Trusted by FTSE 500 global investment firms, leading international energy companies, financial institutions and service providers, A&O Shearman exhibits a pan-Asian and global offering that includes blockbuster, cross-border M&A deals that is complimented by assured regulatory knowledge. An already established player in the growing renewable energy field, the firm has seen a marked increase in mandates pertaining to education, retail and consumer goods. Team head Duc Tran’s far-reaching proficiency is especially concentrated in public company deals, leveraging strong banking and financing market expertise. Tina Ledinh has demonstrated activity in the financial services, consumer goods and the food and drink sectors, regularly trusted by foreign investors, while Hai Ha continues to handle complex M&A and joint venture deals. Hoang Minh Nguyen is another figure of note due to his supporting role on matters and knowledge of the regulatory landscape.

Frasers Law Company continues to act for an impressive array of clients on premium, multi-billion dollar M&A deals, divestments, joint ventures and large-scale restructurings – with the ability to act on the pre-deal investigation through to the due-diligence, review, SPA negotiation, and financing aspect. Leveraging corporate, competition and data protection expertise, the team comfortably excels in a range of sectors, most notably manufacturing, energy and retail. Mark Fraser leads the the group’s most consequential M&A deals, including working closely with foreign investment managers and venture capitalists engaging with the region, and is supported by senior associate Ho Thuy Ngoc Tram who demonstrates notable proficiency regarding banking and finance. Senior associate  has been largely focused on energy deals. Since publication, former joint practice head Justin Gisz and Nguyen Mai Phuong departed in March 2024.

VILAF exhibits a strong corporate offering, acting across a wide array of sectors on multi-billion dollar deals from both the buyer and seller side, landmark joint venture partnerships, and restructurings in the wake of investments from both regional and international capitalists. Over the past twelve months the firm has been able to add a stellar list of clients to an already impressive portfolio, including Vietnamese Pharmaceutical giants, leading continental energy players, and multinational private equity firms. Team head Duyen Vo Ha is singled out for her work regarding financial services and energy clients, with recent matter highlights including vast cross-border acquisitions and mergers. The similar skill set of fellow co-head Anh Dang ensures he is frequently sought out by a host of clients for his expertise pertaining to a number of strategically-significant deals. Phong Tran is another practitioner of note, possessing strong banking and capital market acumen to competently advise on complex regional and international transactions.

YKVN has a deep bench of practitioners who advise on a wide array of corporate matters, including both public and private M&A, disposals, joint ventures, and business restructurings. The team is notably active in advising funds, strategics and global brands on deals and partnerships across a variety of sectors, with a strong track record in consumer finance, retail and energy over the past twelve months. Group head Truong Nhat Quang is one of the market's most esteemed practitioners, leveraging more than 20 years' experience overseeing premium deals and possessing an astute knowledge of banking, capital markets, and M&A. Diep Hoai Nam routinely covers transactions of large state-owned companies, and is an accomplished adviser in the oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries. Counsel Nguyen Van Hai is building a well-regarded reputation for her capital markets expertise, while Nguyen Thu Hang has added a range of deals involving global private equity investors to an already impressive portfolio of matters over the past twelve months.

Allens is active on the full range of corporate deals in the region, fielding a client list featuring investment and asset management powerhouses, luxury fashion and retail brands, and financial services and institutions. The key market distinguisher for the firm is its top-rate counsel to innovative start-ups in this fast-growing space, helping these clients with fundraising endeavours and advising on M&A transactions. The practice has a ‘network of experts in multiple areas’ that provide a ‘dedicated and proactive approach’, including team head Linh Bui who is revered for her banking and finance proficiency. Joining Bui at the helm of the group is Giles Cooper, who’s chiefly recognised for his energy focus and work creating new business arms and corporate spin-offs, and Ngoc Anh Tran who was promoted to partner in July 2022, and is a go-to for private equity investors and international investment banks.

