Baker McKenzie > Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam > Firm Profile

Baker McKenzie > The Legal 500 Rankings

Vietnam > Data protection Tier 1

Baker McKenzie has extensive expertise in data protection and privacy issues that arise from transactions or companies’ daily operations. Practice head Tran Manh Hung in Hanoi handles a broad range of data protection and privacy issues, with particular emphasis on cybersecurity, offshore social media, digital services, data breaches and other emerging techs. Leading the TMT group, Yee Chung Seck in Ho Chi Minh City is ‘well-versed in data protection on a global scale’ and regularly advises global tech, fintech, e-commerce and social media sector clients on regulatory issues. In Ho Chi Minh City, the group also includes Thu Minh Le who is another key contact for privacy and data protection as well as TMT matters, and Huu Tuan Nguyen who also specialises in IP and tech. Huyen Minh Nguyen in Hanoi is another key tech expert in the firm.

Vietnam > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 1

With unique expertise in arbitrations in the construction and renewable energy sectors, Baker McKenzie has an excellent dispute resolution practice, which advises on all aspects of litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution and is especially well-versed in cross-border mandates. The group is experienced in arbitrations in all of the major institutions and bodies and is also active in the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre. It regularly handles arbitrations related to employment, intellectual property, investments, acquisitions and securities. Practice head Minh Tri Quach in Hanoi is a skilled arbitrator who focuses on commercial and construction disputes. Other key figures in the team include Frederick Burke in Ho Chi Minh City and Ngoc Quan Hoang in Hanoi.

Vietnam > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 1

Baker McKenzie represents a broad range of clients in all types of commercial disputes and has extensive experience defending actions brought by local government authorities. The group is particularly gifted in the construction and renewable energy sectors, and has unique knowledge advising on trade secret infringement, copyright, customs and tax cases. Described as ‘very experienced in cross-border disputes‘, practice head Minh Tri Quach in Hanoi is an accomplished litigator who focuses commercial and construction disputes, and is also knowledgeable in debt recovery, copyright, anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy issues. Also in Hanoi, Ngoc Quan Hoang regularly represents clients in civil and administrative proceedings before the Vietnamese courts and is also an expert in construction disputes as well as in consumer protection, civil and commercial contracts, corporate and trade compliance matters. The group also includes Ngoc Thuy Vy Vo in Ho Chi Minh City who specialises in dispute resolution and corporate compliance.

Vietnam > Insurance Tier 1

Baker McKenzie has a deep bench of expertise in insurance law and is particularly experienced in mandates with a cross-border element. The group advises local and international clients such as insurers, financial institutions, insurance intermediaries and regulatory authorities, and has notable expertise in high-stakes disputes as well as regulatory and transactional matters. The practice is overseen by Oanh Nguyen in Ho Chi Minh City who has a broad insurance practice with strong capabilities in cross-border issues, and ‘business-minded’ Thanh Hai Nguyen in Hanoi who advises a variety of life insurers, general insurers, brokers and agents from across the globe, and focuses on insurance, major transactions and projects matters. In Hanoi, Viet Trung Nguyen is a key contact for a variety of insurance issues, including distribution arrangements, regulatory and licensing requirements.

Vietnam > Intellectual property: international firms Tier 1

Based in Hanoi, Baker McKenzie advises a broad range of multinational and local clients across sectors on all aspects of managing, protecting and enforcing their IP portfolios. The group regularly represents high-profile trademarks and brand names on issues such as acquisition, enforcement, strategising an commercialisation, as well as on franchising and licensing agreements, and is particularly skilled in litigation and appeals. Head of the firm’s IP and tech practice, Manh Hung Tran is a key contact for international companies in both contentious and non-contentious IP issues, and has expertise in matter such as patents, designs, unfair competition, anti-counterfeiting and domain names. Hoa Tran leads the firm’s trademark practice and has extensive experience in IP issues including brand management, brand enforcement, IP advisory strategies, unfair competition, domain name disputes and copyright matters. The group also includes Dzung Pham who advises across a range of IP matters and is particularly seasoned in IP enforcement, and IP specialist Dat Nguyen.

Vietnam > Labour and employment Tier 1

With the ability to provide ‘a one-stop shop service‘ to clients, Baker McKenzie has an expert group handling all aspects of employment law, including compliance, investigations and the employment aspects of M&A, restructurings and reorganisation projects.. The group acts for a broad range of multinational corporations, financial institutions and brands across sectors, and also has notable capabilities handling matters involving collective and individual redundancies and terminations, as well as trade union issues. Leading the group from Ho Chi Minh City, Thuy Hang Nguyen is an employment and labour law expert with a diverse client base. Also in Ho Chi Minh City, Hoang Anh Nguyen has a broad practice. The group also includes employment specialist Tri Trung Pham in Hanoi who additionally focuses on compensation and immigration matters.

Vietnam > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Baker McKenzie houses ‘a team of professionals with diverse expertise’ with deep knowledge of real estate and property law. The group advises on a broad range of real estate transactions, especially ones involving logistics and industrial real estate, and has unique capabilities in the hotel, resort and tourism sectors. The team is also experienced in the legal aspects of the commercial use of land, and commercial leasing for high-profile individuals. Practice heads Yee Chung Seck and the ‘very responsive and talented’ Lan Phuong Nguyen are both experts in real estate M&A. The group also includes Phuc Thuy Hien Nguyen who is an expert in leasing, environment and construction matters, and Quyet Thang Ho in Hanoi who focuses on hotel management contracts.

