Lexcomm Vietnam LLC > HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam > Firm Profile

Lexcomm Vietnam LLC
UNITS 2105-07, LEVEL 21
SAIGON TRADE CENTER, 37 TON DUC THANG STREET
DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
Vietnam

Vietnam > Projects and energy Tier 1

Energy, project finance and infrastructure are key ares of focus for Lexcomm Vietnam LLC. More specifically, the team acts for a broad range of clients on LNG and upstream oil and gas projects, as well as renewable energy, petrochemicals and mining and metals. It also supports clients on the regulatory issues of wind and solar energy projects, in addition to handling project finance matters. ‘Standout’ managing partner Pham Ba Linh is based in Ho Chi Minh City and jointly leads the practice alongside Hanoi-based Nguyen Viet Ha. Linh has experience in PPPs and advises international banks, sponsors, investors and private equity and infrastructure funds, while Ha handles cross-border energy and infrastructure transactions.

Practice head(s):

Pham Ba Linh; Nguyen Viet Ha

Testimonials

‘Good industry knowledge and excellent responsiveness.’

‘Pham Ba Linh is impressive and commercially savvy.’

‘Local knowledge, great sector experience, and good value-for-money.’

‘Pham Ba Linh understands the energy sector and provides excellent local knowledge.’

‘The team is responsive and has great knowledge in oil and gas, energy, M&A, and banking.’

‘Pham Ba Linh provides a partner-led service.’

‘They are quick and responsive.’

‘Pham Ba Linh is a standout lawyer.’

Key clients

Alcoa

BlackRock Real Assets

BlackRock Renewable Energy Group

The Boeing Company

PTT Global Chemical

Thai Oil Public Company Limited

SK ecoplant Co., Ltd.

BCPG Public Company Limited

Iberdrola España Renovables

Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.

AC Renewables International Pte. Ltd.

Eni Vietnam B.V.

Mitsubishi Corporation

Diamond Gas International

New Fortress Energy

Alstom Transport

POSCO Engineering & Construction

Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC

Woodside Energy

Hibiscus Petroleum

Sojitz Corporation

Dubai Ports (DP) World

Korean National Oil Corporation

Korea Electric Power Corporation

Premier Oil Vietnam Offshore B.V.

Repsol Vietnam

Dragon Capital

Nexif Energy

Work highlights

  • Advising Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad in relation to the Vietnam law aspects of its $212.5m high-profile strategic acquisition of Repsol upstream oil and gas assets located offshore Malaysia and Vietnam.
  • Advising NSRP on highly complex project financing issues for a $9bn landmark Vietnam oil refinery project.
  • Advising AC Energy in relation to its $165m high-profile strategic acquisition of 49% interest in a 837 MW Vietnam solar platform of Super Energy.

Vietnam > TMT Tier 1

Lexcomm Vietnam LLC has a strong TMT offering on both the contentious and non-contentious side. In the telecoms arena, areas of focus for the group include mobile, satellite, VPN, NGN, terrestrial broadcasting, cable TV and the internet, advising both users and service providers in transactions and disputes. The team also has expertise in the television and film space. Nguyen Viet Ha is practice head with substantial experience in the telecoms sector. Tran Thanh Son and Hoang Le Quan are also key contacts in the team.

Practice head(s):

Nguyen Viet Ha

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Uber

Microsoft

British Broadcasting Corporation

Robert Bosch

Xiaomi

GoBear

Pitu

Go-Jek

Go-Viet

Temasek

Work highlights

  • Advising in the economic concentration case before The Vietnam Competition Council.
  • Advising Microsoft on Vietnam regulatory approvals for online programmes.
  • Advising a variety of large multinational corporations on complex Vietnam data protection and privacy regulations.

Vietnam > Banking and finance Tier 3

Lexcomm Vietnam LLC’s banking and finance practice supports lenders, arrangers and borrowers on debt and equity financings based in Vietnam, and on those with a cross-border element too. Financing Greenfield projects is a key area of focus for the team, in addition to asset, leveraged and acquisition finance transactions. Managing partner Pham Ba Linh heads the practice and has considerable expertise in energy projects.

