Hanoi Business Specialist

ICC International Court of Arbitration | Arbitration Training

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) | Associate

Center for Effective Dispute Resolution (UK) | Accredited Mediator

Vietnam International Commercial Mediation Center | Accredited Mediator

Vinh is former Head of M&A and Foreign Investment Department of SMiC, a long-established law firm specializing in legal and advisory services and dispute resolution in Vietnam, with offices in both Vietnam and Singapore. 

Vinh also spent several years working for Indochine Counsel, a well-known business law firm, headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, in a role of Head of Hanoi Office, where he advised on foreign investment, corporate & commercial matters, cross-border mergers & acquisitions, corporate restructurings, property & construction, and dispute resolution.

Before taking on the role of the Head of Hanoi Office of Indochine Counsel, Vinh served for several years as the Senior Manager and Assistant to the General Director of InvestConsult Group, a major local law firm based in Hanoi. There he managed, supervised and coordinated the legal team. In that role, he provided legal advice in the areas of international trade, cross-border mergers & acquisition, employment and labor, incorporation and foreign direct investment. He also developed and refined the strategic direction and implementation of legal consultancy services.

Key clients of Vinh’s include Global Law Group (USA), Amer Asia Law (USA), Lan Chi Group of Companies, Toto Vietnam, FCC Vietnam, Federal-Mogul Vietnam, GF Machining Solution, Soft Chemical Corporation, Soft Industry Corporation, Matsuo, Alpha Industries Vietnam, Toyoda Van Moppes, Santomas, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, Georg Fischer AG, Jebsen & Jessen Group of Companies in Vietnam, System Cleaners Asia Co., Ltd, Cisco Systems Management B.V, DKT International, LG Electronics, Sumitomo Group, Toyota Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines, Song Da Corporation, McKinsey & Company, Techcombank, Starglobe Ltd (Switzerland), Toyota Tshusho, CJ Vietnam.

Practice Areas

  • Corporate & Commercial
  • Merger & Acquisition
  • Mining & Energy
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Employment & Labour
  • Property & Construction
  • Inward Investment
  • Outward Investment
  • International Trade

Education

  • Certificate of Attendance, ICC Institute of World Business Law Program of the Institute for the Development of Arbitration Training by ICC International Court of Arbitration
  • Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)
  • Accredited Mediator, Center for Effective Dispute Resolution (UK)
  • Accredited Mediator, Vietnam International Commercial Mediation Center
  • LLB, Hanoi Law University
  • Lawyer Training, Judicial Academy
  • BA, University of Languages & International Studies (Vietnam National University)
  • Certificate of Effective Presentation Skill, Art of Communication
  • Certificate of Public Relations (Academy of Journalism and Communication)
  • Certificate of Fiscal Policy and Public Finance Analysis, (National Project Management Unit, Committee for Financial & Budgetary Affairs of Vietnam National Assembly)

Experience

Vinh’s notable transactions/ legal works include:

