Profile

Mr Hong is in charge of LNT & Partners’ Corporate/M&A practice group. He has assisted foreign investors in all aspects of investment in Vietnam, and is experienced in business restructuring, asset and company acquisitions, private equity matters, and competition law matters.

Mr Hong advises on an array of areas including regulatory compliance, corporate governance, contractual matters, employment, and dispute settlement. His valuable experience extends into many industry sectors, including energy, manufacturing, trading and retail, insurance, fintech, logistics, education, healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Mr Hong was named an In-house Community’s Commended External Counsel of the Year consecutively through 2017 - 2023. He is a frequent contributor to local and regional business publications and a speaker at conferences and seminars on foreign investment, M&A, corporate governance, and restructuring, contracts, employment, and dispute settlement in Vietnam.

Memberships

Vietnam Bar Federation

Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association

Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)

International Bar Association (IBA)

Liên đoàn Luật sư Việt Nam

Đoàn Luật sư TP. Hồ Chí Minh

Liên đoàn Luật sư Thái Bình Dương (IPBA)

Liên đoàn Luật sư Quốc tế (IBA)

Education

LL.M. (Nagoya University,Japan)

LL.B.(Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, Vietnam)

Thạc sĩ Luật (Đại học Nagoya, Nhật Bản)

Cử nhân Luật (Đại học Luật Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam)

Language

Vietnamese

English

Japanese(conversational)

Work highlights

Advised International Dairy Products JSC (IDP), in a significant investment deal of approximately USD100 million with Growtheum Capital Partners (GCP), a Singapore-based investment fund;

Advised Taisho Pharmaceutical on acquisition of a controlling stake in Vietnam’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer DHG Pharmaceutical JSC;

Advised Dragon Capital on all legal aspects (due diligence, deal structuring, transaction documents, closing) for acquiring a solar power plant whose capacity is 49.5MWp from LICOGI 13 Joint Stock Company;

Advised Hanwha Asset Management, Korea's leading comprehensive asset management company on its investment into Grab Financial Group (Series A funding round);

Advised Frutarom on acquisition of controlling stake in a Vietnam-based fragrance manufacturing company;

Advised CJ Logistics on deal structuring and acquiring controlling stake in Gemadept;

Advised en Japan and Navigos on their investment transactions in Vietnam;

Advised Heritas Capital Management on deal structuring and acquisition of a significant minority stake in a local education group;

Advised the owner of VBA in selling shares to ADK Advertising;

Advised Sojitz and MINISTOP on deal structuring and acquiring convenience stores;

Advised FINACCEL PTE. LTD. and relevant parties on a buy-now-pay-later fintech M&A and JV;

Advised H&M on all matters relating to retail stores subject to ENT;

Advised and conducted corporate investigations for a large pharmaceutical company;

Advised Lego on various corporate and commercial matters;

Represented a Japanese machine tool manufacturing company throughout the court proceeding on a dispute with its employee;

Represented a Japanese company throughout the court proceeding on a dispute with its construction contractor;

Advised a Vietnam-Singapore joint venture in logistics regarding all legal aspects (due diligence, transaction documents and closing).

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Publications

2023, (with Nguyen Quoc Bao), Vietnam’s Sandbox for Fintech: To join or not to join?

2023, (with Nguyen Quoc Bao), Negative Aspects from the negative-list-approach in Vietnam’s market openings under the CPTPP

2023, (with Bui Thi Hong Thi and Tran Phan Phuong Tri), Chambers Global Practice Guides - Technology M&A 2023

2022, (with Hoang Nguyen Ha Quyen, Nguyen Xuan Thuy, and Vu Thanh Minh), Investing in Vietnam 2022

2022, (with Vu Thanh Minh, Le Thanh Hieu, and Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Trinh), Fintech in Vietnam 2022

2022, How to optimise legal support for BNPL services

2021, Manage M&A Projects: Close Your Deal Remotely

2021, (with Huynh Thien Ly, Tran Nguyen Hien Linh & Doan Ngoc Tran), Vietnam Chapter, Chambers Corporate Governance Guide 2021

2021, (with Huynh Thien Ly & Tran Nguyen Hien Linh), Vietnam Chapter, Chambers Corporate and M&A Guide 2021 (Law & Practice)

2021, (with Vu Thanh Minh, Dang Thi Thuy Linh & Le Thanh Hieu), Vietnam Chapter, Chambers Fintech Guide 2021 (Law & Practice)

2020, (with Bui Thi Hong Thi), Share Classes: A Golden Key To Attract Investors Through M&A, Vietnam M&A Outlook 2020 published by Vietnam Investment Review

2020, (With Huynh Thien Ly), Vietnam Chapter, Chambers Corporate Governance Guide 2020

2019, M&A in Vietnam: Changes and New Practices For 2020, Chambers Asia 2020 Corporate M&A Overview

2019, Can backdating be acceptable?, In-House Community

2019, Managing the relationship with special managers in Vietnam, In-House Community: M&A Special Report

2018, Understanding “Business Transfer”, In-House Community

2016, A Liberalized Framework, Vietnam Law Insight (Law blog by LNT & Partners)

2014, Stricter rules and centralized regulator for multi-level sales, Vietnam Investment Review

2014, Greater clarity needed on preferential share details, Vietnam Investment Review

2014, Regulation on multi-level sales: New, stricter rules and new, centralized regulator, Insights at LNT & Partners

2010, (With Huynh Tan Loi), WTO rules pre-empt local law on trade in services

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Recognition
Commended External Counsel of the Year 2022 & 2023, In-House Community
ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2022 - Dealmaker of the Year (Finalist)
Recommended Lawyer in Corporate and M&A 2022 and 2021, the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
In-House Community – Commended External Counsel of the Year, 2021
In-House Community’s Commended External Counsel of the Year, 2020
In-House Community’s Commended External Counsel of the Year, 2019
In-House Community’s Commended External Counsel of the Year, 2018
In-House Community - Commended External Counsel of the Year, 2017