Event Report

The Legal 500’s second GC Summit: Vietnam built on the success of the 2023 gathering to provide an even more informative, illuminating and rewarding agenda of sessions for the country’s top in-house legal minds. With almost 200 people in attendance, including general counsel of large MNCs and Vietnamese companies and backed up by the key law firms of the country,  this was the most significant gathering of the Vietnamese legal community in recent years.

The event commenced with opening remarks by Joe Boswell, followed by Hong Le of GSK, who eloquently outlined the challenges and opportunities awaiting in-house counsel in Vietnam. Le’s insights set the tone for the day’s discussions, highlighting the importance of adaptability and strategic legal counsel in navigating the evolving legal landscape.

Throughout the day, attendees were treated to a series of engaging panels and presentations, covering a wide range of topics vital to legal practitioners in Vietnam. First up was Tilleke & Gibbins’ wide-ranging session ‘Pressing issues facing general counsel in 2024. Moderated by Michelle Ray-Jones and Chuyen Hong Huu Le of Tilleke & Gibbins, the discussionprovided valuable insights into the evolving role of general counsel amidst transformative technological and regulatory changes. Panellists from Novartis and Nestlé Vietnam shared their perspectives on data privacy, managing legal budgets, and harnessing AI for legal efficiency.

Practical guidance on sensitive employee terminations was up next alongside Russin & Vecchi. After an introduction by Nguyen Huu Minh Nhut, Dao Thi Ai then offered practical strategies for managing employee terminations ethically and effectively, safeguarding both company reputation and employee rights in the process.

Mark Fraser and newly announced partner Gwendoline Brooker of Frasers Law firm then moderated a discussion on ESG matters in Vietnam. Noted leading in-house counsel Minh Vu of Haleon and Tran Long Ha of AES fed in to the discussion, which provided thoughtful analysis on ESG principles, emphasising their growing importance in Vietnam’s journey towards sustainable development. The various implications for legal teams of local and international businesses were also analysed.

Pham Duy Khuong and Nguyen Tien Hoa of ASL Law then provided invaluable insights into compliance with new regulations on personal data protection, IP law, and global minimum tax, crucial for businesses engaging in M&A, both from a buy and sell-side perspective.

Minh Duong and fellow panelists Duc Tran of Credit Vietnam and Hao Tran of BW Industrial Development then shed light on the elevated view of risk management for modern general counsel in their discussion, emphasising proactive crisis prevention and effective crisis management strategies as well as liaising effectively with business leaders.

A panel featuring experts from LNT & Partners, including managing partner Hoang Nguyen Ha Quyen, along with in-house counsel Le Anh Tuan of FWD Insurance, explored the intricacies of data protection regulations in Vietnam, offering practical guidance for ensuring compliance and safeguarding sensitive information in the digital era. This session led to an extended Q&A with the audience, who were keen to learn from the experts on-stage.

Dr. Oliver Massmann of Duane Morris Vietnam then took to the stage and, in his own inimitable and highly energetic way, provided insights into conducting business compliantly in Vietnam based on his extensive experience over multiple decades. He outlined the factors that are crucial for companies navigating the local legal landscape when organising deals and getting them over the line.

The conference concluded with a freewheeling session on the banking and finance outlook in 2024, offering predictions and insights from various perspectives, including private practice and corporate viewpoints. Moderated by partner Ho Thuy Ngoc Tram of Frasers Law Company, the panel benefited from the viewpoints of two highly experienced legal counsel. Thuy Ngoc Tram of Cathay United Bank gave a thorough overview of the banking and finance landscape in Vietnam, while Yin Ee Ong of Warisan TC Holdings, who flew in from Kuala Lumpur especially to input to the panel discussion, spoke of her experiences in setting up Hong Leong’s Vietnam branch in her prior career.

The GC Summit Vietnam 2024 was a roaring success, and generated hugely positive feedback from attendees in the post-summit drinks reception. The Legal 500 will be back in Vietnam for our GC Powerlist 2024 edition in Q4 this year. If you are a leading in-house lawyer who would like to be considered for inclusion, or know of one who should be, you can get in touch with [email protected] to make a nomination.

In association with...