Vietnam Law Firm Awards

Asia Business Law Journal reveals the country’s top law firms. Byung Jin Park and Miran Lim report

The ascendence of Vietnam’s economy is becoming a key driver of growth for Vietnamese law firms. The economy grew 7% in 2024, making it the top performing Asean country. Foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 4.42% compared to the previous year, reaching USD38.2 billion, contributing to the growth of cross-border work for Vietnamese law firms.

One practice area in Vietnam that is increasingly attractive to foreign investors is energy and infrastructure. Vietnam’s population exceeded 100 million in 2023 and, driven by its robust economic growth, power consumption across factories, businesses and households in the country is rising to some of the highest levels in Asia.

The Vietnamese government is proactively addressing this by implementing various laws and regulations to facilitate a transition to green energy. As a result, law firms in Vietnam are witnessing considerable interest from sponsors and financiers in renewable energy projects.

As Vietnam prepares for continued economic growth, law firms are racing to strengthen their manpower and presence in Vietnam. For example, Japanese firm Atsumi & Sakai launched its first Southeast Asia office in Ho Chi Minh City in July 2024, while Dentons LuatViet expanded its capabilities in Vietnam by merging with local law firm EPLegal. French international firm LPA Law also expanded its Vietnamese footprint by integrating with APFL Partners Vietnam in March.

After surpassing market expectations with its economic growth last year, Vietnam is poised for 2025 to be pivotal for both its economy and legal sector. In February, the Vietnamese government raised its 2025 economic growth target from 6.5% to 8%. Achieving this goal would require stable economic policies, diversification of export markets, increased FDI and the development of high-tech industries. Vietnamese law firms are expected to play a crucial role in this process.

In light of Vietnam’s rise as an emerging legal market, Asia Business Law Journal presents the Vietnam Law Firm Awards 2025 to recognise the country’s best for the past year. We have identified four law firms that have proven to be the best of the best in the country, one new firm to watch and winners in 26 other categories, each of equal standing.

In the past 25 years, Vietnam’s economy has achieved remarkable growth and emerged as a robust regional force. Founded in 1999, YKVN has grown alongside Vietnam’s transformation. Notably, in the past 12 months, its lawyers have handled several landmark transactions and cases, earning the prestigious Law Firm of the Year Award.

YKVN advised Masan Group, a leading Vietnamese corporation in the retail sector, on Bain Capital’s USD250 million investment in the form of convertible dividend preference shares. The deal was closed in April 2024, with the group stating in its official announcement that the investment will bolster Masan’s financial reserves.

YKVN advised Masan Group once again in the latter half of 2024, this time on acquiring an additional 7.1% stake in WinCommerce from South Korean conglomerate SK Group for USD200 million. SK Group, which had been making efforts to reduce the number of its affiliates and streamline non-core businesses, was able to rebalance its portfolio through this transaction.

YKVN has served as a trusted legal adviser not only to domestic clients but also to international clients in the past 12 months. The firm acted as Vietnamese counsel to Japan-based JFE Steel Corporation on merger control matters in regard to its proposed joint venture (JV) with India-based JSW Steel. The JV will involve a USD670 million investment to produce grain-oriented electrical steel in India, and the full production will start in fiscal 2027.

Ta Nguyet Anh, the chief investment officer at Vingroup, tells Asia Business Law Journal that working with YKVN has been a privilege for them. “The team’s expertise, their level of dedication and thoughtfulness have allowed the transaction to proceed expediently.”

Along with YKVN, law firms VILAF, Frasers Law Company and Baker McKenzie were selected as the best overall law firms. VILAF won awards in 15 categories, just one less than YKVN, while Frasers Law and Baker McKenzie scored in 10 and eight categories, respectively.

As one of Vietnam’s largest law firms, with 95 lawyers including 16 partners, VILAF had a busy year delivering comprehensive legal services across a diverse range of practice areas including banking and finance, and capital markets.

Most notably, the full-service law firm advised Impact Energy Asia Development and Monsoon Wind Power Company in relation to the power purchase agreement and financing of a 600MW wind power project in Laos, designed to sell electricity from Laos to EVN, the state-owned power company in Vietnam. The USD950 million Monsoon Wind Power project, which includes a 22-kilometre transmission line spanning the Vietnam-Laos border, is in its final stages of construction and will soon begin exporting electricity to Vietnam.

