Event Report

Over 120 of Vietnam’s leading corporate counsel joined Legal 500 for our third GC Summit Vietnam at Caravelle in Ho Chi Minh City to learn from a variety of leading legal and business minds. The schedule packed a great deal of content into a half-day event, with investment management, employment law, investigations, digital transformation and the changing role of GCs on the agenda.

The opening session, in association with Frasers Law Company, highlighted the increasing involvement of legal teams in managing digital initiatives, cybersecurity, and data governance. Ho Thuy Ngoc Tram and Duong Thi Mai Huong, both partners at Frasers Law Company, shared insights on mitigating legal risks associated with AI, blockchain, and cloud computing. Nguyen Kim Dung, director of legal and government Affairs at British University Vietnam, emphasized the need for robust personal data governance strategies. Thao Lam Vu, general counsel – personal care for Southeast Asia & Vietnam at Unilever, and Le Thi Van Anh, legal director at NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam, provided operational perspectives on handling these challenges within corporate environments.

Our second session, overseen by LNT & Partners, addressed best practices for handling internal investigations and managing compliance risks. Tran Bui, vice president – legal, compliance, and ethics at Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam Ltd, discussed regulatory complexities and enforcement trends. Duy Thanh Nguyen and Kim Ngan Le, both senior associates at LNT & Partners, provided practical knowledge on managing compliance within Vietnam’s evolving legal landscape.

With workforce trends evolving due to remote work and labour restructuring, our following session explored legal implications and risk management strategies. Mark Fraser, managing partner at Frasers Law Company, and Phan Xuan Qui, head of tax at Frasers Law Company, highlighted the impact of changing labour laws and employer responsibilities in adapting to new workforce expectations.

A comprehensive overview of legal considerations for Vietnamese companies investing in regional markets was then provided by ASL Law. Nguyen Tien Hoa, Do Ba Thich, and Nguyen Thi Thuy Chung, all senior partners at ASL Law, along with Vu Tuan Anh, senior associate at ASL Law, discussed corporate structuring, intellectual property protection, and dispute resolution mechanisms essential for expansion into Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, and China.

The closing panel examined how in-house counsel in Vietnam are adapting to new regulatory and business challenges. Thuy Tran, legal affairs head at Cathay United Bank, shared insights on evolving expectations from legal departments. Ho Vinh Long, general counsel at HSBC Bank (Vietnam), and Tran Thi Minh Thu, director of legal at Ho Tram Project Company, elaborated on strategies for navigating the increasing demands placed on in-house counsel.

Thank you to our sponsors Frasers Law Company, ASL Law and LNT & Partners for making the event possible. We are already looking forward to returning for our next edition in 2026.

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