Working with some of the largest consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and data and technology companies, Baker McKenzie’s highly experienced team engages in high-profile public and private M&A, regularly cross-border, and possess the regulatory and operational expertise to act on the full range of corporate issues. Key work highlights demonstrate notable excellence regarding high-profile corporate spin-offs, multi-billion US dollar sales, and internal reorganisations and business carve-outs, as well as continued strength regarding energy and real estate transactions. Yee Chung Seck and Lan Phuong Nguyen co-lead the practice, with the former highly regarded for his broad and far-reaching M&A prowess, and the latter her pharmaceutical, retail and energy work. Special counsel Thi Thanh Le supports many of the firm’s cross-border mandates, including investment, divestment, and cross-border ventures, while senior associate Chi Hoang Yen Ngo has had a strong year supporting a wide array of the department’s most standout matters.

A firm that has witnessed a wave of internal promotions including partnership for both Dave Seibert and Paul Volodarsky in January 2023, DFDL Legal & Tax possesses a strong and experienced bench that has a wide sector breadth and engages with a number of premium domestic and cross-border deals across the Southeast Asian region. Beyond continued distinguished work in the energy sector, the team is a go-to for aviation expertise as well as telecommunications, manufacturing, real estate, and finance-related corporate issues. Spearheading the practice is Jérôme Buzenet, whose banking and capital markets knowledge ensures he is a regular port of call for the group’s growing list of longstanding multinational platform investor clients. Both Martin Desautels and Phong Anh Hoang possess broad practices and have been engaged in a variety of foreign investment deals.

Duane Morris Vietnam LLC is roundly praised by clients for its profound legal knowledge, attracting foreign investment instructions from a multitude of regional and continental players, as well as transatlantic conglomerates. The team handles a considerable volume of public and private M&A in addition to land and development site acquisitions, capital restructuring and financing, joint ventures, and the full regulatory piece. Sector engagement over the past twelve months has been largely centred on manufacturing, healthcare, TMT, hospitality, and energy. Nguyen Thi Lang and Oliver Massmann co-lead the practice, with the former well regarded for her adeptness in corporate governance, foreign investment, and competition law, and the former for his renewables, utilities, and digital infrastructure transactional knowledge. Hoang Minh Duc is an integral adviser to the firm’s growing list of start-ups, working on both the fundraising and investment side.

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP acts on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including cross-border buyer and seller transactions, significant restructuring deals, and regulatory issues concerning high-end real estate and construction projects, an area which practice head Vu Thi Que has strong expertise and is regularly called upon for counsel by pan-Asian investors. Minh Duc Trinh works on some of the firm’s most consequential client relationships, including food and beverage moguls and internationally acclaimed tech start-ups, while Logan Leung is a key figure in the practice for his financing activity and has spearheaded a number of matters. Nguyen Dinh Nha is another practitioner of note and provides commendable corporate compliance and banking knowledge to deals.

A leading player in the corporate formation and licensing space, Tilleke & Gibbins assists established businesses and start-ups to navigate the Vietnamese market through experienced practitioners and a strong regulatory proficiency underpinning advice. Beyond this area of work, the team are active on cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and corporate restructuring mandates, with notable excellence in the life sciences, pharmaceuticals, energy and consumer goods and retail sectors. Managing director Thomas Treutler leads the team and has a broad practice, including advising on foreign investment and regulatory requirements for market entrants. Kien Trung Trinh has a wide sector focus and boasts a strong year liaising with multinational corporations and service providers over the entire transactional piece. Experienced practitioner Nguyen Ngoc Bich Tram joined the group from YKVN in November 2022, bringing a wealth of expertise in M&A, capital markets, and property-related directives. Vinh Quoc Nguyen left the practice in February 2023 to join Indochine Counsel as senior counsel.

ACSV Legal is particularly strong in the healthcare sector, advising clients on buyer and seller instructions, establishing new outlets in the country, transferring assets, and navigating the heavily regulated sector. The team is well-accomplished in foreign investment and cross-border transactions, as well as joint ventures, corporate restructuring, and financing. Founder, managing partner and team head Mark Oakley handles an intensive stream of multi-jurisdictional deals for a range of international clientele, showcasing wide-sector expertise and an ability to competently handle the transactional, financing and regulatory piece. Special counsel Hieu Pham is chiefly recognised for his cross-border and foreign direct investment expertise, while special counsel Thang Nguyen lends proficient understanding of banking and financing to deals in the hospitality, retail, energy and manufacturing sectors.

