SINGAPORE (June 30): With an eye on growing possibilities brought about the formation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC), law firm RHTLaw Taylor Wessing’s has expanded into Vietnam by merging with PBC Partners & RHTLaw.

The move comes after RHTLaw Taylor Wessing’s alliance with PBC Partners in early 2014 to form PBC Partners & RHTLaw. Today, the two firms deepen their integration to offer clients seamless cross-border services.

RHTLaw Taylor Wessing Vietnam, which has 25 lawyers in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, brings on board the wider RHTLaw Taylor Wessing experience and expertise in areas ranging from foreign direct investments, mergers and acquisition, real estate, energy, hospitality, healthcare, construction, banking & finance, international trade, telecommunication, taxation, employment, and dispute resolution.

Tan Chong Huat (picture), RHTLaw Taylor Wessing’s Managing Partner, notes that Vietnam is one of the fastest growing markets in the world, and will play an increasingly important role in Asean’s economy.

“The merger signals our commitment to intensify our Asean growth strategy via our “Asean+” network. What started out as an alliance of like-minded law firms has now grown into a pre-eminent legal firm in Vietnam,” he adds.

“Our base in Vietnam allows us to actively serve our clients’ business needs across the region, providing on-the-ground counsel to guide them through the legal challenges posed by cross border transactions and operations,” says Tan.

Azman Jaafar, Deputy Managing Partner of RHTLaw Taylor Wessing and Chairman of the Asean+ Group, adds that Vietnam can help to function as a gateway to other IndoChina economies such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

RHTLaw Taylor Wessing Vietnam will be led by Tran Thanh Hai as Managing Partner, who brings over 20 years of legal experience in mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, telecommunications, employment, land, taxation, technology and commercial law. Prior to forming PBC Partners & RHTLaw, he was with Courdert Brothers, Deasons Vietnam and PwC Legal Vietnam.

Hai will be assisted by Senior Partner Benjamin Yap, a Vietnam-registered foreign lawyer who is called to the Singapore and English Bar, and has extensive experience in corporate and commercial transactions.

Yap brings more than 20 years of experience handling mergers and acquisitions, real estate, corporate compliance and governance, and employment matters for local and international clients.

In the coming months, partners from Singapore and Vietnam will be seconded to each other’s offices, in a deliberate move to share experience.