Baker McKenzie‘s team, which is led by Thuy Hang Nguyen, has over 25 years of experience handling a full spectrum of matters for domestic and multinational clients. Its wide-ranging workload includes complex reorganisations and restructurings, compliance and investigations, as well as the employment aspects of M&A. In addition, other drivers of work include advice on workplace policies, hiring and recruitment practices, health and safety, and terminations and lay-offs. Nguyen's group includes special counsels Van Trung Khuat and Tri Trung Pham, as well as associates Thi Binh Nguyen and Xuan Hung Pham.
Labour and employment in Vietnam
Baker McKenzie
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Van Trung Khuat; Tri Trung Pham; Thi Binh Nguyen; Xuan Hung Pham
Testimonials
‘The team are responsive and advice is commercial and pragmatic.’
‘Hang (Thuy Hang Nguyen) provides clear concise advice, helping us navigate the maze of Vietnamese employment law. Her understanding of the law, combined with her understanding of how corporates work, makes her very easy to work with.’
‘Solid expertise combined with practical view and understanding of the market practice which helps client(s) makes reasonable and right decisions.’
‘Labour & employment team of Baker McKenzie Vietnam is a strong and experienced team. The team provides the effective & efficient legal advice to businesses. Updated well with the trend & changes of labour law and labour cases. The team is proactive and innovative in providing and communicating with clients in the pandemic.’
‘Partner Thuy Hang Nguyen is a high profile individual in the labour and employment area. She has both international and local experience and expertise to provide the best solutions on labour cases, restructurings and advance protection to businesses. This is particularly important, given Vietnam is a pro-employee country.’
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers’ team is equally skilled in contentious and non-contentious employment work, including restructurings, investigations and the employment aspects of corporate transactions. It is notably active in sectors such as insurance, financial services, healthcare and technology. Practice head Vu Thi Que has particular experience of advising Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese investors that are investing in Vietnam. Logan Leung is another key individual in the team, as is senior associate Le Quynh Nhi.
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Tilleke & Gibbins
Tilleke & Gibbins has a significant presence in the life sciences sector, as is evidenced by its work for clients such as Merck, Sharp & Dohme and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Elsewhere, the firm acts for clients in areas such as technology, education and financial services. The team provides a full service approach to employment, with advice ranging from day-to-day assistance to high value litigation. Kien Trung Trinh heads up the practice at the firm, which was strengthened by the recent arrival of counsel Sarah Galeski from KPMG Law in Vietnam.
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Key clients
Chemonics International
FMC Corporation/FMC Vietnam
Invisalign/Align Group
Lenovo
Merck, Sharp & Dohme
MIMS Pte. Ltd.
Teva Pharmaceutical
United Nations International School – Hanoi
Work highlights
- Successfully assisted a multinational life sciences company with negotiating the mutual termination of the client’s general director due to Covid-related regional restructuring, saving the client more than $500,000 compared to the general director’s original demand.
- Regularly advise Lenovo as preferred local counsel in Vietnam on all matters related to labour and employment.
- Advise a high-profile international school on a range of operational issues, including labour matters for teachers and support staff.
ATS Law Firm
Equally strong advising employers and senior-level employees, ATS Law Firm's team has expertise in handling employee contracts, mass terminations, wrongful dismissals and employer liability claims, among other matters. Managing partner and practice head Vu Thi Thu Ha is highly skilled in advising on employment regulations and HR management issues. She is supported by other practitioners, such as Trong Hong Nhan and Nguyen Thi Ha.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Trong Hong Nhan; Nguyen Thi Ha; Tran Minh Chau; Nguyen Thi Thu Hien
Testimonials
‘Vu Thi Thu Ha and her team give their best service and advice on my cases. They work very quickly in giving advice and solutions, either from regulations or local common practice.’
‘I’ve worked with Ms. Ha. She is very firm, timely and helpful. Her intelligence and experience is unquestionable.’
Key clients
Turner Vietnam Company Limited
Usaid Linkages For Small And Medium Enterprises (Linksme) Project
Mr Nishat Hussian
Mr. Tran Trong Hung
Mekong Mining Investment Joint Stock Company
Termo Vietnam Co., Ltd
Lhoist Group
Kalbe International Pte., Ltd
Frasers Law Company
Frasers Law Company, which has a strong profile among international clients, advises on significant restructurings, terminations and investigations, as well as restrictive covenants and general day-to-day compliance issues. Managing partner Mark Fraser co-heads the practice with Justin Gisz.
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Testimonials
‘We have a long standing relationship with the team and trust them to provide quality advice geared to the needs of MNCs.’
‘I would particularly highlight Mark Fraser and also Phung Thi Thanh Thao as very impressive.’