Recently, VILAF advised Vinpearl JSC, the hospitality subsidiary of Vietnam’s conglomerate Vingroup, on the issuance of USD150 million worth of five-year exchangeable bonds in Singapore, which could be converted into shares of its parent company, Vingroup. Local media pointed out that this issuance was one of the very few deals secured by Vietnamese enterprises to raise international bonds in recent times.

Tan Zhi Ming, a partner at Shook Lin & Bok based in Singapore, recounts his experience to Asia Business Law Journal of working with VILAF and its managing partner Duyen Ha Vo on the financing of the largest healthcare acquisition in Southeast Asia since 2020 where the purchase price was in excess of USD500 million.

“Duyen and her team’s knowledge and prompt response provided much-appreciated support in navigating the unique aspects of Vietnamese law. Their experience in taking security over real estate and addressing regulatory issues was instrumental to the transaction.”

Established in 2004 by founding managing partner Mark Fraser, Frasers Law Company is the first law firm to be licensed by the Ministry of Justice in Vietnam with a foreign law company licence. As a full-service law firm, Frasers Law has frequently won mandates from international clients for cross-border transactions in the past 12 months.

The firm advised an international power management company in establishing a subsidiary and an electrical equipment manufacturing facility in Vietnam, providing extensive legal support in leasing industrial park premises. Beyond real estate matters, Frasers Law advised on export-processing enterprise qualifications, tax incentives, customs regulations, corporate governance structures and employment compliance, ensuring a seamless post-establishment transition.

The firm is assisting a Singapore-based investor in expanding into Vietnam’s data centre market by acquiring two data centre companies – one greyfield and one greenfield. Frasers Law structured and facilitated two joint ventures, ensuring adherence to Vietnam’s foreign investment and enterprise laws, while addressing ownership limitations, licensing obligations and governance requirements.

Michael Lawson, a partner at King & Wood Mallesons in Singapore, speaks highly of the firm. “We have worked with the team at Frasers Law over many years and Mark Fraser and his team are one of our go-to firms in Vietnam for M&A, disputes, data protection, energy and projects matters. The Frasers team provides quality, responsive client advice and is a great friend of our firm.”

Being one of the biggest and most successful international law firms in the country, Baker McKenzie Vietnam has been serving both international and Vietnamese clients for more than three decades. In the past 12 months, a number of domestic and international companies sought the services of Baker McKenzie Vietnam, with Hung Yen Hospitality being one of them.

Hung Yen Hospitality, a subsidiary of Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corporation, announced a strategic collaboration with The Trump Organisation in October last year. The venture will focus on developing five-star hotels, championship-style golf courses, luxurious residential estates and other amenities in Vietnam.

Baker McKenzie Vietnam also successfully facilitated the initial phase of Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank’s USD225 million financing package, including Vietnam’s first blue bonds, to support sustainable ocean and water- related economic activities. The financing package comprised USD150 million from the International Finance Corporation and USD75 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Dilinh Legal is a corporate boutique law firm based in Ho Chi Minh City, founded in 2010 by Hoang Diep, a Vietnamese A-List lawyer for the past four years. Before establishing Dilinh Legal, Hoang worked as a banking and finance associate at the Ho Chi Minh City office of Mayer Brown.

Despite being a boutique firm, Dilinh Legal, led by Hoang, has showcased strong capabilities in cross-border matters, earning the distinction of being named the Best Boutique Law Firm. Notably, Hoang and her team acted as Vietnamese competition counsel for Mabuchi Motor during its acquisition of Ob Kogyo, a company specialising in high-precision plastic gears, securing competition clearance from the Vietnamese competition authorities.

The firm represented the investment promotion arm of the South Carolina government, Southern Carolina Alliance, in its negotiation with a Vietnamese investor on a nine-figure USD investment project located in Allendale, South Carolina.

In addition, partner Michael Lee successfully presided over a Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) arbitration tribunal, settling a dispute concerning a mining project in Southeast Asia. The multi-year arbitration involved a nine-figure US dollar amount, making it one of the most successful high-value arbitration cases in VIAC history.

Leveraging its strong cross-border capabilities, Dilinh Legal serves a diverse clientele both domestically and internationally. Its roster of legacy clients includes Phu My Hung Group, Fruit of the Loom, Henkel, Jones & Vining, Ipsen Pharma and Mayoly Pharma, while it is actively engaging new clients such as Mundipharma, DeRUCCI and Wayfair.

Other award highlights

The category of Inbound investment drew some interesting nominations, with Vietnam’s emergence as a vibrant and dynamic market leading to a steady upsurge in foreign direct investment. Prominent law firms supported this growth, and one of those law firms is Dentons LuatViet, which was formed in 2022 as a combination of global law firm Dentons and Vietnamese law firm LuatViet.

