ASL Law Firm > Hanoi, Vietnam > Firm Profile
ASL Law Firm Offices
12th Floor, Tower 319, 63 Le Van Luong Street,
Trung Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District,
Hanoi, 100000
Vietnam
- Go to...
- Rankings
- Firm Profile
- Main Contacts
- Lawyer Profiles
- Interviews
- Spotlights
- Legal Developments
ASL Law Firm > The Legal 500 Rankings
Vietnam > Intellectual property: local firms Tier 2
ASL Law Firm offers the full range of IP law services, handling patent, trademark, industrial design, copyright, and domain name issues, as well as IP portfolio management. Operating from the firm's office in Hanoi, Do Ba Thich heads the team alongside Ho Chi Minh City-based Nguyen Tien Hoa, who joined the firm from SB LAW in 2023.Practice head(s):
Do Ba Thich; Nguyen Tien Hoa
Key clients
AAA IPRIGHT
Viettel Construction
GIA BAO CORPORATION
Eurowindow
Dragotti & Associati Srl
HERTIN & Partner PartG mbB
Schlich Ltd
Amica Law LLC
TWI Patent & Law Firm
ASAMURA IP P.C. (Formerly, ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.)
Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC
Guillermo Gbobenrieth
STRAIGHTLINES FZE
Shakti Pumps (India) Limited (India)
Saad lawyers intellectual property rights
LuedekaNeely
ASL Law Firm > Firm Profile
ASL Law is a leading full-service and independent Vietnamese law firm made up of experienced and talented lawyers. Based in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the firm’s main purpose is to provide the most practical, efficient and lawful advice to its domestic and international clients.
ASL Law was established by LLM Lawyer Pham Duy Khuong, who is the managing partner and founder. Since 2012 Pham Duy Khuong has been ranked as a leading lawyer in Vietnam by The Legal 500 and ASIA LAW. Due to his contribution to the legal field in Vietnam, Pham has been awarded and recognised by both the Australian and US governments.
As ASL Law has expanded it has recruited lawyers not only from Vietnam but also experienced lawyers from around the region. The firm can assist in providing legal services and conduct business investments in 22 countries, and provides intellectual property advice to clients throughout 72 countries.
Some of these countries include: Singapore, China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, USA, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, and EU nations.
ASL Law is the best choice for foreign clients doing business in Vietnam and Vietnamese enterprises doing business overseas.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Managing Partner | Pham Duy Khuong | khuong.pham@aslgate.com | +84 982682122 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mrs Nguyen Thuy Chung | Partner | View Profile | |
Mrs Nguyen Thuy Chung | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Vu Khanh Din | Senior Lawyer | View Profile | |
Mr Pham Duy Khuong | Founder and Managing Director | View Profile | |
Mr Nguyen Tien Hoa | Senior Lawyer | View Profile |
Languages
Vietnamese English CantoneseMemberships
IBA INTAInterviews
Pham Duy Khuong, Founder and Managing Director
Managing partner Pham Duy Khuong explains how the firm is becoming the excellent choices for clients doing business in Vietnam.What do you see as the main points that differentiate [law firm name] from your competitors?
We are a full service and independent law firms in Vietnam having more than 10 years of providing legal services in Vietnam. ASL LAW has been ranked as a top-tier law firm by Legal 500, Asia Law, WTR and Asia Business Law Journal. We can advise our clients in different languages: English, Japanese and Chinese.
With a team of 50 lawyers, experts and consultants with international experience and a deep understanding of Vietnam, we provide clients with international standard legal service that is practical and cost-effective. When working with ASL LAW, clients always shall work directly with our Partners and receive care at the Partners’ level.
Since we are a full-service law firm, we are a one-stop station for clients in many different legal fields: corporate services, Intellectual Property, Franchise, Mergers and Acquisitions, Labour, International Commerce, Corporate, Real Estate Contracts, Energy, Construction, Trade remedies, Technology transfer, Disputes, Tax, Shipping and Maritime, Cross-border legal services. Each practice area and industry are led by one partner or expert and many practice areas and industries are ranked as the top tier by different legal ranking organisations.
