Baker McKenzie‘s dispute resolution team is highly adept at handling domestic and international arbitration proceedings involving contract disputes, debt recovery elements, construction and infrastructure issues, and foreign direct investment matters. The group represents claimants, respondents, and interested third parties in the VIAC and SIAC. Minh Tri Quach leads the practice and focuses on commercial, construction, and debt recovery disputes. Special counsel Quy Hoai Nguyen is notably active in commercial disputes involving the construction and insurance sectors, and Frederick Burke is still an involved member of the team as a senior advisor.
Dispute resolution: arbitration in Vietnam
Baker McKenzie
Practice head(s):
Minh Tri Quach
Other key lawyers:
Quy Hoai Nguyen; Frederick Burke
Testimonials
‘The team is very enthusiastic and their advice is useful and practical. It’s not only legal advice, but also strategy in business when a client has a dispute.’
‘Baker & McKenzie Vietnam has an exceptional team. Not only their partners, but their team members are diligent, friendly, client-oriented, intelligent, understanding of client demand and always bring the best value to clients.’
‘Minh Tri Quach is very enthusiastic. He has a lot of experience and knowledge and gives his clients many useful and practical solutions in dispute settlements.’
Dzungsrt & Associates LLC
Dispute resolution, and in particular arbitration, is a key focus for the team at Dzungsrt & Associates LLC
, which is demonstrated in its involvement in key legislative developments in Vietnam. Shipping arbitration proceedings are a particular strength of the group, and it has acted for clients in proceedings before the SIAC, ICC and HKIAC. Firm founder Nguyen Manh Dzung leads the team with substantial expertise in maritime and commercial disputes, while Nguyen Ngoc Minh leads the Hanoi office and is active in construction-related matters. Special arbitration counsel Nguyen Thi Thu Trang is also a notable team member with a broad ranging practice spanning various sectors, including the energy, infrastructure and retail industries.
Practice head(s):
Nguyen Manh Dzung; Nguyen Ngoc Minh
Other key lawyers:
Nguyen Thi Thu Trang; Dang Vu Minh Ha
Testimonials
‘Team are able to resolve questions quickly and efficiently.’
‘Very good, all-round team.’
‘Very responsive and easy to work with.’
‘Nguyen Ngoc Minh stands out as wicked smart and always on the ball.’
VILAF
VILAF skilfully supports international clients in the maritime, finance, construction, energy and real estate sectors in proceedings in the VIAC and SIAC. It handles a range of disputes, including insurance claims, construction contracts, deposits claims, employment terminations, vessel collisions and claims for loss of cargo. Tung Ngo and Linh D. Nguyen co-lead the team from Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi respectively. Quynh Pham and Hien Tran are also of note, representing clients in various arbitration forums.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Mindchamps Preschool Limited
Pilmico Vietnam Company Limited
Berhero Pty Limited
Global Wise Investment Pte. Ltd
Capitaland Limited
Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd.
Cienco4 Group Joint Stock Company
Marubeni Corporation
Aeroflex Industries Limited
Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants Pte Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised Au Lac Corporation in VIAC arbitration proceedings regarding the explosion of Aulac M/V Fortune.
- Advised Pilmico Vietnam Company in VIAC arbitration proceedings regarding an embezzlement case relating to its chief accountant.
- Advised Capitaland on the termination of a joint venture agreement regarding the development of a residential condominium.
YKVN
YKVN‘s ‘very strong and professional’ team handles arbitration cases in the VIAC and SIAC, often regarding complex foreign investment, construction and commercial disputes. Truong Trong Nghia co-chairs the dispute resolution group in Ho Chi Ming City alongside Luu Tien Dzung in Hanoi, and Singapore-based K. Minh Dang leads the international arbitration practice with particular expertise in the oil and gas industry. Both Nghia and Dzung have substantial experience in advising major Vietnamese corporations and international clients. Do Khoi Nguyen and Pham Minh Thang are also notable lawyers based in Singapore and qualified in Vietnam.
Practice head(s):
Truong Trong Nghia; Luu Tien Dzung; K. Minh Dang
Other key lawyers:
Do Khoi Nguyen; Pham Minh Thang; Nguyen Hong Ha
Testimonials
‘Very strong and professional team in collaborating and preparing documents and supporting evidence for a case.’
‘Excellent relationship with local clients, understands how big law firms operate and works seamlessly with the client’s team. Excellent judgment and very commercial approach to matters.’
‘K. Minh Dang is terrific – highly responsive, terrific strategic judgment, and knows the local players as well as the international arbitration players.’
