Mr Phong Tran > VILAF > Hanoi, Vietnam > Lawyer Profile
VILAF Offices

6TH FLOOR, HCO BUILDING (MELIA)
44B LY THUONG KIET STREET, HOAN KIEM DISTRICT
HANOI
Vietnam
- Firm Profile
- Go to...
Mr Phong Tran

Work Department
Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A and Project & Infrastructure
Position
Founding Partner
Career
Phong is recommended as a top-tier lawyer in the banking & finance and capital market practice (Legal 500, IFLR 1000 and AsiaLaw) and the M&A practice (Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and ALB Asia).
Phong has been recognised as a market leader by IFLR 1000 in banking & finance, corporate and infrastructure & energy. Who’s Who Legal recognised him as an expert in Energy and Aviation sectors and IFLR1000 ranked him as an Asia Best Lawyer in 2019, 2020 and 2021 (Vietnam top 4 lawyers). Legal 500 honoured him in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Hall of Fame, among top 7 foreign and Vietnamese lawyers in this elite lawyer group for Vietnam. Phong is listed in the Vietnam’s top 100 lawyers list of Asia Business Law Journal and ranked ALB Asia 2021’s Top 15 M&A Lawyers.
With 27 years’ board experience in law practice, Phong has represented numerous international sponsors and lenders in relation to foreign invested projects in oil & gas, power, chemical, automobile, aircraft, sea-port, highway, telecommunication, insurance, real estate development, retail and distribution, and consumer goods industries. He is reputable in advising international businesses and banks on corporate restructuring and financing, share subscriptions, mergers and acquisitions transactions, ECA and syndicated financing, asset financing, and project financing in Vietnam. He has been involved in most BOT and high-profile infrastructure projects in Vietnam including AES – Son My 2 LNG to Power Project, Marubeni Corporation and WTO – Omon II LNG to Power Project, the sponsors – Quang Ninh LNG to Power Project, ACWA Power (previously K-Exim and K-Sure as the potential ECAs) – Nam Dinh 1 Power Project, Marubeni Corporation/KEPCO – Nghi Son 2 Power Project, Sumitomo Corporation – Van Phong 1 Power Project, AES – Mong Duong 2 Power Project, VAPCO – Vung Ang 2 Power Project, OneEnergy/Mitsubishi – Vinh Tan 3 Power Project, Chinese sponsors – Vinh Tan 1 Power Project, ITACO – Kien Luong 1 Power Project, Chevron – gas pipeline project, Premier Oil – gas transportation, Shell downstream projects, Phu My 2.2 Power Project, Wartsila BOT Power Project, Binh An BOT Water Project. His banking clients include Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, SMBC, BTMU, CBA, etc. He also assisted the issuers or the arrangers for the convertible and SGX listed bonds of Vingroup, Vinacomin’s international bonds, Vingroup’s series of M&A transactions with GIC, Credit Suisse, Hanwha, Warbus Pincus, SK and Masan, Vincom Retail’s and Vinhomes’ Rule 144A international placement/HOSE listing and some overseas IPO/listing transactions.
Languages
Vietnamese, English
Memberships
IBA, AmCham, VBF, VBLC, APLMA
Education
Hanoi Law University, LL.B., 1995
Tulane University (US), LL.M., 2002 with distinction, Fulbright Scholarship
Personal
Phong is a highly regarded attorney for his admirable capacity to provide practical solutions that well suit the clients’ needs. The Legal 500, 2021 edition, commented “Tran Tuan Phong, the founding partner, with his broad, strategic, balanced view is the uniquely top lawyer in the field. Creative and deep experienced team led by the founding partner, Mr. Tran Tuan Phong, providing excellent advice from various angles to see the possible solutions to difficult subjects in the projects and energy sector in Vietnam, especially at the juncture of delicate development of various energy projects in the country”. “Tran Tuan Phong is a leading name in the market, regularly advising domestic and international companies on M&A transactions and joint venture investments. He is well versed in the finance, private equity and construction industries.” (Chambers & Partners 2019 Edition). The AsiaLaw, 2020 Edition, said about Phong “Very innovative and problem solving as well as understanding the client’s issue and providing excellent advice.” Phong is highly rated by market commentators, who say he “has a tremendous practice” (Chambers & Partners 2021 Edition) and he has “very positive and problem-solving” with “deep knowledge of the power sector and project finance deals.” (IFLR 1000 2021 Edition). Phong is “profound and versatile knowledge; high ethics” (IFLR 1000 2022 Edition) and widely recognised as “a specialist in infrastructure and power project financing and acquisitions.” (Chambers and Partners 2022 Edition)
Lawyer Rankings
Vietnam > Banking and finance
(Hall of Fame)VILAF has an expert group advising on a broad range of cross-border financing transactions in Vietnam. Working across a wide array of sectors, the team is especially knowledgeable in matters involving traditional and renewable power projects, water treatment projects, transmission line projects, Airbus aircrafts, highway construction and expansions of telecoms networks. The group is co-headed by the ‘knowledgeable’ Duyen Vo in Ho Chi Minh City who is experienced in a wide range of complex projects, and Hung Nguyen in Hanoi who is a seasoned commercial and banking lawyer. Also in Hanoi, other key figures in the team include Phong Tran, who has specialist knowledge in the energy and aviation sectors, Anh Dang who specialises in financial and corporate law, and Trung Vu who has broad expertise in banking and financing matters.
Vietnam > Capital markets
(Leading partners)Vietnam > Corporate and M&A
(Leading partners)VILAF assists multinational clients on all operational corporate matters, as well as large and complex cross-border M&A deals across a wide range of industries. The group has particular expertise in matters involving private placement, energy and infrastructure, banking, real estate and construction. The group is co-headed by Duyen Ha Vo in Ho Chi Minh City, who is an expert in a wide range of corporate work and transactions, and Anh Dang in Hanoi, who is a key contact for matters involving finance, corporate, energy and infrastructure. Also in Hanoi, Phong Tran focuses on private equity and M&A, and is also an expert in the energy and aviation sectors, Ngoc Anh Bui is particularly skilled in cross-border matters, and Lam Nguyen specialises in energy and infrastructure matters, M&A and capital markets. The team in Ho Chi Minh City includes Hao Nguyen, who is knowledgeable in capital markets, M&A, oil and gas, renewable energy and real estate mandates, as well as Ngoc Luong Trinh and Tung Nguyen.
Lawyer Rankings
- Banking and finance Vietnam
- Corporate and M&A Vietnam
- Hall of Fame Vietnam > Banking and finance
- Leading partners Vietnam > Corporate and M&A
- Leading partners Vietnam > Capital markets
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance
- Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution: arbitration
- Dispute resolution: litigation
- Projects and energy
- Real estate and construction