ASL LAW is a proper choice not only for Vietnamese businesses but also for many foreign businesses and organizations when conducting business or encountering legal problems in Vietnam. In particular, ASL LAW is always trusted by Vietnamese clients when they have business needs or legal disputes abroad.
Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?
With recent changes in Vietnamese law as well as the value of multilateral agreements between Vietnam and other countries, the following areas will have opportunities to breakthrough:
+ Anti-dumping/countervailing and trade defense in both directions including Vietnam suing and in the opposite direction Vietnam being sued by countries;
+ Legal framework advice for Vietnamese businesses related to ESG;
+ M&A in real estate, especially industrial park real estate, logistics, Edtech, finance, banking, technology;
+ Legal issues related to personal information data, especially organizations that collect and process data of Vietnamese people and transfer that data abroad when the decree on personal data protection has officially taken effect;
+ Cross-border legal disputes;
+ Legal issues related to the high-tech industry, for example related to semiconductors;
+ Advice on corporate restructuring, especially on investment strategy when Vietnam officially applies the global minimum tax from fiscal year 2024.
What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?
We structure our team so that our clients’ works are reviewed by lawyers and consultants at different levels, ensuring comprehensive results for the legal services ASL LAW provides to clients.
ASL LAW upgrades technology to manage clients’ works, optimizes internal administration to ensure works security as well as client information security. Securing client information and avoiding conflicts of client interests are always ASL LAW’s top priorities.
In addition, realizing that there have been many changes in Vietnamese law recently, we always proactively research and actively consult with clients through private meetings and closed group seminars so that clients can prepare in advance for legal changes from Vietnam. In particular, ASL LAW builds teams of lawyers and consultants who can directly advise clients in their own languages such as English, Chinese, and Japanese.
By this stage, many Vietnamese businesses have been expanding their business oversea. That’s why ASL LAW keeps expanding cooperation with partner law firms abroad. Thanks to being proactive and having decades of cooperation with foreign partners and law firms, ASL LAW is always ready and well meets the requirements of providing cross-border legal services for Vietnamese businesses when needed.
Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?
Technology changing has certain impacts on the way we work with clients. Since many of ASL LAW’s clients are foreign ones, the parties often meet online via certain platforms. Technology also creates more favourable conditions for us in signing contracts, sending documents, accessing documents, and increasing information security for the work being handled for clients.
Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?
We have a chance to provide Intellectual property service to clients in the electric auto sector. The client’s specific request is to register patents and trademarks in Vietnam. After accessing information, we built for them a comprehensive strategy on building and protecting intellectual property in Vietnam, namely as follows:
+ We conduct prior market research on technical solutions with technical characteristics related to the technical solution that the client intends to implement to ensure that we can not only evaluate the client’s ability to grant patents but also avoid cases where client brings products to market that infringe on the rights of other parties;
+ Regarding the client’s trademark registration, we build a comprehensive trademark registration strategy to avoid cases where other parties take advantage of the client’s popularity to launch products with similar brands. In addition, after successfully registering the client’s trademark, we put the client’s trademark information into the management software to automatically remind clients to renew when due and also monitor the market to detect any signs of potential infringement of the client’s trademark. In addition, we also watch the database of the Vietnam Intellectual Property Office to detect trademarks that are the same or similar to our client in order to conduct an opposition to that trademark.
Next, we also conduct customs control measures to ensure that no trademark-infringing products or counterfeit products are officially imported into Vietnam.
In particular, client signed OEM contracts with many different companies, so we also help clients build a legal framework related to intellectual property to ensure clients’ rights.
Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?
We will continue to identify as a full-service law firm and expand cooperation with reputable partners and law firms around the world to ensure the provision of a comprehensive service to clients. We shall continuously and patiently invite leading lawyers and experts not only from Vietnam but also internationally to join the ASL LAW team, aiming
to become a suitable and advanced choice for foreign businesses doing business or having legal problems in Vietnam and priority options for Vietnamese businesses when conducting business abroad. ASL Law aims to make a multi-dimensional breakthrough with the goal of becoming a comprehensive legal station without geographical limitations for businesses. Wherever businesses go, ASL Law is there.
