The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Vietnam

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance , Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s comprehensive practice is ‘proactive’, ‘helpful and understanding’, ‘knowledgeable’ and ‘very professional’. Clients also value its ‘vast global resources’. Its first-rate client roster includes Credit Suisse, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered and State Bank of Vietnam. Managing partner Frederick Burke is ‘very good’, ‘very articulate’ and ‘does the hard yards’ to complete a job.

Capital markets

Within Capital markets , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s highly regarded securities and capital markets team advises financial institutions on cross-border matters, and is regularly consulted by government authorities. Noteworthy achievements include the first foreign listing of a private Vietnamese property fund. The ‘very good’ Frederick Burke ‘gives very practical advice’; Oanh Hoang Kim Nguyen is also recommended.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie has been busy with M&A deals and setting up new distribution companies. Clients are ‘very happy with the overall quality of the work’, the ‘excellent response times’ and ‘efficient, helpful’ service. In October 2008, the team advised RHB Investment Bank Berhad on acquiring a 49% stake in Vietnam Securities, and acted for a manufacturing conglomerate on establishing a multibillion-dollar project joint venture. It is advising clients such as AT&T on market access. Other clients include Rohm and Haas, Standard Chartered and Watson Wyatt. Managing partner Frederick Burke is ‘very articulate’ and ‘gives very practical advice’. Yee Chung Seck is the other main partner.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s ten dispute resolution lawyers are ‘calm, analytical and rigorous’. Among recent or ongoing cases are several IP challenges, a criminal law pursuit of a client’s monies, and a customs-violation case. Ha Thi Thanh Tran is the primary lawyer.

Insurance

Within Insurance , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

‘Very good’ managing partner Frederick Burke leads a four-lawyer team at Baker & McKenzie that is advising BNP Paribas Assurance on joint venture operations and distribution agreements, and reviewing new professional insurance policies for Liberty International Underwriters.

Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s broad IP management service enjoys ‘a solid network of contacts’ and focuses primarily on trade marks and domain names, but also has copyright and patent capability. Work includes enforcement and dispute resolution. In April 2009, it filed an opposition to an infringer’s trade mark application on the Raoul clothing brand owned by the client, FJ Benjamin Holdings. This case is among the first disputes to go to court under Vietnam’s new IP laws. Other clients include Microsoft and a local tobacco producer. IP group leader Manh Hung Tran is ‘proactive’ and has ‘good knowledge of the law and understanding of local dynamics’.

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Lovells LLP is ‘first class, very responsive and commercial’. It represents clients in trade mark and domain name management and disputes. ‘Excellent, attentive’ of counsel Gregory Buhyoff leads the IP practice, having joined from Baker & McKenzie in August 2008. Buhyoff is supported by the ‘very commercial’ Hong Kong-based head of Asia IP Henry Wheare. Clients include AstraZeneca, Biofarma, Cadbury Schweppes, Ford, Mattel and Tchibo.

Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s team focuses on project finance and its ‘advice serves very well’, with the ‘highly impressive’ Frederick Burke and Oanh Hoang Kim Nguyen recommended. It continues to advise Tokyu Construction regarding a contract relating to the Nhat Tan Bridge project. Other clients include Standard Chartered Bank, and Rohm and Haas.

Real estate and construction

Within Real estate and construction , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s clients are ‘very impressed’ with the service. Managing partner Frederick Burke is ‘very good’ and ‘knows how to navigate the bureaucracy and get things done’. The team is representing Asian Coast Development on establishing the $4bn Ho Tram Project Company. It advised Limitless on its $200m stake in Ha Long Star resort. Other clients include Kingdom Holdings.

TMT

Within TMT , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Nine Baker & McKenzie lawyers provide ‘very professional and high-quality’ TMT advice. Recent engagements included providing market access and regulatory advice to international telecoms, satellite, IT and electronic-mapping companies. Managing partner Frederick Burke is recommended, as are the ‘expedient and knowledgeable’ Manh Hung Tran, and Yee Chung Seck.

Tax

Within Tax , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s team is ‘very responsive’ and ‘efficient, helpful and understanding’. Its full tax service includes dispute resolution capability. Managing partner Fred Burke is ‘very articulate’ and ‘really knows his stuff’; also recommended are partner Ha Tran and special counsel James Lockett, the latter appointed in July 2008. The team is advising a resort developer on tax and customs issues concerning the establishment of the $4bn Ho Tram Project Company.

Vietnam overview

Within Legal market overview,

Baker & McKenzie and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have the most established presence of the big international firms, although Mayer Brown’s merger with Johnson Stokes & Master to form Mayer Brown JSM gives the US law firm instant credibility. Australian firm Allens Arthur Robinson remains a heavyweight, despite a marked downsizing of the Vietnam team. DFDL Mekong is building its reputation, and in 2009 recruited Konrad Hull from LWA Vietnam.


What we say worldwide

Please choose another Baker & McKenzie office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Melbourne

Austria

Offices in Vienna

Azerbaijan

Offices in Baku

Belgium

Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich

Egypt

Offices in Cairo

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

Offices in Jakarta

India

Italy

Offices in Rome, Milan, and Bologna

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

Offices in London and London

Libya

Malaysia

Offices in Kuala Lumpur

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

UK Overview

Philippines

Offices in Makati

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Russia

Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Zurich and Geneva

Taiwan

Offices in Taipei

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

US

Offices in Washington DC, Palo Alto, New York, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Houston

Vietnam

Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

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Legal Developments worldwide

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
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    - Joyce A. Tan & Partners
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  • The Restructuring Review

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  • Labour & Employment

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    - F. Castelo Branco & Associados
  • Real Estate/ Property/ Infrastructure

    Norms for highway projects pact changed
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Projects, Energy & Natural Resources

    Power
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution

    Case Laws
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Intellectual Property Rights

    Amendments in Information Technology Act, 2000 The Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 has come into force from October 27, 2009. Some key amendments in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) are highlighted below:
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Cross Border Investments & Transactions

     
    - Seth Dua & Associates
  • Capital Markets/ Securities

    Amendments in (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997
    - Seth Dua & Associates