‘Luu Tien Dzung and Nguyen Hong Ha’s knowledge in the applicable law and FIDIC contract terms, and their confidence in defending their grounds of evidence, make them highly outstanding among other competitors.’
Key clients
Tasco Joint Stock Company
Work highlights
- Advising Tasco on its appeal against a judgment of Hoai Duc District Court regarding Tasco’s claim for contractual damages and Housing Urban Development Corporation’s performance of a land handover agreement between the parties in 2017.
Frasers Law Company
Frasers Law Company
handles a vast array of arbitration proceedings, from commercial and shareholder disputes to employment and IP matters. Its client roster includes companies from the banking and financial services, construction, energy, logistics, and TMT sectors. Earl Rivera-Dolera has led the team since her arrival in early 2021 from The Arbitration Chambers in Singapore, and her presence has bolstered the teams capabilities; she is listed as an arbitrator at KCAB, JCAA, AIAC, HKIAC and SIAC. Founder Mark Fraser
and Justin Gisz are also notable names in this area.
Practice head(s):
Earl Rivera-Dolera
Other key lawyers:
Mark Fraser; Justin Gisz
Testimonials
‘The team is very responsive and commercial. They are a go-to firm in Vietnam because they provide concise and thoughtful advice and can be relied upon to meet tight deadlines.’
‘Mark Fraser is quick, responsive and commercial.’
‘Earl Rivera-Dolera is thoughtful and considered.’
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers
The dispute resolution team at Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers undertakes arbitration proceedings throughout Vietnam, as well as across South East Asia in multi-jurisdictional disputes. Chau Huy Quang and Logan Leung jointly lead the department and both have international arbitration experience regarding commercial matters; Quang is especially active in investor-state disputes, and Leung was promoted to deputy managing partner in June 2022.
Practice head(s):
Chau Huy Quang; Logan Leung
Work highlights
- Acted for a Vietnamese oil and gas service company as respondent in a multi-party, multi-billion-dollar SIAC arbitration concerning the development of a power plant in Vietnam.
- Acted for a financial institution as claimant in a SIAC arbitration regarding an M&A dispute.
- Acted for a Singaporean construction company in proceedings for the recognition and enforcement of an ICC award at the People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City.
APFL & Partners Legal Vietnam LLC
APFL & Partners Legal Vietnam LLC is active in handling matters that are subject to ICC, SIAC and UNCITRAL rules, and specialises in construction disputes in particular, where it has an impressive track record. Bernadette Fahy has significant experience supporting clients through construction-related arbitration proceedings and bilateral investment treaty disputes, in addition to mandates regarding the enforcement and recognition of foreign arbitral awards in Vietnam. Nicolas Audier and senior associate Tran Trong Binh are also key members of the team.
Other key lawyers:
Bernadette Fahy; Nicolas Audier; Tran Trong Binh
Bizlink Lawyers
Bizlink Lawyers has a strong focus on domestic and international dispute resolution, especially arbitrations involving construction, commercial and labour-related issues. Managing partner and founder Do Trong Hai has conducted arbitration proceedings under the ICC, SIAC and VIAC; he co-leads the dispute resolution team alongside Nguyen Duc Manh, who has represented state-owned, local and foreign companies in contractual disputes. Associates Le Ha My and Pham Minh Tien are also notable members of the firm’s dispute resolution team.
Practice head(s):
Do Trong Hai; Nguyen Duc Manh
Other key lawyers:
Le Thi Hong Van; Nguyen Van Kien; Ha Manh Tu; Le Ha My; Pham Minh Tien
Testimonials
‘The team at Bizlink Lawyers have good interpersonal skills, and they are professional from their attitude, working style and skill set. This has been shown through the way of receiving information, analysing problems, and giving the proper and efficient legal service solution.’
‘Nguyen Duc Manh has expertise in dispute resolution which has been reflected through the exceptional results of settling various disputes.’
‘Le Thi Hong Van has given accurate legal advice in respect of the recent law.’
Key clients
Midas Keep Ltd.
Kumho
An Gia Phat JSC.
Kim Thanh LLC.
Kone Vietnam LLC.
Work highlights
- Represented Kumho in a claim for irrevocable and unconditional advance payment guarantee and performance guarantee from a local issuing bank, with the total claim value amounting to approximately $4.4m.
- Represented Kone Vietnam LLC. in a claim for an outstanding contractual payment arising from construction contracts, with the total claim value amounted to approximately $1m.
- Represented An Gia Phat in an arbitration case concerning an economic contract regarding leasing 02 concrete batching plants and services of operation, maintenance, repair and replacement of wear-and-tear components.
