Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

KhattarWong’s real estate, infrastructure and construction practice group is involved in both contentious and non contentious legal work associated with the projects, construction and real estate sectors.

With a client base spanning real estate and corporate clients, as well as construction and engineering contractors, consultants and employers, lawyers have significant experience in both domestic and international litigation, arbitration, mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

In one unresolved case this year, a firm team led by practice head Chia Ho Choon is acting in an arbitration claim of US$16 million relating to a construction project in Vietnam.

Commercial litigation lawyer Spring Tan is also leading a team advising on proposed S$180 million alterations to Singapore’s Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall.

Practice head Carla Barker is another key contact in the group.

Frasers Law Company

Frasers Law’s construction practice frequently advises numerous multinational companies. In this practice area, the firm’s go-to lawyers are Nguyen Viet Ha, Phung Thi Thanh Thao and foreign counsel Justin Gisz.

Acting for a Japanese property developer, the firm was required to transfer loans granted to this real estate company. It provided strategic advice to this client, attended meetings to negotiate on the developer’s behalf, and assisted in the drafting of relevant documentation in order to protect the legal rights of the developer. Frasers has also recently advised another large property developer on its real estate development projects in Vietnam.

KhattarWong

Singaporean firm KhattarWong houses a team of experienced local and foreign lawyers in Vietnam. With strong relationships with various Vietnamese agencies, the firm is adept at working with Vietnamese legal and regulatory bodies. As a demonstration of its international capabilities, the firm advised YKK AP Singapore on the construction contract for the Time Square Project in Ho Chi Minh City.

LCT Lawyers

LCT Lawyers has long been defined by its real estate and infrastructure practice, gaining much of its initial momentum through participation on significant development deals involving international investors and state enterprises. The highlight last year was acting for the Mapletree Viet Sin joint venture on a project to develop a commercial-residential complex in Ho Chi Minh City.

Leadco Legal Counsel

Leadco recently advised SHB-Vinacomin Insurance JSC, whose clients had acquired two floors of a large multi-use building. The firm helped SHB-Vinacomin understand the legal risks relating to the investment licence granted to the seller of the building. In another transaction, the firm advised a Vietnamese state-owned airline company on real estate asset management issues.

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe

Orrick’s work in representing agencies of the Vietnamese government, international development banks and global private equity firms is increasingly coming to the attention of peers and clients alike. In November 2010, the US firm established an association with a Vietnam-based firm LVN & Associates to help strengthen its Vietnam presence.