DFDL Legal & Tax > Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam > Firm Profile
DFDL Legal & Tax Offices
DFDL Legal & Tax
UNIT 2, 19TH FLOOR, GREEN POWER BUILDING
35 TON DUC THANG STREET, DISTRICT 1
HO CHI MINH CITY
Vietnam
UNIT 2, 19TH FLOOR, GREEN POWER BUILDING
35 TON DUC THANG STREET, DISTRICT 1
HO CHI MINH CITY
Vietnam
DFDL Legal & Tax > The Legal 500 Rankings
Vietnam > Tax Tier 1
DFDL Legal & Tax's ability to leverage the expertise of lawyers and accountants makes it a leading choice for advice on strategic planning, transfer pricing, tax compliance and customs issues. In addition to having a team in Vietnam, the firm's wider offering across the region puts it on a strong footing to assist clients with cross-border issues. Tax director Lan Hua is experienced in matters such as investment structuring, international tax planning and tax controversies. Senior tax manager Phan Thi Lieu is also a key individual. Jack Sheehan, who is based in Laos, leads the regional tax team.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
IBC Solar Energy
Liberty Global Transaction Solutions
Iatelier Vietnam Company Limited
Work highlights
- Provided Vietnamese tax analysis and tax structuring of EPC arrangement for IBC Solar Energy.
- Acted as underwriting tax counsel for Liberty Global Transaction Solutions and assisted on the buyer-side warranty and indemnity insurance policy’s negotiation and completion process.
- Advised on the Vietnamese VAT treatment of cross-border intercompany service activities forIatelier Vietnam Company.
Vietnam > Corporate and M&A Tier 2
DFDL Legal & Tax’s team undertakes corporate work across a wide range of industries, such as telecoms, renewable energy, retail, insurance and manufacturing. In addition to having an on-the-ground presence in Vietnam, the company also has other offices across Southeast Asia, making it well placed to handle cross-border deals in the region. Managing director Jérôme Buzenet leads the team, and is noted for his experience of M&A and private equity transactions. Deputy managing director Hanh Tran is also highly recommended. Kevin Hawkins joined from ZICO Law in January 2021.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Multi-country law firm that has a good combination of strong local lawyers and foreign lawyers who also have vast experience in the region, able to handle complex M&A transactions as well as assist with corporate matters, employment matters, etc.‘
‘Availability and accessibility of the partners, in particular Jérôme Buzenet and Hanh Tran, were crucial to get the deal across the line. Both are excellent at disseminating complex and sensitive matters and offer practical advice on how to address them.‘
Key clients
Azelis S.A.
Manulife Financial Asia Limited
Probus Opportunities
Aker Horizons
Goodwater Capital
Work highlights
- Assisted Azelis with acquisition of a family owned group of companies in the same business in Vietnam and the Philippines.
- Advised a Singapore-based entity of Manulife on the proposed acquisition of Aviva Group, a Vietnamese life insurance company, and the formation of a long-term bancassurance distribution partnership with Vietinbank.
- Assisted Aker Horizons with purchase of 75% stake in Mainstream Renewable Power, a Norway company which is developing a large-scale offshore wind power generation project in Vietnam.
Vietnam > Projects and energy Tier 2
Phong Anh Hoang and senior adviser Dave Seibert co-head DFDL Legal & Tax's team of energy, infrastructure and project finance experts, which has a significant foothold in the renewable energy sector, with it advising on solar, wind and waste-to-energy projects. In addition, it is also equipped to handle mining and infrastructure projects. The firm acts for clients such as project developers, sponsors, financiers and international investors, among others. Hoang is experienced in acting for both sponsors and the Vietnamese government on BOT power plant projects. Also notable is that the firm is able to leverage its cross-office network in frontier markets to handle projects with a cross-border dimension. In addition to being instructed by clients on a standalone basis, it also generates a significant volume of mandates from domestic and international law firms. Kevin Hawkins joined from ZICO Law in January 2021.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Standard Chartered Bank
Aker Horizons
Cleantech
Total Solar
ING Bank
Banpu Public Company Limited
Sunseap Commercial & Industrial Assets
Work highlights
- Advised Cleantech as project sponsors on rooftop solar deployments in Vietnam.
