The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Vilaf - Hong Duc is a first tier firm,

Vilaf – Hong Duc advises banks and large corporate borrowers on commercial loans and project finance facilities, as well as regulatory and operational advice. It represented the borrower, Sacombank, on a subordinated Tier 2 loan arranged by FMO of the Netherlands, notable as the first loan of that type to a Vietnamese commercial bank. It acted for Standard Chartered as arranger of various syndicated loans, including a $450m term loan facility to PetroVietnam, and, similarly, advised ANZ on a VND600bn term loan facility to Hoa Phat Group. Other clients include ANZ, BNP Paribas, Bank of Tokyo, Citibank and Mizuho Bank. Nguyen Quang Hung, Tran Anh Duc and Tran Tuan Phong are all recommended.

Within Capital markets, Vilaf - Hong Duc is a first tier firm,

One of the leading local practices, Vilaf – Hong Duc advised ANZ and Hoa Phat Group JSC on a three-year unsecured floating rate bond issuance worth VND800bn in August 2010. It also represented ANZ and Song Da Group on a five-year bond issuance worth VND1.2 trillion, and advised PetroVietnam Insurance on issuing new shares. Tran Tuan Phong has ‘sound knowledge and is very commercial’, and Tran Anh Duc is ‘very good; very bright’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Vilaf - Hong Duc is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Dispute resolution, Vilaf - Hong Duc is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Insurance, Vilaf - Hong Duc is a first tier firm,

Vilaf – Hong Duc’s ‘very commercially minded’ team is advising PetroVietnam Insurance on issuing and selling new shares to a foreign investor, and acted for a foreign investor during VinaRe’s issuance and sale of new shares. It is advising BIDV on buying out its joint venture with QBE International Insurance LLC. Other clients include Aon, Bao Minh, Ping An, and Swiss Re, as well as many P&I clubs. Dang Duong Anh is recommended.

Within Legal market overview,

Vilaf – Hong Duc and YKVN remain the standout full-service Vietnamese firms. Allens Arthur Robinson, Baker & McKenzie, Frasers and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are among the best full-service international firms, as are Mayer Brown JSM and Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I., both of which are performing superbly across numerous practice areas. The rankings include Singapore or Hong Kong practices with significant track records relating to Vietnam.

Within Projects and energy, Vilaf - Hong Duc is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Real estate and construction, Vilaf - Hong Duc is a first tier firm,

Vilaf – Hong Duc advised VinaCapital on divesting its shareholding in the Hilton Hotel Hanoi as well as on acquiring and structuring several luxury hotel projects. It acted for Woori Bank on financing three landmark buildings in Hanoi; advised Vincom on a bond issue; and is representing SSG in its joint venture to develop the Saigon Pearl mixed-use project in Ho Chi Minh City. Pham Si Hai Quynh, Nguyen Truc Hien and Dang Duong Anh are the main partners, supported by Tran Anh Duc and Tran Tuan Phong.

Within TMT (technology, media and telecoms), Vilaf - Hong Duc is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Tax, Vilaf - Hong Duc is a first tier firm,

Vilaf – Hong Duc primarily advises on tax planning aspects of transactions, and also represents foreign clients in tax disputes with authorities. Nguyen Truc Hien, Vo Ha Duyen and Dang Duong Anh constitute the core of the team.