What are the most significant cases and transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

I was extensively involved in a variety of energy M&A transactions spanning the upstream sector (oil & gas exploration and production) to the downstream sector (power plants) in the Vietnam market. I assisted our Board and Business Development team in expanding our company’s project pipelines, incorporating both brownfield and greenfield power projects with a total capacity of up to 4GW. These projects included onshore wind, offshore wind, and thermal power. Furthermore, I was involved in managing the EPC contract for renewable power plants totalling 60MW. I took the lead in handling disputes with EPC contractors that arose during the construction phase of the plants. I am now contributing to my company’s efforts in developing the very first LNG-to-power combined infrastructure to support two CCGT power plants with a total capacity of 4500MW.

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?

My approach is to utilise all available internal resources before outsourcing to external lawyers, aiming to better manage costs for my companies. While I will not delve into specific cases here, I have always maintained close communication with external lawyers so that they thoroughly understand our issues and expectations. This allows them to develop tailored and practical solutions for our business with minimal effort and time.

How do you see the general counsel role evolving in Vietnam over the next five-ten years?

The role of the general counsel in the Vietnamese business market has been evolving quite rapidly in recent years, despite not keeping pace with their counterparts in developed countries, in my opinion. One of the reasons for this is the underdevelopment of the Vietnamese legal system. However, the role of the general counsel has proven to be crucial for foreign-invested businesses, where the combination of international experience, local knowledge, and highly technical expertise is deeply required for the success of FDI businesses, especially large-scale ones with investment capital of up to billions of USD.

In the next ten years, in addition to remaining pivotal strategic advisors to the Board, general counsel will be involved in effectively adapting and managing their work under the influence of AI and playing a central role in ESG matters. This is particularly significant as the world moves towards a greener and more sustainable future.

What are some of the main trends impacting your industry in Vietnam?

The commitment of countries in general, and Vietnam in particular, to achieving net-zero by 2050 has had a significant impact on the development and direction of the energy industry. Renewable and green powers will be the focus. Vietnam is strongly transitioning its energy industry to greener, more sustainable, and affordable sources to attract more foreign investment, especially in the manufacturing sector.