In the past 12 months, Dentons Luat- Viet has advised on a number of significant inbound investment transactions, guiding global companies through the intricacies of the Vietnamese business environment.

The firm acted as local counsel to Apex Fund Services on market entry into Vietnam, advising on the tax-efficient and effective legal structure to enter a project on local regulations. The firm also played a pivotal role in supporting the cross-border investments for Singapore’s healthcare investor, August Global Partners.

Syed Hafez, general counsel at ADA, a digital data marketing company headquartered in Singapore and Malaysia, says: “Dentons LuatViet’s local law knowledge and on-the-ground familiarity was key for us in an M&A deal we closed recently.

“In better understanding our primary objectives and pain points, they helped us to better navigate, in a practical manner, the intricacies of the legal framework in Vietnam as well as the practices and processes of government bodies and regulators.”

Asia Counsel has been providing clients with strategic legal advice and transactional support to navigate the dynamic Vietnamese market as well. In 2025, the firm acted as a legal adviser to VinBrain, an AI-focused company located in Hanoi, on the sale of 100% of its shares to NVIDIA Corporation. In addition, the firm advised TNB Aura Fund II on their investment in TechCoop, a technology-enabled agricultural B2B platform in Vietnam, as part of a USD70 million series A funding round.

Asia Counsel’s inbound investment activities have been particularly robust in the energy sector. In one notable deal, the firm secured a USD50 million loan portfolio guarantee from the US International Development Finance Corporation for a private debt fund. Asia Counsel also provided advisory services on a USD31 million facility arranged by a leading Thai bank for the development of a 49.608MW solar power plant in Quang Ngai province.

The LMP Lawyers team provides legal guidance to foreign investors engaging in investment activities in Vietnam. In the past 12 months, the firm has been instrumental in facilitating these investments, demonstrating its exceptional credentials as an award-winning law firm.

LMP Lawyers assisted Rikkeisoft in the 20% stake acquisition by Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, which was announced in November 2024. LMP provided guidance to Blue Sky Travel regarding the share transfer to a multinational corporation. As part of these transactions, LMP Lawyers successfully obtained M&A approval from the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) and ensured compliance with notification requirements regarding foreign shareholder status.

LMP Lawyers also advised a foreign investor on acquiring equity and contributing capital to a renowned F&B company in Vietnam. This transaction required a strategic legal approach due to the food and beverage sector’s complex regulatory landscape, particularly regarding foreign ownership restrictions, conditional business lines and licensing requirements under WTO commitments and Vietnamese laws.

The firm provided end-to-end legal support, including structuring the investment, obtaining M&A approval from the DPI, notification of foreign shareholders’ status and securing all necessary regulatory approvals.

Cathy Nguyen Phi, general director at Blue Sky Travel, the Vietnamese partner of American Express Global Business Travel, shares her experience working with LMP Lawyers on an M&A project: “This transaction involved a highly complex negotiation and closing process that spanned over 30 months,” she says.

“Throughout this extended journey, the LMP team remained consistently engaged, responsive and fully committed to supporting us at every stage. Their dedication never wavered, even as the deal evolved over time and presented new challenges.”

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remains another dynamic practice area in which firms fiercely compete for awards. With offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, A&O Shearman has firmly established itself as one of the leading law firms in the country, especially in corporate and M&A matters.

Recently, the firm advised VinAI Artificial Intelligence Application and Research Joint Stock Company and its shareholders on the successful sale of its research and generative artificial intelligence (AI) business to Qualcomm Technologies.

VinAi was a leading AI research company in Vietnam, being a part of the Vingroup, while Qualcomm is a global leader in wireless technology innovation and 5G development.

The deal team was led by the Vietnam managing partner Tina LeDinh, who has more than 15 years of experience in Vietnam, advising on M&A, private equity, joint ventures and international capital markets. Partners from the firm’s San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Singapore offices also took part in the deal, underscoring this international firm’s ability to manage cross-border transactions.

Established in 2014 through an alliance between Vietnam’s LCT Lawyers and Singapore’s Rajah & Tann, the M&A practice at Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers has maintained a prominent position in Vietnam, spanning a wide range of industries. In the past 12 months, the firm remained active in multibillion-dollar transactions, including the USD1.1 billion acquisition of PropertyGuru by EQT Partners Asia.

