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

Led by Le Net, LCT Lawyers advises several major domestic and international banks as long term clients. The development of the firm has made it a force to be reckoned with in the banking and finance sector.

A trusted adviser to Vietnam Bank for Foreign Trade (VCB), the firm represented VCB in multiple transactions last year. For example, it helped broker the first credit-linked note issuance in Vietnam on behalf of VCB based on US$800 million of government issued international bonds. A second transaction involved advising on a US$100 million credit agreement with Standard Chartered Bank under the auspices of the Treasury Department for the development of the Dung Quat Refinery.

LCT Lawyers

LCT Lawyers’ expanding practice now has a regional clientele through the firm’s relationship with Flagship Accounting, one of the leading Japanese accounting firms in Vietnam. In a landmark transaction that demonstrates the firm’s prowess in the region, it advised Toyota Tsusho Corporation on a major due diligence and M&A project in Dong Nai province and Da Lat City. The firm also advised a major international steel corporate on an M&A project in Northern Vietnam.

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.

DFDL Mekong

DFDL Mekong houses an integrated service where each practice collaborates to provide unique solutions to disputes. The firm advised an engineering and construction company on a default of payment after the main contractor completed the installation of equipment for one of the construction packages to the Dung Quat oil refinery.

LCT Lawyers

LCT Lawyers’ strong international relationships with regional firms enables its team to assist on an array of multi-jurisdictional disputes. The practice is led by partner Chau Huy Quang, who acted on behalf of PVFC Invest on the resolution of disputes with contractors and investors in one of the largest real estate projects in Hanoi.