A key point of differentiation for the team at Bizlink Lawyers and a flagship component of the group’s work is real estate and manufacturing sector engagement, handling a steady stream of multi-jurisdictional deals for a mix of leading industry players. Due diligence, regulatory, and document drafting and negotiation expertise underpins a a considerable volume of the domestic and cross border deals the team routinely engages with, and additionally the group boasts close connections to a number of Vietnamese public bodies and authorities. Leveraging over thirty years of market experience, Do Trong Hai remains an eminent cross-border and foreign direct investment advisor and is highly proficient at an array of associate practice areas such as real estate, tax and corporate governance that benefits clients’ business transactions. Nguyen Duc Manh and Tran Thi Ngan are two further key figures in the team whom preside over the full range of corporate work, particularly in the materials and manufacturing industry, while senior associate Nguyen The Vinh played leading roles in a number of real estate and construction mandates, working with both domestic and foreign developers. Associate Le Quynh Anh is recognised for her contributions supporting an array of matters.

Possessing broad and deep links to the Asian continent that supplement the group’s Vietnam-based practitioners expertise, Hogan Lovells International LLP regularly receive instructions from publicly listed international corporations for buyer and seller, divestment and restructuring mandates. Over the past twelve months the group has seen increased stream of premium debt restructuring and insolvency mandates as well as helping Vietnamese tech business and start-ups navigate the heavily regulated offshore fundraising space. Gaston Fernandez spearheads the team’s offering and combined transactional prowess with expert knowledge of cross-border financing and project development. Counsel Ngoc Nguyen is steadily building a strong cross-border profile and has wide sector exposure including fintech, manufacturing, and retail. Counsel Duong Pham is recommended for his strong banking and financing competence, especially in the energy and infrastructure space.

Lexcomm Vietnam LLC has a team of practitioners well-versed in cross-border M&A, frequently advising on inbound and outbound foreign investments, as well as business acquisitions by pan-Asian and transatlantic entities. Beyond this area of work, the group has strong regulatory expertise that underpins corporate formation and reorganisations, as well as IPOs and joint ventures. Head of M&A Nguyen Viet Ha is a seasoned practitioner that has particular expertise regarding energy and infrastructure assets, and is highly competent in handling clients’ sizeable foreign investment projects. Both Luong Van Trung and Nguyen Hong Hai possess similar cross-border proficiencies, with the latter also well-regarded for his capital markets and financing work, and the latter for his joint venture, corporate governance and compliance acumen.

LNT & Partners is a frequent port of call for many financial institutions, investment platforms and multinational conglomerates seeking legal counsel regarding their Vietnamese and pan-Asian deals that often reach billions of euros in value. The team is geared to act on the full array of corporate issues, including M&A, financing and banking, and regulatory issues, and shows notable strength in the energy, transport and manufacturing sectors. The practice led by three team heads, all who have considerable market experience. Co-founder Quyen Hoang is a go-to for foreign investment deals, while Tuan Nguyen is noted for his work on premium mergers and joint venture enterprises. Final team head Hong Bui is a pure M&A specialist, handling the group’s most consequential client acquisitions.

Mayer Brown is a popular choice for investment managers, energy players and pharmaceutical companies, boasting strong cross-border expertise and multijurisdictional understanding. The group has engaged with a list of enviable clients over the past year, including government-backed investment funds, global financial institutions, and multinational food and beverage brands. Team head David Harrison is a cross-border M&A specialist, and is recognised for his distinguished expertise advising on the buying, selling and financing of assets in emerging markets. Counsel Hai Thao Nguyen has been notably active on real estate and infrastructure deals, while senior associate Ursula Szotyory-Grove has supported a range of mandates, including standout joint venture fund investments.

A strong twelve months has seen Allen & Gledhill (Vietnam) bolster its bench and consequentially its M&A offering through the hire of partner Tran Ngoc Hoang Phuong from Masan Group in June 2022, who has over 15 years of transactional experience in a number of Asian markets. The team is well-placed to act on corporate issues including joint ventures, corporate reorganisations and leverage buyouts, and have shown sector strength in energy, real estate, manufacturing and transport. Group head Oh Hsiu-Hau is an M&A specialist, especially when concerning emerging markets, while Tran Thi Phuong Thao has a broad practice that is complimented by his considerable regulatory understanding. Another partner of note is Jonathan Lin who is chiefly focused on energy-related PPP mandates and boasts close connections with a number of government bodies and agencies.