With networks across Asia, the firm experienced a busy year handling cross-border transactions. For example, the firm advised on the USD70 million acquisition of an 85.38% stake in Goldsun Focus Media Joint Stock Company, one of Vietnam’s leading indoor advertising companies, by Focus Media Group, a major global elevator media group headquartered in China. In addition, Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers also advised on a USD165 million industrial land acquisition in Nghe An province by a Chinese manufacturing company.

Vietnam’s prominent law firms continue to reshape the landscape in our Technology, media and telecoms (TMT) category, too. One of them is DNA Vietnam, which was founded in 2020 by Dang Thanh Son and Dang Chi Lieu, former partners at Baker McKenzie Vietnam, focusing on TMT, fintech and other corporate matters. In the past 12 months, the firm has been busy with clients frequently seeking legal expertise on data privacy, online payments, takedown requests and legal reviews of hardware and software supply contracts.

Since establishing its Vietnam office in 1992, regional law firm Tilleke & Gibbins has remained active in the country. The firm’s TMT practice, led by Hanoi-based counsel Waewpen Piemwichai, is highly regarded for providing top-tier legal services to both domestic and international companies facing new technology issues.

The firm has been providing legal counsel to prominent multinational technology companies on issues related to data privacy, cybersecurity, telecoms and IT network services, online streaming and broadcasting, cloud computing, e-commerce, and advertising.

Although the firm has long been a foremost advocate for major domestic and international players in Vietnam’s TMT industries, the team continuously monitors new laws and regulations to ensure that clients receive the most up-to-date and practical advice. Notably, the firm is managing data privacy and protection matters across a diverse range of industry sectors, particularly following the enactment of Vietnam’s landmark Personal Data Protection Decree (PDPD) in July 2023.

Vietnam’s fintech sector is rapidly evolving with increased regulatory scrutiny on e-wallets, peer-to-peer lending and cryptocurrency transactions. As a response to this, several prominent law firms are grasping opportunities and featured in our Fintech category.

In the past 12 months, ASL Law provided comprehensive regulatory guidance to a foreign fintech company entering the Vietnamese market, navigating an increasingly complex financial technology landscape.

The engagement involved advising on licensing procedures with the State Bank of Vietnam, ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering regulations, and structuring digital payment operations in line with Decree 101 on non-cash payments. By providing tailored legal solutions and liaising with regulatory authorities, ASL Law enabled the client to establish a fully compliant and scalable fintech operation in Vietnam, paving the way for long-term growth and market expansion.

Another example is Indochine Counsel. The firm provided legal support to a fintech client in Singapore regarding the review and enhancement of their current lending business model. The project involved a comprehensive assessment of the client’s fee structure model, which includes loan principal, interest components (service fees and daily interest) and potential late payment interest rates.

Indochine Counsel analysed these elements in light of Vietnam’s anti-usury regulations and consumer protection laws to identify potential risks and ensure compliance with applicable legal standards. By providing actionable guidance, the firm assisted the Singaporean client in strengthening their legal and operational framework, enabling them to handle the complex regulatory environment and position themselves for sustainable growth in Vietnam’s fintech market.

Aviation was another active category for our awards this past year, and ANHISA has rapidly grown to become one of the leading law firms in the sector in Vietnam, despite its short history of five years. The firm’s managing partner, Dang Viet Anh, who is renowned for his more than 20 years of experience in aviation, shipping and insurance, has been recognised on Asia Business Law Journal’s A-List in both 2023 and 2024.

Under Dang’s leadership, ANHISA has handled some of the most important aviation cases in the country. For instance, the firm is actively involved in resolving an aviation logistics dispute concerning storage charges in terminal warehouses, where they provided counsel to the freight forwarder. Their client was tasked with transporting shipments of winter windproof jackets from Vietnam to Hungary, with Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines serving as the actual carriers.

The failure of the actual shipper and consignee under the House Airway Bill to settle the client’s lawful air freight charges led to the client withholding the release of shipments stored in terminal warehouses. As the dispute intensified, storage fees accumulated, exceeding USD500,000. ANHISA’s lawyers played a proactive role in negotiating with the terminal warehouses, successfully facilitating the release of the goods and significantly reducing the excessive storage fees.

Founded as Independents Legal Consultants in 1997, Dzungsrt & Associates has built a reputation in the fields of shipping and ADR. However, the firm has recently excelled in the aviation sector as well, earning this prestigious award.

In the aviation sector, Dzungsrt & Associates has been engaged with the VietJet case, a notable cross-border legal matter involving a dispute over an aircraft lease contract valued at more than GBP155 million (USD197.7 million).