Practice head(s):

Pham Ba Linh

Key clients

HSBC

BNP Paribas

MUFG Bank

UBS

ING Bank

ABN AMRO BANK

Standard Chartered Bank

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Natixis

Societe Generale

UniCredit Bank AG

Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC

Work highlights

  • Advising NSRP on project financing issues for a $9bn landmark Vietnam oil refinery project.
  • Advising BNP Paribas and a group of eight international banks in relation to the Vietnam law aspects of a complex refinancing of a $300m multi-tranche syndicated secured borrowing base facility.
  • Advising ING Bank on highly complex Vietnam law issues relating to structured trade and commodity finance involving the production, export, warehousing and sale and purchase of commodities.

Vietnam > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Lexcomm Vietnam LLC’s corporate and M&A team is adept at advising international clients on acquiring Vietnamese targets. The group’s offering also extends to joint ventures and corporate formation and reorganisation. Its client roster includes sellers, buyers financial investors and fund managers. Energy and infrastructure are areas of strength for Nguyen Viet Ha, who jointly leads the team alongside Luong Van Trung, who advises on the transactional and contentious side of M&A mandates.

Practice head(s):

Nguyen Viet Ha; Luong Van Trung

Other key lawyers:

Nguyen Hong Hai

Testimonials

‘They are a responsive team and provide organised answers to queries.’

‘Their particular strengths are responsiveness, commerciality, good client service, and good negotiation skills.’

‘Nguyen Viet Ha is smart, aggressive and commercially oriented. Ha is very good at negotiation.’

Key clients

Viet Nam Australia International Education Corporation

Mutosi Group Joint Stock Company

Nexif Energy Management Pte Ltd

Noibai Express and Trading Joint Stock Company

TMS Group

Inspired Education Holdings Limited

Just Kids Education and Entertainment Joint Stock

Company

Edufit Education Joint Stock Company

Long Thanh Golf Investment and Trading Joint Stock

Company

An Phat Holdings

Qiming Venture Partners

Work highlights

  • Advising Nexif Energy on the structuring and documentation of the Vietnam hydropower acquisition.
  • Advising key individual shareholders of VAS to successfully divest their shares to a subsidiary of US-based private equity firm TPG Capital.
  • Advising Mutosi on $14m investment from a strategic investor.

Vietnam > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3

The experienced Luong Van Trung leads the arbitration practice at Lexcomm Vietnam LLC and is also co-head of the corporate and M&A team; Trung has a focus on disputes involving investment, finance, real estate, construction, corporate and commercial matters. Nguyen Viet Ha is also a key name for arbitration instructions, co-leading the M&A team as well as the TMT group.

Practice head(s):

Luong Van Trung

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Lexcomm is a very good law firm. They are very dedicated and supportive. Their particular strengths are responsiveness, commerciality, and good client service.’

‘The team is high quality – each member of the team has a good understanding of arbitration law and practice. In terms of Vietnamese arbitration practice, it is one of the strongest team in Vietnam with lots of practical experience.’

‘The team is led by Luong Van Trung, a highly regarded arbitration practitioner in Vietnam who is most experienced with VIAC both as counsel and arbitrator. Trung is not only experienced in domestic arbitration, but he also has an English law background and has done some international arbitrations under SIAC rules. He is known as very fast and innovative counsel who always deals with the clients’ matters professionally and effectively.’

‘Nguyen Viet Ha and Luong Van Trung are perfect lawyers with wide knowledge, lots of experience.’

Key clients

WHA Utilities and Power Public Company Limited

Uber Vietnam Limited and Uber B.V.

R & R Fitness Holding LTD

Thien Nam Offshore Service Joint Stock Company

Work highlights

  • Advising a Thai utilities and power service provider on a high-value arbitration case dealing with the post-completion covenants and the exercise of put option under the share purchase agreement.
  • Acting for Vietnamese Respondents in a $38m dispute at SIAC regarding an alleged breach of Share Purchase Agreement, Shareholders’ Agreement and Company Manager’s Duty.
  • Advising a State-owned electricity enterprise on a large dispute in Vietnam arising out of coal supply agreements.

