Duane Morris Vietnam LLC > Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam > Firm Profile
Duane Morris Vietnam LLC Offices
SUITE 1503/04, SAIGON TOWER
29 LE DUAN STREET
DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
Vietnam
Duane Morris Vietnam LLC > The Legal 500 Rankings
Vietnam > Corporate and M&A Tier 2
Duane Morris & Selvam LLP’s corporate and M&A department handles mandates in the energy, infrastructure and financial sectors. It is well-known for assisting clients in becoming established in the Vietnamese market by obtaining licenses, handling joint venture agreements and restructuring mandates, and supporting them on M&A transactions. Chairwoman and ‘leading legal expert’ Nguyen Thi Lang heads the team from Ho Chi Minh alongside Oliver Massmann, who is based in Hanoi. Nguyen’s client roster includes multinational, foreign and local companies, with a strong focus on M&A and inward investment, as well as commercial mandates. Massmann is a financial accountant and auditor, and skilfully works on general commercial matters, while special counsel Minh Duc Hoang is another key contact in the team. Pham Bach Duong left to Hogan Lovells International LLP in February 2022.Practice head(s):
Nguyen Thi Lang; Oliver Massmann
Other key lawyers:
Minh Duc Hoang; Truc Vo
Testimonials
‘Duane Morris is assertive, comprehensive and strategic. Their services are provided with effective communication skills and creativity, knowledge and responsibility. The whole team is so great to work with; very professional, responsive, and Duane Morris offers solid advice and guidance.’
‘The team has good expertise as a reputable law firm practicing in Vietnam and has the knowledge of clients’ businesses in Vietnam.’
‘Duane Morris Vietnam LLC has proved in their team that the dedicated spirit in serving clients is put forward as the top priority regardless of how tight the deadline is. The strategic advice and successful outcomes from working with the Duane Morris team is impressive.’
‘Duane Morris Vietnam has a strong team of talented members that are proficient at working as a team to make the whole team a problem solver. Duane Morris Vietnam LLC is a truly specialist in corporate and M&A practice.’
‘Nguyen Thi Lang is known as a leading legal expert with more than two decades of experience in the country. Dr Lang’s services combined thorough legal analysis with a strong commercial approach has resulted in significant contribution to the successful closing of deals.’
‘Nguyen Thi Lang is recognised as a prestigious lawyer and is respected for owning both academic and professional bases. She has demonstrated her ability through providing valuable ideas, comprehensive and practical guidance, as well as making a significant contribution to the negotiation process between us and the potential purchaser.’
‘Nguyen Thi Lang and senior associate Vo Truc have demonstrated their technical excellence, commercial sense as well as good service level.’
‘Nguyen Thi Lang is outstanding as both a draftsperson and negotiator for deals. She has always been easy to reach and responsive to client needs, and her integrity is beyond reproach.’
Key clients
Bayer Vietnam
GAW NP Capital
Saint-Gobain
KCN
A.P.U Educational Company Development
Work highlights
- Advised GAW NP Capital on its $2om acquisition of a target land and development of the construction of a ready-built-factory in the economic zone in Northern Vietnam.
- Advised an educational development group with a 100% foreign-owned company in Vietnam in relation to a $150m transaction with a UK-based educational service company to sell all of A.P.U’s ownership interest in its K-12 school in Danang, Vietnam.
- Advised a Vietnamese private commercial bank as lead counsel in relation to its $125m divestment of the majority of its ownership.
Vietnam > Projects and energy Tier 2
Duane Morris Vietnam LLC works with government-owned utilities and regulators on major power projects involving clean and renewable energy, as well as infrastructure matters regarding upstream and midstream oil and gas, as well as metals and mining projects. Its strong capabilities include development, financing, joint venture, syndication, securitisation and management of projects in Vietnam. Firm chairperson Nguyen Thi Lang leads the team alongside Oliver Massmann, while Pham Bach Duong left to Hogan Lovells International LLP in February 2022.Practice head(s):
Nguyen Thi Lang; Oliver Massmann
Other key lawyers:
Hoang Minh Duc
Testimonials
‘Duane Morris Vietnam’s capability to run complicated deals exceeds expectations. The team works with a view to best protecting their client’s rights and benefits.’
‘Dr. Nguyen Thi Lang is well known by market commentators for all client service, her level of sophistication, and commercial vision when providing legal services for the deals. Moreover, Dr. Lang is excellent at client relationship management and always respects deadlines proposed by the client.’
‘The Duane team is able to advise a wide variety of multinational businesses from different jurisdictions, acting as highly recommended external counsels for a huge number of leading offshore and local investors.’
‘Dr. Nguyen Thi Lang is exceptionally dedicated, assertive and responsive to any concerns from early mornings to late nights.’
‘Duane Morris is super professional in providing legal services from a Vietnam-law perspective. The depth of the team, their international network and value added services provided by the team is impressive.’
‘Dr. Nguyen Thi Lang is a leading individual practicing in the industry sector. In addition to deep knowledge from both theory and practical perspectives, her abilities regarding client management are impressive.’
‘Dr. Oliver Massmann has provided nothing short of professionalism. He is particularly attuned to the cultural sensitivities when dealing with transactions in Vietnam and the region. He is thorough, persistent and not willing to glimpse over a point no matter how tired the conversation around that point has become.’