EPLegal Limited
EPLegal Limited handles both domestic and overseas arbitration proceedings and has conducted claims under a number of different rules, including ICC, VIAC, PIAC, and SIAC rules. Co-founder of the firm Tony Nguyen and managing partner Annie Ngo jointly lead the team. Nguyen is dual qualified in Vietnam and England and Wales, and Ngo is an expert in the oil and gas sector, which is a key focus of the team. Associate Hoang Le is also a key team member.
Practice head(s):
Tony Nguyen; Annie Ngo
Other key lawyers:
Hoang Le
Testimonials
‘EPLegal is a leading disputes firm in Vietnam. They work very quickly, they know their stuff and are highly reliable solicitors.’
‘EPLegal has one of the best teams, with the capacity to concentrate and provide legal services under high pressure.’
‘The team includes dispute experts with years of expertise. Their excellent specialty in dispute resolution in particular has produced outcomes that have met or gone beyond the client’s expectations.’
‘Tony Nguyen is a true expert in the field of arbitration. He is knowledgeable about arbitration rules, procedures and other practical matters.’
‘Tony Nguyen runs a well-organised team and is very hands-on and responsive. He exhibits unique problem-solving expertise by providing a flexible service. His stunning ideas always bring satisfaction to the client.’
‘Tony Nguyen is a star individual not just at EPLegal but also in Vietnam. In addition to his expertise on Vietnamese law and experience in arbitration, you also know that he will get all the necessary bundles of documents in order. He is diligent and absolutely dedicated to the job at hand.’
Lexcomm Vietnam LLC
The experienced Luong Van Trung leads the arbitration practice at Lexcomm Vietnam LLC and is also co-head of the corporate and M&A team; Trung has a focus on disputes involving investment, finance, real estate, construction, corporate and commercial matters. Nguyen Viet Ha is also a key name for arbitration instructions, co-leading the M&A team as well as the TMT group.
Practice head(s):
Luong Van Trung
Other key lawyers:
Nguyen Viet Ha
Testimonials
‘Lexcomm is a very good law firm. They are very dedicated and supportive. Their particular strengths are responsiveness, commerciality, and good client service.’
‘The team is high quality – each member of the team has a good understanding of arbitration law and practice. In terms of Vietnamese arbitration practice, it is one of the strongest team in Vietnam with lots of practical experience.’
‘The team is led by Luong Van Trung, a highly regarded arbitration practitioner in Vietnam who is most experienced with VIAC both as counsel and arbitrator. Trung is not only experienced in domestic arbitration, but he also has an English law background and has done some international arbitrations under SIAC rules. He is known as very fast and innovative counsel who always deals with the clients’ matters professionally and effectively.’
‘Nguyen Viet Ha and Luong Van Trung are perfect lawyers with wide knowledge, lots of experience.’
Key clients
WHA Utilities and Power Public Company Limited
Uber Vietnam Limited and Uber B.V.
R & R Fitness Holding LTD
Thien Nam Offshore Service Joint Stock Company
Work highlights
- Advising a Thai utilities and power service provider on a high-value arbitration case dealing with the post-completion covenants and the exercise of put option under the share purchase agreement.
- Acting for Vietnamese Respondents in a $38m dispute at SIAC regarding an alleged breach of Share Purchase Agreement, Shareholders’ Agreement and Company Manager’s Duty.
- Advising a State-owned electricity enterprise on a large dispute in Vietnam arising out of coal supply agreements.
LNT & Partners
LNT & Partners supports clients on domestic and international arbitrations in major arbitral institutions, including the ICC, VIAC, SIAC and JCAA. A key strength of the practice lies in representing large domestic companies and regional subsidiaries of multinational conglomerates, especially in construction and energy-related disputes. Co-founder of the firm Net Le leads the team with expertise across a wide range of industries.
Practice head(s):
Net Le
Work highlights
- Advising a client on a meditation before the Dispute Board regarding its FIDIC contract dispute.
- Representing a client in a dispute with an American oil-gas industry engineering consulting and equipment supplying company at the Singapore International Arbitration Center.
- Advising a client on an arbitration dispute regarding an underground project in HCMC at the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre.
Tilleke & Gibbins
Loc Xuan Le heads up the dispute resolution practice at Tilleke & Gibbins, which represents clients in Vietnam in arbitration proceedings involving trade, labour, construction and insurance issues, among others. The team is also increasingly active in international arbitrations. Le is particularly strong in IP enforcement matters.
Practice head(s):
Loc Xuan Le
Key clients
FMC Vietnam
Work highlights
- Assisted an oilfield services company in establishing a settlement agreement in a SIAC arbitration case and, subsequently, efficiently recovered an equitable compensation amount for the work done.