Performed comprehensive due diligence and advised on Vietnam aspects for Nippon Steel’s acquisition of BlueScope Steel businesses as part of a USD 1.36 billion joint venture. One of the largest inbound manufacturing investments in Vietnam at the time.

Acted for Merck on the Vietnam aspects of the global Merck/ScheringPlough merger valued at USD 41.1 billion — coordinating with the global deal team and managing all local regulatory filings and approvals.

Acted for Tencent in its acquisition of a minority interest in VNG Corporation (commonly known as Vinagames) — one of Vietnam’s first major technology sector cross-border investments.

Advised on the establishment of a Vietnamese subsidiary for JA Solar (one of the world’s largest manufacturers of solar cells and modules) for manufacturing operations in Bac Giang Province. Total investment exceeding VND 5,000 billion (~USD 240M) required the Prime Minister’s approval.

Advised on the establishment of a Vietnamese subsidiary for Union Underwear (holding company for the Fruit of the Loom group) for manufacturing operations in Thanh Hoa Province, including advising on factory land acquisition and construction agreements.

Incorporated the Vietnam operational entities for Rocket Internet’s Lazada and Zalora businesses — two of Southeast Asia’s most significant early-stage e-commerce ventures, now among the region’s largest online retailers.

Obtained foreign investment approval and incorporated a Korean multinational’s subsidiary to operate a Ferrari dealership in Vietnam. Obtained car import licence and warranty and maintenance licence — a complex multi-agency approval process.

Incorporated a Vietnamese subsidiary for Merck Sharp & Dohme to engage in the import of pharmaceutical products — navigating Vietnam’s complex pharmaceutical licensing requirements for multinational drug companies.

Conducted compliance and anti-corruption training for numerous leading multinational companies operating in Vietnam, including presentations on Vietnam’s Penal Code provisions and sector-specific compliance risks.

Advised a Taiwanese multinational during one of Vietnam’s most significant environmental enforcement actions, managing regulatory filings, government liaison, and crisis communications across multiple Vietnamese regulatory agencies simultaneously.

Advised a multinational Taiwanese manufacturer on a high-profile tax audit covering ten years of records. The client employed over 5,000 workers with yearly exports approaching USD 100 million. Managed the regulatory process and negotiated the outcome with tax authorities.

Contentious and non-contentious labour advice to prominent multinationals operating in Vietnam, including Airbus, Alcon, Daimler, Deutsche Bank, Gap, Ipsen, Johnson & Johnson, Jones & Vining, Levi’s, Marriott, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Microsoft, Werner, and Yggdrasil.

Advised and negotiated high-profile separation arrangements for C-level executives at prominent multinational corporations operating in Vietnam — managing complex negotiations, severance structures, and post-employment obligations.

Advised numerous multinational clients on mass redundancy programmes arising from corporate restructuring and changes to labour usage plans — managing the full process from union consultation through DOLISA notification and employee settlement.

Negotiated and registered internal labor rules with trade unions and DOLISA for multiple large manufacturing clients — managing complex negotiations with union representatives and securing regulatory approval within required timeframes.

Conducted compliance and anti-corruption training workshops for leading MNC companies in Vietnam — including sessions on Vietnam’s Penal Code provisions affecting employees and management, and best practices for HR compliance.

Assisted Fruit of the Loom Vietnam in adapting their global privacy policies to local law, drafting and submitting the DPIA dossier and the Outward Transfer Impact Assessment (OTIA) dossier to the MPS, and providing privacy training for employees across the organisation.

Assisted Henkel, a leading German industrial adhesive material manufacturer, in conducting regular employee training exercises on Vietnam’s privacy laws, and drafting and submitting both DPIA and OTIA dossiers to the MPS.

Assisted Phu My Hung, one of Vietnam’s largest foreign-invested and premier real estate developers, in preparing and submitting DPIA dossiers (including privacy policies) to the Ministry of Public Security.

Assisted Jones and Vining, a leading American manufacturer of shoe lasts and insoles, in preparing and submitting DPIA dossiers including all required privacy policies to the MPS for their Vietnam operations.

Assisted Corteva Agriscience Vietnam in reviewing and translating data protection documents including Marketing Consent & Notice, Visitor Access Forms, Attendance Forms, and Privacy Notices of Corteva Agriscience — ensuring alignment with Vietnamese data protection requirements.

Assisted Lawrence S. Ting Foundation (a Vietnamese local NGO) and Lawrence S. Ting School (a non-profit school founded in 2008) in preparing and submitting DPIA dossiers to the MPS — demonstrating our experience advising non-profit and educational organisations.

Advised VinaCapital on a ten-figure USD mixed-use real estate project in Central Vietnam, including regulatory advisory, corporate structuring, transactional documentation, and participation in negotiations with potential investors.

Negotiated and drafted a joint venture agreement for a golf and residence project in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City, for Kumho E&C. The counterparty was Son Kim Land — a complex bilateral negotiation involving significant land and development rights.

Advised Gaw Capital on a mixed-use real estate joint venture project in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City — involving complex cross-border investment structuring, JV documentation, and land use rights advisory.

Advised La Perla Living International on several resort and residence joint venture projects in Central Vietnam, including the Bai Tram Resort — assisting with structuring and negotiating the joint venture entity and land acquisition arrangements.

Conducted land due diligence and advised on hotel management agreements for several Marriott-branded hotels in Vietnam — reviewing land use right certificates, zoning approvals, and construction permits across multiple properties.

Advised the Vietnamese owner of Okura Prestige Saigon on its hotel management contract with Okura Hotels and Resorts — including key commercial terms, performance standards, termination rights, and owner protection provisions.

Advised a Taiwanese multinational on one of the most significant environmental pollution incidents in Vietnam. The client was charged with illegally discharging toxic industrial waste into the ocean — a landmark case with major regulatory and reputational dimensions.

Advised a multinational Taiwanese manufacturer on a high-profile tax audit covering ten years of tax records. The client employed over 5,000 workers across two facilities with yearly exports approaching USD 100 million.

Michael Lee chaired an arbitration tribunal adjudicating a VIAC matter involving a construction dispute in a mining project in Southeast Asia. The amount in controversy was nine digits in USD. The parties accepted the award without appeal — one of the most successful high-value VIAC cases in the centre’s history.

Advised an American garment manufacturer on a critical construction dispute with their general contractor — involving significant financial exposure and complex technical and contractual issues.

Advised on numerous high-profile labour disputes involving C-level executive separations and mass redundancy proceedings at large multinational corporations operating in Vietnam.

Represented multinational banks and corporations on high-value debt recovery cases, including the prosecution of civil lawsuits before Vietnamese courts.