Spotlights
VIETNAM
ASL LAW is a leading full-service and independent Vietnam law firm made up of talented lawyers with international and local legal experience. Based in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, the firm provides the most practical, efficient, and lawful advice to its domestic and international clients. ASL LAW has been ranked as a top-tier law firm by Legal 500, Asia Law, WTR and Asia Business Law Journal.
Legal Developments
Commercial Franchise in Vietnam Under Change Pressure
20th October 2020 At the end of the 1990s, franchise was still a strange concept to most people in Vietnam. There were no opportunities to enjoy or even see the products and services of the world’s well-known brands in Viet Nam. KFC, McDonald, Starbucks and Lotteria were not familiar names for Vietnamese youth. However, this has changed.Vietnam Real Estate: Foreigners are allowed to buy project houses and condominiums in Vietnam
20th October 2020 The National Assembly adopted the Law on Residential Housing No. 65/2014/QH13 (LRH) on November 25, 2014, which was effective as of July 1, 2015. According to the new law, foreigners are allowed to buy project houses and condominiums in Vietnam. Below are the table of comparison between the current and new LRH as well as notable proposals that foreigners should be aware of.- Foreigners leasing out their houses must notify the competent state agencies and must pay taxes in accordance with the prevailing laws;
- Foreign organizations can only use the houses for their own staffs’ residential purpose and must not use their houses for other purposes (such as office, leasing out, etc…);
- Foreigners and organizations must make payment of purchases or hire-purchases through a licensed credit institution in Vietnam;
- Applicable for maximum 30% of the total condominiums in a single condominium building (or other cap provided by the Prime Minister in areas having a large number of condominium buildings); and
- Maximum 250 villas, townhouses in an area having the population equivalent to an admin level of a ward.
- Overseas Vietnamese bearing Vietnamese nationality must possess a valid Vietnamese passport; those holding a foreign passport must produce documents evidencing their Vietnamese nationality under the Nationality.
- In the case of those with Vietnamese origin, they must possess a foreign passport together with written certification of their Vietnamese origin issued by competent Vietnamese.
- For foreign individuals, passports must have entry and exit immigration.
- Individual houses built with two or more floors with designs on each floor, built in the closed style, with floor space from 30m2 upwards, and meet the conditions prescribed by law shall be issued certificates for each apartment in that house; and land use rights associated with this housing as common.
- Before the expiry of 03 months home ownership, foreign individuals can carry out the procedures for ownership extension of time to one, but not more than 50 years.
- Also, before expiry, the owner can sell or donate the house as prescribed by law. The purchasing or receiving party will be allowed for indefinite term of residence if they are Vietnamese citizens, or are Vietnamese residing abroad. If not, the house ownership term will be only for the remaining term. When the term expires, house ownership and rights of land use shall be transferred back to the initial owners, then their heir or legal successor of the initial owners or individuals, or the organizations as prescribed by law.
- The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Security have the responsibilities of specifying prohibited areas or areas restricting foreign citizens. And these two Ministries will provide written notice to the provincial People’s Committee to direct Department of Construction to specify each investment project built commercial housing in the province to be sold to foreign individuals and organizations.
- Foreign organization and individual ownership of units in an apartment building may not exceed 30% of total units in one apartment building. In the event of an area with geographical boundary equivalent to ward level with many apartment buildings for sale or lease purchase, then foreign organizations and individuals may own no more than 30% of the total units of each apartment building, and not more than 30% of the total units of all the apartment.
- For housing projects which have separate houses for sale or lease purchase, the foreign organizations and individuals’ ownership must not exceed 10% of the total number of separate houses for each project. In the event of an area with geographical boundary equivalent to ward level with several projects where the number of individual houses are more than 2,500 units, then the foreign organizations and individuals’ ownership must not exceed 250.
- The information on the list of residential projects allowed for foreign individuals and organizations to sell, lease and purchase as well as the number of houses owned by foreign individual and organization that have been granted certificates will be posted on the website of the Department of Department of Construction.