‘They are our first port of call for employment queries in Vietnam. We have found them to be responsive, reliable and knowledgeable. They are a pleasure to work with and we look forward to continuing our longstanding relationship with them.’
Key clients
Chubb Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Work highlights
- Provided employment law advice to Chubb in relation to its operations in Vietnam, on an on-going basis.
Lexcomm Vietnam LLC
Lexcomm Vietnam LLC‘s excellent reputation in the employment arena is reflected by the fact that it acts for clients such as Nissan and Uber. Its team is highly skilled in advising new market entrants on labour contracts and policies, as well as handling reorganisations arising from M&A. The team is also known to handle contentious matters, such as whistleblower investigations and employment litigation. Nguyen Hong Hai leads the team.
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Key clients
Sports Engineering and Recreation Asia Ltd
Uber Vietnam Limited and Uber B.V.
Coherent Service Vietnam Limited Liability Company Harvey Nash
Ariston Thermo Group (Vietnam)
Nissan Automotive Technology
Vietnam Australia International School
Cushman & Wakefield
Dragonfly Education Group
Work highlights
- Advised 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.
- Assisted Cushman and Wakefield with a range of employment issues about non-renewal of expatriate manager’s employment and related post-termination issues.
- Assisted Sera in litigation in court against former manager’s unreasonable claim for incentive and commission.
LNT & Partners
LNT & Partners has a strong track record handling labour litigation for large domestic companies, as well as regional subsidiaries and large multinational conglomerates. It is notably active in cases involving allegations of unfair dismissals. Elsewhere, on the non-contentious side, the group is prominent in complex restructurings, and it also advises on terms and conditions of employment contracts and executive remuneration, among various other issues. The team is led by Net Le, Thai Binh Tran and Xuan Thuy Nguyen.
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Testimonials
‘They have a very strong and diverse team.’
‘Dr. Net Le was exceptional with his flexibility and creativity solutions to help the team through all the process.’
Key clients
Golden Emperor Properties Limited Company
Hoang Lam Mechanical Fabrication Co.,Ltd
Work highlights
- Defended Golden Emperor Properties in an unlawful termination claim.
- Represented Hoang Lam Mechanical Fabrication in a dispute involving unfair dismissal
VILAF
VILAF is a go-to for many domestic and international companies, with its team having extensive experience of major terminations, restructurings and unfair dismissals, as well as work permit issues. The team is jointly led by managing partner Tung Ngo; Linh D. Nguyen. Another name to note is Quynh Pham , who acts for clients in sectors such as shipping, real estate and food and beverage.
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Key clients
Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Ltd.
ANZ Bank
Schneider Electric
Magnussen Logistics Co., Ltd.
Ikea Services (Vietnam) Co., Ltd.
Novus International, Inc.
3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, a subsidiary of Abbott
BW Industrial Development Joint Stock Company
British Council
CPA Australia
Work highlights
- Advised CPA Australia Ltd on various labour issues in Vietnam including solutions to terminate labour contracts with its employees.
- Advised Schneider Electric IT Vietnam Limited on an employment dispute.
Vision & Associates
Vision & Associates' team, which is jointly led by Le Tuan Anh and Nguyen Thi Thanh Xuan, undertakes a wide range of transactional and advisory work, and it is also active in employment litigation. Recent mandates included advice to clients on employment contracts, restructurings, immigration issues and employee benefits.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Le Quynh Anh; Vuong Son Ha; Pham Minh Long; Le Nguyen Anh Vu
Key clients
Bytedance Inc.
Vietnam Company Limited
Fichtner Vietnam Ltd. Company
Vestergaard Fransend Sa
Leggett & Platt, Incorporated.
Obayashi Vietnam Corporation
Toyota Motor Vietnam Co., Ltd.
Turkish Airlines Inc.
Chevron Lubricants Vietnam Co., Ltd.
Diebold Nixdorf Vietnam Company
Motorola Solutions
Sherwin Williams
The Boston Consulting Group
JP Morgan
Air Liquide Vietnam Co. Ltd.
ENI S.p.a
Toyota Motor Vietnam Co., Ltd.
Padmac Vietnam Co., Ltd.
Yamani Dynasty Co., Ltd.
Hulane Electronic (Vietnam) Co.,
Dsm Nutritional Products Vietnam Ltd
Carl Zeiss Pte. Ltd
Borouge
Louis Dreyfus Company, Llc (“ldc”)
Cpa Australia Ltd.
Upm-kymmene Oyj (“upm”)
Work highlights
- Advised Bytedance on issues such as salary and bonus, social insurance benefits, retention of candidate’s dossier, intern transition and changes in new Labour Code.
- Advised OVC on other labour issues such as annual leave, overtime wages and wage calculation method, employer’s payment for employee’s training certificates and severance allowance for retired employees
- Advised Toyota on its labour and outsourcing contracts.