Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Firms in the Spotlight Labour and employment

DNA Vietnam LLC

DNA Vietnam LLC logo

DNA Vietnam LLC (“DNA”) is a boutique corporate law firm that provides legal services across various areas of law related to foreign investment and the operation of business entities in Vietnam.

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Labour and employment in Vietnam

Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie’s 9-strong employment and labour group offers major clients a broad spectrum of employment law services, including in relation to compliance issues, union matters, and employee investigations. Thuy Hang Nguyen, also a member of the steering committee for the firm’s Asia Pacific employment practice group, leads the team. She boasts expertise in labour regulations compliance, the employment aspects of corporate restructurings, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, and labour dispute resolution, among other areas. Special counsel Van Trung Khuat regularly advises clients on a wide range of issues, including terminations, global mobility, and reorganisations and redundancies.

Practice head(s):

Thuy Hang Nguyen


Other key lawyers:

Van Trung Khuat


Testimonials

‘Van Trung Khuat gives clear and concise advice, as well as clear explanations of the necessary steps and processes in a case.’

‘A strong team with a commercial mindset, able to give practical advice.’

Tilleke & Gibbins

Tilleke & Gibbins’ labour and employment team, led by Kien Trung Trinh in Hanoi, advises major clients, including in the pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, education and manufacturing sectors, on a wide range of matters. Trinh has broad expertise, handling cases involving issues such as company work rules, health insurance, employment contracts, collective bargaining and confidentiality agreements, and terminations and disciplinary action. Sarah Galeski regularly plays a key role in the practice’s representations, and has recently been involved in several whistleblower cases. She has notable previous experience advising on the drafting of labour contracts, internal labour regulations, and service agreements and consultancy agreements.

Practice head(s):

Kien Trung Trinh


Other key lawyers:

Sarah Galeski


Testimonials

‘Sarah Galeski is the key person for this practice.’

‘A young and dynamic team.’

Key clients

Chemonics International


Ferrero


FMC Corporation


Invisalign


Align Group


Johnson & Johnson


Lenovo


Merck, Sharp & Dohme


Ogletree Deakins.


Teva Pharmaceutical


United Nations International School – Hanoi


Work highlights


  • Assisted a global healthcare and consumer goods company in a labour termination dispute that ended in successful mediation.
  • Assisted Ferrero Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. with drafting and registering all necessary labour-related documents and templates when it established a local Vietnamese company.
  • Assisted a prestigious international university in Vietnam with an investigation regarding an alleged case of workplace bullying by a very senior member of management.

ATS Law Firm

Practitioners at ATS Law Firm have broad employment law experience, including in relation to terminations and redundancies, as well as unfair dismissals and confidentiality agreements. The practice operates in the consumer goods, manufacturing, logistics, and education sectors, among others, and recently acted on behalf of a group of employees, namely teachers at an English language school, in connection with a dispute over delayed payment of wages due to Covid-19. Managing partner Vu Thi Thu Ha leads the team in Hanoi, while experienced litigator Tran Hong Nhan has recently led on several instructions, including for a company against an employee alleged to have violated obligations under a confidentiality agreement.

Practice head(s):

Vu Thi Thu Ha


Other key lawyers:

Tran Hong Nhan


Key clients

Mr. Tran Trong Hung


Vaude Vietnam Co., Ltd.


OPL Logistics Joint JSC


International Executive Service Corps


PTW Vietnam Limited Company


CompAsia Vietnam Co.,Ltd


Work highlights


  • Advising Vaude Vietnam Co., Ltd on the management of the entire Human Resource Department system.
  • Acting for a group of 40 employees in resolving a mass dispute with a major education institution, concerning the late payment of salaries.
  • Acting for OPL Logistics Joint JSC in a dispute with an employee who violated information security and engaged in unfair competition.

Frasers Law Company

Mark Fraser and Justin Gisz jointly head Frasers Law Company’s labour and employment team, which regularly advises clients, including major international companies, on a wide range of matters, such as contracts, internal labour regulations, the labour law aspects of M&A and restructuring transactions, and disputes. Both Fraser and Gisz have considerable international experience in the employment and labour law space. Phan Xuan Qui advises on labour regulations compliance, global migration and mobility, and labour dispute resolution, among other issues, while Nguyen Thi Thanh Tra handles the regulatory aspects of high-value investments into Vietnam.

Practice head(s):

Mark Fraser; Justin Gisz


Other key lawyers:

Nguyen Thi Thanh Tra; Phan Xuan Qui


Testimonials

‘Mark Fraser is an exceptional legal professional with in-depth knowledge and specialisation in labour and employment law. He possesses a wealth of experience that translates into confident and strategic legal representation.’

‘The combination of responsiveness, knowledge and commercial advice makes Frasers a ‘go-to’ counsel on employment matters in Vietnam.’

‘Mark Fraser’s ability to navigate complex legal matters with ease while maintaining a client-focused approach sets him apart as an outstanding lawyer.’

‘Mark Fraser is easy to work with, responsive and he gives advice that is to the point.’

