Vilaf marks two decades with new expatriate partner announcement
Vilaf marks two decades with new expatriate partner announcement
Vilaf law firm toasted its 20th anniversary by announcing its first expatriate partner.
Vilaf celebrated its 20th anniversary in Hanoi last month and will celebrate the event in Ho Chi Minh City on January 17.
Also on this occasion, the firm for the first time in its history hired an expatriate partner, Kevin Hawkins, who joined Vilaf as its twelfth partner in December 2013.
Kevin Hawkins was a partner at Mayer Brown JSM in Vietnam before he joined Vilaf, based in Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh City managing partner Vo Ha Duyen stated, “We are very pleased to welcome Kevin to our growing corporate practice. Kevin’s experience in M&A and project development with American clients will be a valuable addition to our established capacity to serve international clients.”
Vilaf, formed in 1993 at the dawn of Vietnam’s economic reforms, has grown together with the country’s legal system and investment policies.
The firm has actively engaged in working with the government in the development of the investment laws and regulations and has advised multinational investors in many of the country’s landmark projects.
With more than 50 business lawyers, Vilaf has consistently ranked among the top three law firms in Vietnam by prestigious international legal editorials such as IFLR, Legal 500 and Chambers.
On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, Vilaf also received a merit award from Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong for the firm’s long-term contributions to the Vietnam’s legal profession.
Among the many deals Vilaf advised on last year was the bidding for the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet expressway project (Vietnam’s first PPP infrastructure project), several NEXI United syndicate facility agreements valued from $150 million to $300 million to finance energy and mining projects in Vietnam with the Ministry of Finance’s guarantee, an aircraft financing transaction with budget carrier VietJetAir, KKR’s acquisition of shares in Masan Consumer in a chain of complex private equity deals valued at $350 million, KrisEnergy’s Singapore IPO and listing transaction, SCG’s $240 million acquisition of the Prime Group and Vingroup’s $200 million Singapore convertible bond listing transaction.
Legal 500 - 2014 Edition hailed Vilaf for “highly sophisticated work” and its “excellent team that holds its own against competitors”.
vir
