Director – Managing Partner Vu Thi Thu Ha explains how the firm is adapting to clients’ changing needs

What do you see as the main points that differentiate [ATS LAW FIRM] from your competitors?

Focusing on our clients’ demands for an outstanding legal service model that creates value distinguishes ATS from its competitors. ATS strives to provide efficient and effective processes with cost certainty for analyzing, tracking, and reporting clients’ issues to offer the most reasonable and flexible solutions to lessen legal risks while complying with the current law and enhancing fruitful results. Our commitment to consistency, transparency, and high-quality legal expertise enables us to build long-term trust with our clients. In the long run, we aim not only to address legal challenges but also to support our clients to achieve their strategic goals in a clear and effective manner.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

Our focus for the next 12 months includes:

Corporate and M&A:

In a rapidly evolving economy, businesses - particularly emerging ones with significant growth potential - require substantial capital to support expansion. At the same time, investors with robust financial capacity which can strengthen their competitive advantage by swiftly identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities.

Vietnam’s stable and secure investment environment continues to position the country as an attractive destination for M&A activities. Both sellers and buyers increasingly seek the support of experienced law firms to conduct legal due diligence, assess legal risks, and navigate transaction complexities to ensure sound and compliant dealmaking.

Tax:

Recent large-scale corporate reorganizations and the issuance of numerous new legal instruments have added complexity to tax compliance in Vietnam. Businesses now face challenges in adapting to revised tax regulations, aligning internal structures with new requirements, and managing cross-border operations efficiently.

These developments drive demand for law firms that can provide comprehensive tax advisory services, including compliance review, tax-efficient structuring, incentives consultation, and guidance on the tax impact of corporate restructuring, investments, and international transactions. As tax-related disputes grow, so does the demand for support in areas such as tax declaration and preparation, tax incentives, tax refunds, specific tax policies, and the impact of taxation on investments, corporate restructuring, and cross-border transactions.

ATS leverages its deep expertise in domestic and international taxation to help clients navigate these changes, offering tailored tax planning, compliance support, and representation in tax disputes.

Dispute Resolution: Negotiation and Litigation:

The recent restructuring of state bodies and issuance of new regulations has heightened the risk of disputes arising from contractual, operational, or governance issues. Businesses require proactive legal support to mitigate risks and resolve conflicts while preserving commercial relationships.

Negotiation remains an effective tool for reaching mutually acceptable outcomes, particularly in complex post-restructuring scenarios. At the same time, litigation continues to be relied upon for disputes requiring enforceable resolutions. ATS is well-positioned to assist clients through both preventive strategies and active representation, ensuring disputes are addressed efficiently within the relevant legal framework.

Labour and Employment:

Human resources are vital to maintaining and growing a company's operations, as they play a critical role in meeting the high demands for technical competencies and skills. Attracting and retaining talented individuals enables businesses to address specialized workplace needs, ensuring sustainability and future development.

While restructuring occurs primarily in the public sector, businesses are indirectly affected through changes in regulations, enforcement practices, and guidance from state authorities. Companies need to review HR policies, ensure lawful workforce management, and adapt to new labour-related obligations.

ATS supports clients with regulatory compliance, recruitment and termination processes, HR policy updates, personal income tax matters, and labour dispute resolution. By providing comprehensive, tailored solutions, ATS helps businesses maintain operational stability while adapting to changes arising from broader regulatory and institutional improvements.

What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?

ATS has embraced innovation to enhance efficiency and deliver tangible benefits to clients in the context of Vietnam’s evolving legal and regulatory landscape. Recent wide-ranging restructuring across State agencies and the issuance of numerous new legal instruments have increased both opportunities and complexities for businesses. In response, ATS has strengthened internal processes, leveraging video conferencing, smart technology, and document digitization to ensure seamless communication, effective work management, and timely responses to client needs, whether in the office, at home, or on-site.

We have also standardized workflows to provide clients with clear, practical guidance on procedures affected by the changing regulatory environment, including business registration, investment licensing, and litigation processes. This approach minimizes delays, fosters better understanding of legal requirements, and enables efficient tracking of progress.

ATS’s commitment to professionalism is further demonstrated through the expansion of services and recruitment of skilled lawyers and experts across diverse fields, allowing us to deliver tailored, practical, and cost-effective solutions. By combining innovation, legal expertise, and a proactive approach to the evolving regulatory context, ATS continues to position itself as a trusted one-stop partner for corporate clients in Vietnam.

Additionally, ATS strengthens its capabilities in cross-border disputes and commercial matters through collaborations with leading international law firms in the U.S., Singapore, Japan, Korea, and beyond, ensuring clients benefit from both local insight and global expertise.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Yes, it is. Technology has become a cornerstone for bridging time and space cost-effectively, ensuring continuous and effective communication with clients. This eliminates misunderstandings and delays, as services are accessible 24/7 through various communication platforms with consistent quality.

Moreover, technology facilitates collaboration among lawyers and associates across multiple fields using tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, WhatsApp, Dropbox, Google Docs, and Slack. These practical tools enable law firms to expand their reach and serve more clients regardless of geographical boundaries, enhancing both efficiency and accessibility.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

ATS has consistently served as a strategic partner for both enterprises and investors, delivering services that go beyond traditional legal risk management in areas such as corporate governance, human resources, and labour compliance. In the current environment, marked by wide-ranging restructuring of state agencies and the issuance of numerous new legal instruments, businesses face increasing complexity and uncertainty, making proactive legal guidance more critical than ever.

By understanding clients’ financial and operational challenges, ATS has helped bridge the gap between businesses and investors, connecting clients with qualified investors interested in exploring opportunities in Vietnam. Many of these introductions have led to successful cross-border M&A transactions, helping clients grow and optimize their businesses.

The firm offers comprehensive M&A services, which include conducting due diligence, advising on cost and procedural efficiency, and assisting with the preparation and execution of merger, consolidation, and share purchase agreements.

In addition to these legal services, ATS provides monthly bulletins to clients sent via email. These bulletins are made by the firm's experienced lawyers and offer timely updates on new regulations as well as predictive insights into crucial issues enterprises should consider in the current business climate.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

ATS Lawyers recognizes the growing need for proactive legal assistance as clients navigate the risks posed by a fast-evolving economic landscape. In response, ATS has prioritized strengthening its role as a trusted legal partner, building enduring relationships, and becoming the firm of choice for clients seeking reliable  and high-quality legal services.

With a clear vision of becoming a top-tier legal services provider both domestically and internationally, ATS is committed to maintaining a specialized team in key practice areas such as Corporate and M&A, Taxation, Litigation, Labour and Employment, and Commercial law. This focus ensures expert guidance tailored to clients’ challenges, whether arising from Vietnam’s evolving regulatory landscape, state agency restructuring, or cross-border business operations.

ATS’s proven ability to manage complex multinational legal matters independently, coupled with its strong network of international law firm collaborations, positions the firm as a key player in the global legal community. Over the next three years, ATS aims to combine deep local insight with international expertise, delivering well-coordinated, practical, and strategic solutions that enable clients to operate confidently and successfully in both domestic and global markets.