The dispute spans multiple jurisdictions including the High Court of England, where the primary conflict is addressed, and the firm is acting as co-counsel on Vietnamese matters. The firm is also providing counsel on conspiracy claims filed against VietJet and its shareholders in the Singapore court, as well as administrative proceedings initiated by VietJet’s shareholders in the Vietnamese court.

Dzungsrt & Associates is also serving as counsel to an airline in a high-stakes lawsuit in Vietnamese courts concerning an aircraft lease contract valued at more than USD14 million. The case revolves around the termination of the lease contract, with the foreign lessor claiming outstanding rent and damages resulting from the contract’s termination. The case is being handled by partner Tran Ha Han, and Dzungsrt & Associates is navigating intricate legal challenges governed by both English and Vietnamese law.

Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing energy developers, investors and producers in Southeast Asia for several years, and in our Energy & natural resources category a number of law firms assisted in major energy projects.

DFDL in Vietnam has a strong projects and energy team working from general to complex transactional advice, both domestically and cross-border in the region. Most recently, the firm assisted Ramboll on conducting legal due diligence and regulatory advice in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines for a recent acquisition of K2 Management, a global consulting firm specialising in wind and solar energy. This major transaction strengthens Ramboll’s global wind division.

DFDL’s expertise includes advising governments, banks and financial institutions, fintech companies, project developers and investors on project development and financing, as well as acquisitions in the renewable energy, oil and gas, telecoms and infrastructure sectors. The energy team, led by partners Phong Anh Hoang and Dave Seibert, is known for their comprehensive technical knowledge and approach in handling complex transactions, offering both local legal and international advice.

The Arbitration & ADR category of the awards is becoming more popular as firms settle commercial disputes that include foreign parties, owing to rising global integration and an increase in cross-border transactions.

Despite being a young firm, Hanoi-based ALV Lawyers has kept itself busy in this sector in the past 12 months, securing a spot among the winners.

The firm is advising and assisting a leading corporation in the cashew processing and manufacturing sector in Vietnam, along with partners from large corporations in Europe. This dispute began when the supply of cashew nuts was affected by a record increase in raw cashew prices, leading to delays in fulfilling contracts with international partners. ALV Lawyers provided legal advice on how to resolve the disputes related to sale contracts, and actively supported negotiations with the buyers to reach amicable settlements and keep business relationships.

Fernando Balvedi, the director of operations at a privately owned enterprise headquartered in Hanoi, speaks highly of the firm. “I chose to nominate ALV Lawyers because of their exceptional professionalism and dedication,” says Balvedi. “ALV Lawyers instils a strong sense of security, ensuring that every detail is handled with care and precision. Their commitment to providing clear, reliable and client-focused legal services makes them a standout choice.”

In the Insolvency & restructuring category, KPMG Law stood out for its work, including advisory services to a leading sustainable farm-to-roaster coffee company in the acquisition of two Vietnam-domiciled companies engaged in agriculture projects. The target group was undergoing a restructuring in the US, which added complexity to the transaction, but the firm navigated the bankruptcy proceedings and ensured compliance with relevant regulations.

KPMG Law also advised a Fortune 500 multinational brewery company on conducting legal due diligence, advising on the optimal deal structure and preparing transaction documents for the acquisition of operating assets in a brewery project. The transaction involved addressing the target company’s insolvency status and outstanding tax debt.

In the Real estate category Global Vietnam Lawyers proved a winner with its property team acting for developers, entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, investors, landlords and tenants across commercial property transactions, development projects and high-value residential sales and purchases.

In the past 12 months, Global Vietnam Lawyers provided comprehensive legal support for an acquisition involving multiple companies engaged in diverse real estate ventures including residential developments and hotel commercial projects. Led by managing partner Nguyen Gia Huy Chuong, the team conducted thorough legal due diligence and prepared required transactional documents, ensuring compliance with Vietnam’s tourism and commercial regulations.

The transaction also had an international dimension, involving the novation of two housing management agreements with a Hong Kong-based hotel operator, adding an additional layer of complexity. Despite these challenges, the firm successfully navigated the process, ensuring the smooth execution of the transaction.

Vietnam’s tax regulatory environment is complex and constantly evolving, requiring careful navigation to ensure compliance. For the Taxation category award, ATS Law Firm’s tax practice stands out as an essential service for businesses operating in Vietnam. The firm’s deep knowledge of both local and international tax regulations, combined with its proactive guidance, positions ATS as a valuable partner to navigate Vietnam’s tax landscape successfully.