- Advised Grimm Power in relation to an offshore and onshore syndicated loan provided by ADB to a post-COD 257 MW solar energy plant in Vietnam.
- Advised Banpu Public Company Limited on acquiring 100% of charter capital in El-wind Mui Dinh Ltd.
Vietnam > Real estate and construction Tier 3
DFDL Legal & Tax's real estate team in Vietnam, which is jointly led by Dai Thang Huynh and Paul Volodarsky, is part of the wider regional practice group in Southeast Asia. Noted for its focus on development and construction work, it has extensive expertise in residential and commercial development projects, as well as large-scale infrastructure projects. In an ongoing mandate in the renewable energy arena, Jérôme Buzenet is leading the advice to Total Solar as project sponsor on the development of rooftop solar projects in Vietnam. Elsewhere, the firm generates work with a nexus to sectors such as retail, agriculture and hospitality. Kevin Hawkins joined from ZICO Law.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho Ltd.
The Nam Khang Corporation
Radisson Hotel Group
Total Solar
CleanTech
Work highlights
- Advised Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho on its establishment, corporate structuring, residential sale structuring, and preparation of sales contracts.
- Advising The Nam Khang Corporation on the feasibility of structuring residential real estate sales to both Vietnamese and foreign investors as part of a branded residences and hotel project in Danang.
- Advising Radisson on the legal feasibility of residential unit sales based on the proposed sale structure of the project developer of hotel resorts in Vietnam.
Vietnam > Banking and finance Tier 4
DFDL Legal & Tax is able to advise on domestic and cross-border banking and finance transactions from the Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi offices, and it is also able to leverage additional resources across the wider regional network. Vietnam managing director Jérôme Buzenet leads the team, which generates mandates from a number of financial institutions, such as ING Bank and Standard Chartered Bank. Its workload spans a multitude of areas, such as project finance, structured finance and securitisation, as well as acquisition finance and leveraged finance. In addition to being active in finance transactions, Buzenet is also sought for advice on the formation of investment funds. Senior partner Martin Desautels and PhongAnh Hoang are other names to note.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
ING Bank, Singapore Branch (ING)
Standard Chartered Bank
Work highlights
- Advised Standard Charted Bank on financing a waste-to-energy plant and waste treatment facility
- Advised ING Bank on financing of a portfolio of rooftop solar power projects across Southeast Asia.
DFDL Legal & Tax > Firm Profile
The firm: With its regional legal and tax expertise, DFDL has assisted clients in Vietnam since 1995, advising on both local and international legal and tax matters from its offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Drawing on more than 20 years of in-depth experience in the country and the Mekong Region, DFDL has built a reputation as the preferred choice of legal and tax services provider in Vietnam, advising on all aspects of investments from general regulatory matters to commercially robust, complex, and bespoke sophisticated transactions.
Providing international quality, seamlessly integrated, and relentlessly solution-oriented legal and tax services to establish, structure and protect our clients’ business interests, are key cornerstones of DFDL’s culture, approach, and strategy worldwide. Positioned as the preeminent full-service, legal and tax integrated law firm in Vietnam, DFDL has developed a reputation for technical excellence, creativity, and integrity coupled with in-depth knowledge of the local environment.
Areas of practice: Our advisers have represented leading international and Asian investors in Vietnam, including leading international and Asian financial institutions. Our involvement in major projects in Vietnam includes major power projects, large real estate projects, and mergers and acquisitions.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation, Banking, Finance & Technology, Corporate & Commercial, Employment & Labour, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate & Construction | Jerome Buzenet | jerome.buzenet@dfdl.com | |
| Compliance & Investigations, Restructuring & Insolvency | Hanh Tran | hanh.tran@dfdl.com | |
| Taxation & Accounting | Lan Hua | lan.hua@dfdl.com | |
| Energy, Mining & Infrastructure | Kevin Hawkins | kevin.hawkins@dfdl.com |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Jérôme Buzenet | Partner & Vietnam Managing Director | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Partner : 6 Advisor : 23Languages
English (fluent) Vietnamese FrenchMemberships
European Chamber of Commerce French Chamber of Commerce IAG International Advisory Group World Services Group (WSG) MarcallianceOther
Official Website : https://www.dfdl.com/locations/vietnam/Press Releases
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