other clients include IBM, Motorola and VNPT. Managing partner Truong Nhat Quang, Duong Thu Ha and Vu Dzung are recommended.
Audier & Partners Vietnam L.L.C.’s main expertise lies in corporate support to software and internet companies. Nicolas Audier and Hadrien Wolff are recommended.
Duane Morris Vietnam LLC’s Oliver Massmann is representing Cosmos CPH in a dispute over an IT project, and is advising NKT Cables on an undersea power cable project.
Leadco Legal Counsel has a good reputation in the sector and is advising a major software developer on regulatory compliance; a Turkish company on setting up operations in Vietnam; and a telecoms company on satellite utilisation agreements. Managing partner Phan Nguyen Toan is the key contact.
Mayer Brown JSM provides corporate and commercial advice to IT and telecoms companies. Dao Nguyen is superb.
Orrick in association with LVN & Associates’ Doan Quynh Linh advised EVN Telecom on Southeast Asia’s submarine cable project.
Russin & Vecchi, LLC provides regulatory and investment advice to clients including Amdocs, Apple, Intel and Nokia. Nguyen Huu Minh Nhut and practice head Sesto Vecchi are recommended.
Vision & Associates advises local and foreign media or telecoms companies on contracts, investments and regulatory issues. Le Tuan Anh and Dang Trong Hieu are the key contacts.