Vietnam > Labour and employment Tier 3

Lexcomm Vietnam LLC’s team is adept at advising local companies and international corporates on a wide range of labour matters, from representing clients in whistle-blowing investigations and other labour-related disputes, to handling terminations, restructurings and internal governance policies. Nguyen Hong Hai leads the practice group.

Practice head(s):

Nguyen Hong Hai

Key clients

EDP Renováveis S.A.

Cushman & Wakefield

Dragonfly Education Group

Uber Vietnam Limited and Uber B.V.

Harvey Nash

Ariston Thermo Group

Nissan Automotive Technology

Vietnam Australia International School

Sports Engineering and Recreation Asia Ltd

Coherent Service Vietnam Limited Liability Company

Work highlights

  • Advising 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.
  • Assisting Cushman and Wakefield in a range of employment issues about non-renewal of expatriate manager’s employment and related post-termination issues.
  • Assisting Sera in litigation against the former manager’s unreasonable claim for incentive and commission.

The firm: Lexcomm Vietnam LLC is a Vietnam-based preeminent full-service commercial law firm with market-leading practices and our Vietnam offices are placed strategically in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. We consistently rank among Vietnam’s top law firms in prestigious legal directories The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Chambers Asia Pacific, IFLR1000 and Benchmark Litigation.

Our award-winning, technically skilled Vietnam qualified transactional and disputes lawyers are in the vanguard of legal developments to assist clients to navigate through Vietnam regulatory complexities with exceptional credentials.

Our clients include, among others, Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC, Woodside Energy, Diamond Gas International (DGI), BlackRock, Premier Oil Vietnam, Repsol Vietnam, Rosneft Vietnam, Eni Vietnam, Mubadala Petroleum, Korean National Oil Corporation (KNOC), Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Schlumberger, Mitsubishi Corporation, Sojitz Corporation, AC Energy, Nexif Energy, Dubai Ports (DP) World, Climate Investor One (CIO), Alstom Transport, POSCO Engineering & Construction, Dragon Capital, BNP Paribas, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, MUFG Bank, ING Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).

For further information, please visit www.lexcommvn.com

Types of work undertaken: Lexcomm Vietnam LLC advises diverse Vietnam and international clients on a variety of complex, cross-border and high-profile strategic transactions across the full spectrum of practice areas, including: banking and finance, capital markets, energy and natural resources, projects and infrastructure, real estate and construction, restructuring and insolvency, corporate and M&As, compliance and regulatory, telecoms, media and technology (TMT), dispute resolution, tax, employment and benefits, and intellectual property.

Banking and finance: Banking and finance has been a key area of focus and growth at Lexcomm with a considerable breadth of client offering which attracts an array of instructions on both the sponsor and lender side. We represent borrowers, arrangers and lenders on a broad range of complex debt funding structures, limited and non-recourse financings, multi-tranched, multi-currency syndicated loan facilities, corporate and commercial lending, financial services and general bank regulatory issues.

Capital markets: Our capital markets team has unparalleled experience of acting for issuers and underwriters on all types of Vietnam related securities offerings across multiple industries. We have extensive experience in relation to the structuring and negotiation of complex international and domestic debt and equity offerings, confirming our status as a go-to law firm for complex capital markets matters.

Energy, project finance and infrastructure: The firm is widely recognised in Vietnam as a market leader in energy, project finance and infrastructure, which is a matter of strategic focus for us. We house a heavyweight practice, which particularly stands out for its very strong depth of practice and industry knowledge with the firm at the forefront of a number of major projects. Our dedicated group of specialist energy and project finance lawyers is one of the most experienced in the Vietnam market with an impressive client list that includes some of the best-known names in the industry.

Real estate and construction: Lexcomm has a top-tier practice for real estate and construction, which draws on the firm’s expertise across a range of disciplines to advise on the full life cycle of construction projects. We offer a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters, including the procurement strategies and structures, tender processes, joint venture related issues, allocation of complex construction risks, project documentation and contract administration, professional appointments and liabilities, adjudication and dispute resolution.