Vietnam > Tax Tier 1

Baker McKenzie has a team of dedicated and experienced tax experts that advises on all aspects of global, regional and national tax issues, and is particularly knowledgeable in sectors such as consumer goods, energy, financial institutions, life sciences and industrial manufacturing and TMT. Praised for its ‘expert knowledge in the international tax field‘, the group represents a diverse range of multinational companies in matters relating to international tax planning, local tax planning, tax compliance and controversy, trade, distribution and customs, individual income tax, and tax litigation. Leading the group, the ‘exceptionally technical‘ Thanh Vinh Nguyen in Ho Chi Minh City has a broad tax practice that focuses on advising, planning and assisting multinationals and leading tech and e-commerce companies with contentious issues of tax, customs and trade matters. The group also includes Ngoc Trung Tran in Hanoi, who has a particular focus on international trade and compliance and is also experienced in customs and tax issues for a range of exports and imports, and Thanh Hoa Dao in Ho Cho Minh City, who specialises in transactional tax advisory and tax dispute work.

Vietnam > TMT Tier 1

Baker McKenzie advises leading tech and internet companies, as well as a broad range of other multijurisdictional businesses, on the full range of TMT matters. The group has particular expertise in personal date protection, privacy and cybersecurity law. The team is led by reputed TMT specialist Yee Chung Seck in Ho Chi Minh City who advises clients such as global tech, fintech, e-commerce and social media companies on a broad range of TMT matters, and is particularly skilled in work relating to M&A, while Manh Hung Tran in Hanoi, who is ‘an exceptional lawyer' and an expert in privacy and cybersecurity, handles offshore, social media, digital servicing, date breaches and incidents. In Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Minh Le advises on a broad range of privacy and date protection matters, and Huu Tuan Nguyen has a broad TMT practice. The group also includes Huyen Minh Nguyen in Hanoi who specialises in tech.

Vietnam > Banking and finance Tier 2

Baker McKenzie advises a broad range of multi-jurisdictional lenders and borrowers, such commercial, merchant and investment banks, dealers and financial intermediaries, funds and insurance companies, on a broad range of banking and finance matters. Praised for its ‘strong sense of commercial awareness', the group has particular expertise in the structuring, negotiating and documenting of large-scale transactions, corporate finance and project finance, and also has notable capabilities in the regulatory aspects of finance transactions. Leading the group, Oanh Nguyen in Ho Chi Minh City is an expert in banking and finance transactions, including project finance and financial services matters. Both based in Ho Chi Minh City, Phuong Chi Vo and Ngo Thai Ninh also are key contacts.

Vietnam > Capital markets Tier 2

Baker McKenzie has extensive experience in a broad range of debt and equity capital market transactions, and the group has particular expertise advising on mandates such as domestic and cross-border IPOs, debt issuances and programs, multi-jurisdictional acquisitions and divestitures involving public companies. The practice is spearheaded by Oanh Nguyen in Ho Chi Minh City who specialises in equity and debt capital market deals, including IPOs. The group also includes special counsel Ngo Thai Ninh in Hanoi who is experienced in a broad range of complex transactions, with emphasis on capital markets work. In Ho Chi Minh City, Phuong Chi Vo is seasoned in cross-border capital markets transactions, and Thuy Van Pham advises on transactions across a broad range of industries.

Vietnam > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

With particular skill advising on cross-border mandates, Baker McKenzie in Ho Chi Minh City focuses on large scale public and private M&A. The group has broad knowledge and ‘diversified experience’ in matters such as regulatory and licensing, foreign direct investment and private equity transactions, and advises across a wide range of sectors such as energy and infrastructure, real estate, manufacturing and healthcare. The practice is led by Yee Chung Seck, who advises on a diverse range of investments and M&A, as well as on commercial contracts and regulatory compliance, and Lan Phuong Nguyen, who is praised as ‘an excellent lawyer’. The group also includes Thi Thanh Le, who focuses on M&A and foreign direct investment into Vietnam, and Tran Yen Trang Phan, who handles a range of commercial, global business and corporate matters. Chi Hoang Yen Ngo is another key figure in the team. Christopher Milliken joined the firm from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in early 2025.

Vietnam > Projects and energy Tier 2

Distinguished by its ‘deep industry expertise, global reach, and client-focused approach', Baker McKenzie has considerable experience in power, energy and infrastructure projects. The group regularly advises clients such as developers, sponsors, investors, government bodies, engineering consultants and contractors on the development, financing, construction and operation of projects, and has particular expertise in clean and renewable energy. The group also has unique capabilities in matters involving roads, airports, power plants, stations and telecoms facilities. The team is co-led by Oanh Nguyen in Ho Chi Minh City, who is an expert in all aspects of investments and project finance matters, and Nguyen Thanh Hai in Hanoi who has extensive experience in a broad range of power, energy and infrastructure projects and praised for his ‘strong expertise, knowledge and experience in Vietnam renewable energy sector'. Other key figures in the team include Charles Magdelaine in Hanoi who focuses on finance and projects in the energy, mining and infrastructure industries, and Thi Yen Ly Le who is experienced in energy projects-related M&A.

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms

Baker McKenzie ’s arbitration practice in the Asia-Pacific region is robust, supported by highly regarded teams across key jurisdictions. In Hong Kong, Gary Seib is a key contact in a team that also includes Philipp Hanusch , who combines work as counsel and as arbitrator. In Singapore, Nandakumar Ponniya  leads a dynamic team that includes Ashish Chugh , who has a particular track record in India-related disputes. In Jakarta, Andi Kadir, who heads the firm’s Indonesian disputes practice, frequently handles complex cross-border cases. Beomsu Kim  heads the South Korean team, which also includes  Sunyoung Kim and the Canadian-qualified David Kim. In Thailand, Wynn Pakdeejit and Pisut Attakamol manage substantial commercial arbitrations, while in Vietnam, Minh Tri Quach  and Frederick Burke  bring significant experience, and the firm also has a highly-rated contentious practice in Taiwan.