Global law firm Watson Farley & Williams has entered the Vietnamese market through an association with local law firm LVN & Associates who are based in Hanoi.
LVN & Associates has four lawyers and is led by founding partner Linh Quynh Doan, whose practice focuses on the energy sector. Linh Quynh Doan divides her time between the Hanoi office and Hong Kong.
Watson Farley & Williams co-managing partner Chris Lowe said the firm would only focus on its core sectors in the country, which are energy and natural resources and transport.
“It is a small and neat offering to give us specifically capability in the energy and natural resources sector, and also gives us the maritime and aviation capability,” said Lowe. He also confirmed plans of fully integrating LVN into WFW in the future.
As well as expanding its presence in South East Asia, Watson Farley & Williams is also looking at expanding into China. Lowe confirmed that the firm is considering launching in Beijing or Shanghai.
Watson Farley & Williams opened in Hong Kong in 2012 by opening an office in association with local firm Lau Leong & Co. The firm now has four bases in Asia: Bangkok, Hanoi, Hong Kong and Singapore.