Telecoms, media and technology: We are also leading the pack in the telecoms, media and technology (TMT) offering in Vietnam, handling the full spectrum of IT and telecoms-related issues, advising both users and service providers in transactions and disputes. Our lawyers live and breathe TMT and offer broad knowledge and insights into sector drivers which have been continuously developed through years of deep involvement in various telecoms projects in Vietnam.

Litigation and dispute resolution: Lexcomm’s dispute resolution team is of highly experienced disputes lawyers in court and arbitral proceedings and arbitrators in prestigious arbitration centres, who are able to provide an economically practical dispute resolution alternatives and strategies. Our disputes team has comprehensive knowledge and experience in the dispute resolutions at various forums and jurisdictions. This strength assists our clients in their choice of forum and dispute resolution strategies as well as effective management of the proceedings for the most fair and equitable outcomes.

Corporate and M&A: Lexcomm has a first-class reputation for complex corporate matters as well as landmark M&A work where it has an incredibly deep bench of experienced partners. The firm covers just about every corner of the Vietnam market, being regularly engaged in large and complex multi-jurisdictional transactions to advise international corporates seeking to acquire Vietnam target companies.

Restructuring and insolvency: Our restructuring and insolvency practice has seen significant growth, offering exceptional Vietnam market knowledge built from a broad client base and extensive experience on big-ticket, cross-border deals. We advise on a full range of contentious and non-contentious issues, including debt restructuring and rescheduling, debt to equity swaps and other forms of capital restructuring, insolvencies and enforcement issues.

Employment: Lexcomm’s employment and benefits team has in-depth knowledge and experience on employment practice to offer clients, from international corporations to local individual, meticulous and comprehensive services surrounding employment, occupation and training, benefits and all labor-related matters.

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Banking and finance Pham Ba Linhlinh.pham@lexcommvn.com+84 28 39365018‬
Capital markets Luong Van Trungtrung.luong@lexcommvn.com+84 28 39365018‬
Energy and natural resources Pham Ba Linhlinh.pham@lexcommvn.com+84 28 39365018‬
Energy and natural resources Nguyen Viet Haha.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Projects and infrastructure Pham Ba Linhlinh.pham@lexcommvn.com+84 28 39365018‬
Real estate and construction Luong Van Trungtrung.luong@lexcommvn.com+84 28 39365018‬
Real estate and construction Nguyen Viet Haha.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Restructuring and insolvency Luong Van Trungtrung.luong@lexcommvn.com+84 28 39365018‬
Restructuring and insolvency Nguyen Hong Haihai.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Corporate and M&A Nguyen Viet Haha.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Corporate and M&A Luong Van Trungtrung.luong@lexcommvn.com+84 28 39365018‬
Corporate and M&A Nguyen Hong Haihai.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Compliance and regulatory Nguyen Hong Haihai.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Telecoms, media and technology Nguyen Viet Haha.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Telecoms, media and technology Nguyen Hong Haihai.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Dispute resolution Luong Van Trungtrung.luong@lexcommvn.com+84 28 39365018‬
Dispute resolution Nguyen Viet Haha.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Tax Pham Ba Linhlinh.pham@lexcommvn.com+84 28 39365018‬
Employment and benefits Nguyen Hong Haihai.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
Intellectual property Nguyen Viet Haha.nguyen@lexcommvn.com+84 24 39710888‬
PhotoNamePositionProfile
Pham Ba Linh photo Pham Ba LinhManaging Partner and Head of Energy, Project Finance and Infrastructure
Nguyen Hong Hai photo Nguyen Hong HaiPartner, Head of Renewable Energy, Compliance, Corporate Governance and Employment
Luong Van Trung photo Luong Van TrungPartner, Co-Head of Corporate and M&A and Head of International Arbitration
Nguyen Viet Ha photo Nguyen Viet HaPartner, Co-Head of Corporate and M&A and Head of Telecoms, Media and…
Number of lawyers : 30
English
Vietnamese
The International Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association
The Inter-Pacific Bar Association
The Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN)
The Infrastructure Working Group of the Vietnam Business Forum
The AmCham Energy Committee