Dilinh Legal’s ‘deep understanding of the complexities’ of corporate issues in the region makes it a strong choice for Vietnamese and foreign investors and businesses seeking counsel on their transactional deals. A team with with a wealth of experience in the market, the practice is equipped to handle a wide array of instructions, including merger filings, loan and corporate restructurings, law and regulation requirements, and sale, purchase and joint venture agreements. Helming high-value cross-border deals for an impressive list of clients, group head Michael Lee is singled out by clients for his M&A expertise, while Diep Hoang leverages extensive banking and finance deals to supplement client counsel. Senior associate Trang Nguyen has played an integral supporting role to a wide array of practice matters.

DIMAC attracts instructions from a multitude of clients in Vietnam, most notably in the manufacturing, tech and financial sectors, that are routinely backed by foreign investors, and the group often acts on capital raising mandates including the related documentation drafting and compliance advice. Beyond this area of work, the team are highly capable at corporate restructurings, assessing business risk, conducting financing and due diligence work, as well as overseeing transactions. Founder, managing partner and team head Pham Quoc Tuan has a wealth of expertise regarding contracts, M&A and dispute resolution, while Le Thanh Tung excels at helping clients secure loans from banks and capital from foreign investment funds, and is routinely supported by counsel Hoang Thanh Tuan who too shows distinction in this space. Nguyen Danh Cong has a wide practice that includes banking, M&A and corporate restructurings as well as a strong regulatory understanding.

A firm that handles transactions and project development in the energy sector, DNA Vietnam LLC has a bench of lawyers skilled in both the transaction, regulatory and financing piece, with experience acting on both the buyer and seller side for household names in the Vietnamese market and multinational corporates and investment funds operating from outside the country. Dang Chi Lieu heads the team and is a key contact for foreign investors, possessing expertise in M&A and wide activity in sectors such as manufacturing, education and pharmaceuticals. Fellow co-head Thanh Son Dang has a strong background in TMT and finance, which allows him to competently handle a range of corporates mandates, including impressive work regarding digital infrastructure assets.

KPMG Law in Vietnam acts on both buyer and seller mandates, cross-border transactions, document drafting and negotiations, regulatory and compliance advice, as well as possessing a strong antitrust offering. The considerable expertise of head of KPMG Law in Vietnam and Cambodia Richard Stapley-Oh ensures the team is routinely sought by multinational corporates and private equity firms for corporate counsel, while Hoa Thanh Nguyen specialises in foreign direct investments and business restructurings. Pham Thi Quynh Ngoc has significant regulatory acumen and has been highly active in the retail, finance, pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors, while Geraldine Oh, who joined the practice in February 2023 from ZICO Law in Myanmar, brings with her notable cross-border M&A proficiency.

MHM Vietnam Hanoi Office has steadily established itself as a strong player in the Vietnamese market, acting on public and private M&A for a range of domestic and international clientele. Excelling at real estate, energy and consumer goods work, the group competently handle joint ventures, drafting project documents, and conducting business risk assessments and due diligence. Takuya Eguchi, who leads the team, is especially well regarded for his adeptness in cross-border M&A, and his experience of the Chinese market. Kenji Nishio is proficient in large-scale real estate-related M&A, and has notable capital markets and business restructuring expertise. Phan Thanh By is recognised for her M&A work in the manufacturing, real estate and banking sectors.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu acts on a strong portfolio of matters, often with Japan-centric clients that are seeking counsel on their subsidiaries. Cross-border real estate deals are a key feature of the practice, as well as establishing and advising joint ventures and providing insight on market regulations and compliance. Team head Motohisa Nakagawa has been highly engaged with mandates in the construction and manufacturing sectors, while Keigo Sawayama, who has been extremely active over the past twelve months, has received instructions from clients in retail, IT, consumer goods and real estate.

A Japanese firm with deep roots in the Vietnamese market, Nishimura & Asahi regularly receives instructions regarding investment and cross-border M&A in the country, with strong expertise across a wide range of sectors. An enviable client list includes Asian tech giants, multinational conglomerates, and pioneering Japanese corporations. Team head Hikaru Ogachi sits in the department in a consultant role, overseeing and advising across a multitude of practice matters. Vu Le Bang has notable proficiency at foreign direct investment mandates as well as banking and finance issues, whereas Akira Hiramatsu predominantly focuses on M&A.