‘Mark Fraser brings a depth of experience and has a strong client-focused approach in his practice.’

‘The team at Frasers Law has an excellent track record of exceptional work and satisfied clients.’

‘The team at Frasers Law Company has a remarkable level of specialisation and expertise in labour and employment law. Their attorneys are well-versed in all aspects of this field, ranging from employee rights and workplace disputes to complex labour negotiations.’

‘Their ability to view labour and employment matters from a holistic perspective is outstanding.’

Key clients

Associated British Foods


Coalesce Management Consulting


Dla Piper Llp (USA)


Dynatrace Llc


Fluid Power & Control Company Limited


Goodnotes In Hong Kong.


Hanes (Hong Kong)


Houlihan Lokey EMEA


Logitech


New Zealand Trade And Enterprise


Nielsen Consumer Llc


Ptt Public Company Limited


S4Capital


Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers

Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers’ employment and benefits team handles both contentious and non-contentious matters in the consumer goods, marketing, healthcare, and technology sectors, among others. The team continues to advise a wide range of clients in relation to unlawful terminations and remote working practices. With experience in handling lay-offs and terminations, as well as drafting employment contracts and policies, Vu Thi Que heads the practice. She is a go-to lawyer for Chinese-speaking clients owing to her fluency in Mandarin.

Practice head(s):

Vu Thi Que


Key clients

Richemont Group


Huge Inc


Soda Health


True Commerce (DiCentral)


Vestiaire Collective


TDCX


RolexSingapore Private Limited


Work highlights


  • Assisted Richemont Group with multiple employment matters for its business deployment in Vietnam.
  • Advised Huge Inc on a range of termination cases of a labour contract, including termination without cause of exit, and advises on the practical available solutions for the company.
  • Advised Soda Health on the employment and immigration issues relating to the remote working situation of the company’s employees.

LE & TRAN

With major clients, including both global and domestic energy, technology, and insurance companies, LE & TRAN’s employment and labour law team has a strong reputation for its broad expertise. Senior trial lawyer Stephen Le Hoang Chuong leads the team, while senior associate Le Ngoc Bao Trang is deputy head. She handles both contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including for foreign investors. She specialises in the employment law aspects of restructurings and has recently been involved in a dispute in the education sector concerning the lawfulness of termination during a restructuring process.

Practice head(s):

Stephen Le Hoang Chuong


Other key lawyers:

Le Ngoc Bao Trang


Testimonials

‘Stephen Le Hoang Chuong is forthright and calm and never overreacts or overpromises. He is confident in what can and can’t be achieved and sets out a clear roadmap to resolving the issue at hand.’

‘The team at Le & Tran feels like boutique practice with personalised attention but without losing any sense of professionalism or depth of knowledge and experience.’

‘The team is very responsive and covers a wide range of practice areas.’ 

‘Stephen Le Hoang Chuong is completely fluent in English and works well with western clients. He also covers a wide range of practice areas.’

Key clients

Pou Chen Group


Marvell Technology Vietnam Limited Liability Company


05 Specialists


PC Vietnam Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising for a second athletic and casual footwear manufacturer having over 90,000 employees in Vietnam on complicated labour matters which improved daily business operation.
  • Advising a global corporation in semi-conductor industry on all Vietnamese labour law aspects upon the acquisition approach, and advising on daily labor compliance to protect their interests as well as shielding their IP rights and confidential information in Vietnam in the event of any potential disputes with its employees.
  • Defending a highly experienced education business leader in a US$2m labour dispute.

Lexcomm Vietnam LLC

Lexcomm Vietnam LLC’s employment and benefits team, led by Nguyen Hong Hai in Hanoi, regularly advises its diverse client base, which includes local individuals as well as international corporations, on a wide range of labour law-related matters. This offering encompasses whistleblower investigations and employee termination disputes.

Practice head(s):

Nguyen Hong Hai


Key clients

EDP RENOVÁVEIS, S.A.


Cushman & Wakefield


Dragonfly Education Group


Uber Vietnam Limited and Uber B.V.


Harvey Nash


Ariston Thermo Group (Vietnam)


Nissan Automotive Technology


Vietnam Australia International School


Sports Engineering and Recreation Asia Ltd


Coherent Service Vietnam Limited Liability Company


Work highlights


  • Advising Harvey Nash on a dispute with a senior employee in its Vietnam office, as well as assisting with employment issues relating to outsourcing services for the company.
  • Assisting Cushman and Wakefield with a range of employment issues about non-renewal of expatriate manager’s employment and related post-termination issues.
  • Representing Sera in litigation against a former manager’s claim for incentive and commission.

LNT & Partners

LNT & Partners‘ employment practice is jointly led by Hanoi-based Net Le and Thuy Nguyen in Ho Chi Minh City. The group is adept at advising its client roster, which includes major multinationals, on both advisory and contentious matters, and the team specialises in employee misconduct and workplace policy violation cases.

Practice head(s):

Net Le; Thuy Nguyen