In the past 12 months, ATS has provided consultation to Crown Beverage Cans (Dong Nai), which needed legal assistance to a foreign-invested company in an administrative litigation case against the tax authorities. ATS’ engagement included advising the client on the preparation and submission of dossiers to the competent court, drafting and assembling critical documents and evidence to safeguard the client’s legitimate rights, crafting a well-structured legal claim statement, and representing the client throughout the court proceedings.

Bizconsult and its managing partner, Nguyen Anh Tuan, have earned a strong reputation in corporate and commercial law, M&A and capital markets, but recently the firm has made notable progress to win in the category of Competition & antitrust.

Bizconsult successfully secured antitrust approval from the Vietnamese authority for PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertiliser Joint Stock Company’s acquisition of the entire capital contribution of Korea-Vietnam Fertiliser. This transaction was among the first in Vietnam to require an official review by the competition authority due to its high combined market share (more than 20%). After nearly six months of review, the transaction was approved, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Bizconsult team.

Our Infrastructure & project finance category has welcomed winner CNC Counsel, a boutique property law firm that specialises in construction and real estate legal services. Its founding managing partner, Le The Hung, regularly advises project developers, contractors and various consultants on matters related to investment, construction and real estate in Vietnam.

In the past 12 months, the firm was busy with the Ben Luc Long Thanh Project, an expressway under construction between Ben Luc and Long Thanh in the south of Ho Chi Minh City. For package A6 under the project, CNC Counsel provided contract management services to the joint venture contractors, BMT Joint Stock Company and Hanshin, including legal advice, contract termination and facilitation of an amicable settlement.

CNC Counsel also advised Fecon Corporation, a subcontractor to the Hyundai & Ghella joint venture for the Metroline CP3 project in Hanoi. The firm managed the contract by focusing on resuming contract execution after a three-year suspension and adapting to changed circumstances, facilitating the commencement of tunnel excavation.

D&N International is one of the leading local law firms in Vietnam providing IP-focused legal services, and wins in our IP prosecution category. Each year, the firm settles thousands of cases related to the establishment, transaction and enforcement of intellectual property rights. The firm’s practice covers not only Vietnam but Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar for trademark services.

The D&N International team, comprising four partners and 22 associates and paralegals, delivers comprehensive solutions to clients including searching, filing and prosecuting IP rights such as patents, industrial designs, trade-marks, copyright, domain names and geographical indications.

The firm also handles oppositions and appeals, provides expert opinions and addresses other IP-related matters. D&N International has served numerous international companies including American Airlines, Johnson & Johnson, Qualcomm and Samsung Electronics.

The demand for skilled foreign employees has been increasing significantly in Vietnam, bringing new opportunities for both employees and employers. However, the recruitment and management of foreign employees can be challenging due to complex legal requirements in Vietnam.

Despite these challenges, the team at Phuoc & Partners comprising nearly 20 experienced lawyers, brings expertise in addressing workplace legal issues and wins in our Labour & employment category. The team offers dedicated representation for corporate management and grassroots unions, providing comprehensive legal services to multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, entrepreneurs and non-profit organisations.

Nguyen Huu Phuoc, the founder and managing partner of Phuoc & Partners, is a seasoned attorney with expertise in labour and employment law. He has provided guidance on matters such as hiring, termination and layoffs, and has represented clients before district and provincial labour management agencies, as well as in various courts. He also offers valuable advice on personnel management and employee welfare decisions.

Founded in 2013, CNC Counsel is a boutique property law firm that specialises in construction and real estate legal services. Its founding managing partner, Le The Hung, regularly advises project developers, contractors and various consultants on matters related to investment, construction and real estate in Vietnam.

In the past 12 months, the firm has been busy with the Ben Luc Long Thanh Project, which involves the expressway under construction between Ben Luc and Long Thanh in the south of Ho Chi Minh City. For package A6, under the expressway project, CNC Counsel provided contract management services to the joint venture contractors, BMT Joint Stock Company and Hanshin, including legal advice, contract termination, and facilitation of amicable settlement.

CNC Counsel also advised Fecon Corporation, a subcontractor to the Hyundai & Ghella joint venture for the Metroline CP3 project in Hanoi. The firm managed the contract by focusing on resuming contract execution after a three-year suspension and adapting to changed circumstances, thereby facilitating the commencement of tunnel excavation using the tunnel boring machine.