  • Advised, drafted and finalized the Joint-venture Agreement, and assisted in setting up a joint-venture company between Dat Xanh Mien Bac and Toyo Group (Japan).
  • Advised and successfully resolved the labor dispute between Matsuo Vietnam Company Limited (Japan-invested) and its three Managers.
  • Advised and successfully resolved the labor dispute on the training expenses between Toyoda Van Moppes Company Limited (Japan-invested) and its employees.
  • Advised a Japanese-owned enterprise to acquire 30% shares of a local company mainly engaging in fast food production and distribution.
  • Advised a local group to acquire 70% shares in a hospital in Hanoi.
  • Advised NEM Fashion Group, a leading and luxurious fashion group in Vietnam to sell 70% of its shares to Stripe International, a Japan-based fashion group.
  • Assisted Mobifone to draft and finalize 17 contracts in construction areas, including consultancy contracts, construction contracts, EPC contracts, valuation contracts, and security contracts.
  • Conducted a comprehensive legal due diligence onto Dai Viet – Dung Quat Cement Project of Central Region Cement JSC, a subsidiary of Vietnam National Cement Industry Corporation.
  • Advised and assisted FLC Group, one of the leading real estate investors in Vietnam to work with Accor Group; reviewed and acted on behalf of FLC Group to negotiate terms/ provisions of various agreements for FLC Quy Nhon Beach and Golf Resort, including hotel consultancy services agreement, hotel consultancy services agreement, hotel management agreement.
  • Advised and assisted FLC Group, one of the leading real estate investors in Vietnam to work with Mövenpick Group; reviewed and acted on behalf of FLC Group to negotiate terms/ provisions of various contracts for FLC Ha Long Bay Golf Club & Luxury Resort,    including marketing & central services agreement, trademark license agreement, hotel management agreement, technical services agreement.
  • Advised Lan Chi Group of Companies to sell 51% of its shares to Central Group Thailand.
  • Advised a foreign-owned company to acquire 100% shares of a joint-stock company owning a jetty in Quang Ninh.
  • Advised a foreign-owned company to acquire mining rights of two milestone mines with a total land area of approximately 20ha in the North of Vietnam.
  • Advised a foreign-owned company to acquire mining rights of one milestone mine with a total land area of approximately 15 ha in the North of Vietnam.
  • Advised a USA–based company in foreign shareholding and transaction structure for effective control of a local company (Stage 1) and assisted in conducting a proposed transaction (Stage 2).
  • Acted for a foreign-owned company to acquire a limestone mine with a total land area of 14.8ha in Quang Ninh province.
  • Advised and acted for Vietnam Alliance Minerals, a foreign-owned enterprise to acquire 70% equity of a local company, conducted due diligence and prepared the transaction documents for the purpose of equity acquisition.
  • Acted as the legal counsel for Hai Dang Minerals JSC in Thanh Hoa Province to transfer an iron ore mine, located in two districts of Thanh Hoa province, with a total land area of 270ha to Fecon Foundation Engineering & Underground Construction JSC.
  • Advised and acted for Jebsen & Jessen Group of Companies (a foreign-owned group) in Vietnam to terminate the Premises Rental Contract and claim for deposit and unused rental fee from Phan Hoa Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company.
  • Advised and acted for a foreign-owned company to acquire a marble stone mine in Yen Bai Province.
  • Advised a foreign-owned company to acquire land for its expansion of the marble stone project in Yen Bai province.
  • Acted as the team leader to conduct legal due diligence for re-structuring Song Da Group; assisted the international partner, i.e McKinsey & Company in all legal issues in relation to the project and drafted internal documents including charter, regulations and other documents required for the daily operation of Song Da Group.
  • Acted as the team leader to review the Shareholder’s Agreement between a number of local companies and LGL Commodities Pty Ltd – an Australia headquartered enterprise specializing in the supply of wheat to various wheat producers in the world when such local companies acquired shares of LGL Commodities Pty Ltd.
  • Reviewed and provided legal advice to Vietnam Airlines with respect to the Business Service Agreement, Share Transfer Agreement, Shareholder’s Agreement, Charter and other related documents between Vietnam Airlines and Qantas Group.
  • Advised Starglobe, an international steel trader, and acted as Vietnam counsel to resolve the dispute with a local steel trading company headquartered in Dong Nai.

Vinh’s recent notable licensing works include:

  • Assisted Toyo Group to set up a joint-venture company with Dat Xanh Mien Bac, one of the leading real estate brands in Viet Nam specialized in investment, distribution & leasing service, furniture consultancy. The joint-venture company engages in real estate management services in the first run and investment in the long run.
  • Assisted Alpha Industries Vietnam, a Japan-invested enterprise to amend its Investment Registration Certificate to record the expansion of its investment project scope in Hanoi city, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Toyoda Van Moppes, a Japan-invested enterprise to amend its Investment Registration Certificate to supplement the right to import, export and distribute the goods into its business operation in Hanoi, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Soft Chemical Corporation, a Japan-invested enterprise to amend its Investment Registration Certificate to supplement the right to import, export and distribute the goods into its business operation in Hai Phong city, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Soft Industry Corporation, a Japan-invested enterprise to amend its Investment Registration Certificate to record the expansion of its investment project scope in Hai Phong city, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Enkei Co., Ltd, a Japan-invested enterprise to supplement the right to import, export and distribute the goods into its operation in Hanoi city, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Planet Co., Ltd, a Japan-based enterprise; Do-it Co., Ltd, a Thailand-based enterprise and Minh Dung Co., Ltd, a local enterprise to set up a joint venture, namely Mirai Industry Co., Ltd, engaging in printing in Vinh Phuc province, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Nhat Viet Ancillary Industry Support Joint Stock Company, a Japan-based enterprise to set up a 100% foreign-invested enterprise to carry out a US$50-million hospital project in Ha Giang province, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Miza Joint Stock Company, a local enterprise, and BTG Holding S.R.O, a Slovakia-based group to set up a joint venture in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Georg Fisher AG, a Switzerland-based group to set up a 100% foreign-invested enterprise, engaging in trading, distribution and engineering services in Hanoi, Vietnam.
  • Assisted three Japanese investors to set up a 100% foreign-invested enterprise, engaging in restaurant and food services in Hanoi, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Toto Vietnam Co., Ltd, a Japan-invested enterprise to supplement the right to import, export and distribute the goods into its business operation in Hanoi, Vietnam.
  • Assisted FCC Vietnam Co., Ltd, a Japan-invested enterprise to supplement the right to import, export and distribute the goods into its business operation in Hanoi, Vietnam.
  • Assisted Federal-Mogul Vietnam Ltd, a Japan-invested enterprise to supplement the right to import, export and distribute the goods into its business operation in Hai Phong city, Vietnam.
  • Assisted GF Machining Solutions Company Limited, a Singapore-invested enterprise to supplement the right to import, export and distribute the goods into its business operation in Hanoi, Vietnam.