Key clients
Ca Mau 1A Energy JSC
GAW NP Capital
KCN Dong Nai Joint Stock Company
Work highlights
- Advised Ca Mau 1A Energy JSC in relation to a 350 MW offshore wind farm valued at $1m, including review, negotiation and execution of a variety of cross-border contracts, as well as wind turbines purchase agreement, EPC Contract and O&M Contract.
- Advised GAW NP Capital on its $2m acquisition of a target land and development of the construction of ready-built-factory in the economic zone in Northern Vietnam.
- Advising KCN Dong Nai JSC in connection with the acquisition of 100% of the equity interests in a Korean manufacturing company, and another business cooperation project with a local partner via an acquisition of a land area in an Industrial Park in Dong Nai Province for investment and development in a project of constructing factories, warehouse and other constructions on the target land for leasing and conducting various manufacturing activities.
Vietnam > Banking and finance
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: –
COMPANY/FIRM: Exponential Hub Co., Ltd.
TESTIMONIAL: For Priyank Srivastava and Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, Corporate and Regulatory
On behalf of Exponential Hub Co., Ltd, I’ve had the pleasure of having Priyank Srivastava, represent and advise us on various commercial issues with active participation in the discussions about contractual documentation in connection with our venture with an international technology company. We can recommend Duane Morris & Selvam without reservation. Duane Morris & Selvam provided us with an amazing, valuable resource and experience. I have nothing but good things to say about our experience with the firm.
CLIENT: Bernard Tan
COMPANY/FIRM: AG Myanmar Water Company Limited (A JV involving stakeholders from Malaysia/Hong Kong and Myanmar)
TESTIMONIAL: For Priyank Srivastava and Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, Projects
We engaged Priyank since the beginning of this year. His level of professionalism, agility, all rounding commercial wisdom guided us to be able to simplify and focus on the core issues in each phase of development in our projects amidst the complexity of today’s business environment. With Priyank / Duane Morris & Selvam’s backing, we have strong confidence to outperform in our trade.
CLIENT: –
COMPANY/FIRM: ONGC Videsh Ltd Delhi
TESTIMONIAL: For Priyank Srivastava and Duane Morris & Selvam LLP
We have known Priyank for almost a decade now. We have seen him handle Energy, Oil & Gas matters and a large variety of corporate matters with the highest degree of professionalism. Priyank is an excellent lawyer and carries a wide scope of commercial sense, wisdom and experience. Lawyers working in the oil & gas sector require both legal regulatory as well as industry experience, and Priyank is one of the rare professional lawyers, having the combination of both. Duane Morris & Selvam has great resources and we highly recommend them.
CLIENT: Sim Eng Tong, Chief Executive Officer
COMPANY/FIRM: Biomax Holdings Pte Ltd
TESTIMONIAL: For Mr Sarbjit Singh Chopra
I was recommended to Mr Sarbjit Singh of Selvam LLC after using two other law firms. I am very satisfied with his and his team’s services. He is understanding and caring and I am very thankful for the emotional support he showed me when I was under tremendous stress. He took care of my worries as if they were his own. I am very grateful for his assistance.
International capabilities
In Asia, Duane Morris LLP operates through Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, a U.S.-Singapore joint venture formed in 2011. It was the first of its kind to be approved by Singapore as part of the enhanced liberalisation of its legal services market.
Our Singapore office acts as a gateway to Southeast Asia and beyond. We have multi-lingual lawyers who are admitted in various jurisdictions including Singapore, the PRC, India, Myanmar, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, and Vietnam. We possess a breadth of expertise in Asia, both in terms of practice areas and jurisdictional coverage. We are known for our entrepreneurial approach, deep local knowledge and global outlook.
Our firm has a strong presence in the key markets of Southeast Asia, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon, as well as in Shanghai. Supporting these regional offices, our firm operates a series of country desks for India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.
In addition, our firm has long-standing relationships with a vast network of law firms and practitioners in every capital in Latin America forged over 30 years of practice in the region. Our clients include Latin American companies doing business around the world as well as global corporations exploring their expansion within this fast-evolving region. Our Latin America Practice Group includes attorneys who speak Spanish, Portuguese and French, as well as English. A number of our attorneys have experience in and are admitted to practice in jurisdictions in Latin America.
Legal Developments
The Metaverse: The Rise Of The Digital Universe
19th January 2022The metaverse has been on the minds of several practitioners, advisers, corporate strategists and central bankers. But, the Generation Z participants – or zoomers as they are affectionately known as – are not thinking it – they are well into being it, living it and expanding the ever evolving Metaverse. So, if you have not heard about the Metaverse, it’s time for you to elegantly crawl out of your intellectual rock and start to understand the nuances and idiosyncrasies around this metamorphosis surrounding the digital universe. All corporates and businesses need to start re-calibrating their business strategies to cater for the zoomers – who by the way form the largest consumer base presently. And the zoomers will continue to dictate their terms of engagement with all consumer ecosystems, including with the big techs. We are in the zoomer’s realm and the development of their Metaverse epoch is inevitable. In my mind, Ready Player One (and Two) in some form is already here.
Intellectual Property Protection
19th January 2022What does IP mean?
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce. IP represents property rights and is protected in law by, for example, patents, copyright, industrial design and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create.
- Corporate and M&A
- Projects and energy