Resolution No. 19 | New Regulations (from 1 July ‘15) |
· A foreigner, subject to certain criteria and working in Vietnam for at least one year. | · Foreigners who are allowed to enter Vietnam. |
· Allowed to buy one (01) condo. | · Unlimited condos. |
· Ownership term: 50 years, no extension. | · Ownership term: 50 years, extendable subject to applicable laws.· Indefinite term for foreigners married to Vietnamese citizens. |
· No sub-lease. | · Foreigners are allowed to lease, mortgage, contribute as capital, gift, bequest, exchange, etc., subject to certain limitations. |
How to Open a Company in VIetnam
20th October 2020 According to the Global Finance FDI Index, Vietnam is one of the top countries for foreign direct investment. Therefore, foreign investors are opening company in Vietnam to do business in the country. The question is how to open company in Vietnam lawfully, efficiently and costly?How to Set up a Foreign Company in Vietnam
20th October 2020 The following is a guide on how to set up a foreign company in Vietnam so that foreign investors shall do business in Vietnam legally and efficiently.More Legal Responsibilities Required with Establishing Budding Startups Across Vietnam
20th October 2020 Startups require special assistance when it comes to making it big in any field, even after a sharp influx of funds. Pham Duy Khuong, managing director of ASL LAW, writes about the legal framework for a startup and recommendations relating to basic legalities, which clarify how founders avoid risks after mobilising investment from funds.EVFTA: Enhanced protection and conditions for EU entrants in Vietnam
20th October 2020 (Published on VIR). August 1 has become a historic milestone for EU-Vietnam relations as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) officially came into force to have a major impact on the economy and the legal system of Vietnam.Filing a Patent in Vietnam
20th October 2020 When filing patent in Vietnam, it is necessary to know procedure, required documents to Vietnam patent entry including PCT Patent in Vietnam, direct patent.Vietnam Trademark Procedure
20th October 2020 When doing business in Vietnam, it is necessary to register trademark in Vietnam to protect your rights. The following article shall provide full knowledge on Vietnam trademark registration.Covid -19: Can Force Majeure Events Be Applied in Vietnam in Terms of Contract Breach
20th October 2020 Corona (Covid -19) shall cause legal disputes to foreign businesses in Vietnam. Therefore, the article shall analyze legal disputes in terms of application of majeure conditions.Franchise in Vietnam – Procedure and Required Documents
16th October 2020 Vietnam market is very potential for franchise activities to international brands. When doing franchise in Vietnam, franchisor and franchisee should know about legal requirements to franchise in Vietnam as follows.Firms to Adhere to Anti-Dumping Law in Vietnam
25th September 2020 Anti-dumping regulations are among the important issues that Vietnamese and foreign businesses are interested in. Why is this the case, and what factors are involved in determining whether these regulations are being followed?Notes to The Process of Anti-Dumping Investigation in Vietnam
25th September 2020 Recently, Vietnam has been initiating 10 cases of an anti-dumping investigations against products imported from foreign countries like India, Malaysia, Thailand, China and others. It is expected that there shall be more cases in the next years. Therefore, it is significant to know about the process of anti-dumping investigation in Vietnam.Doing Business in Vietnam
24th September 2020 Vietnam has become the fast-economic growth in Asian countries (GDP growth 6% to 7% from 2016 to 2018). Doing business in Vietnam is a good option for foreign investors now. Foreign investors should note 04 legal guides to doing business in Vietnam as follows.Vietnam Labour Law: How to Pay Salary for Employees During the Covid 19 Outbreak(NCOV)
10th September 2020 During the past time, due to the impact of Covid – 19 epidemic production and business of many enterprises have encountered difficulties. The question is how to pay salary to employees during the Covid 19 (NCOV)? Recently, Ministry Of Labour, War Invalids And Social Affairs has issued guidance on this with the following highlights.Guide to Opening a Representative Business Office in Vietnam
10th September 2020 Guide to Opening a Representative Business Office in Vietnam When doing business in Vietnam, the foreign investors could select the option of opening Representative office in Vietnam. The following article shall figure out how to open representative office in Vietnam in terms of definition of representative office in Vietnam, advantage of the R.O in Vietnam, required documents for R.O in Vietnam, the procedure of opening the R.O.- Intellectual property: local firms