Phong Tran

Practice Areas

M&A, Private Equity, and Corporate

Energy, Project, & Infrastructure

Banking and Finance

Construction & Real Estate

Career

With 28 years’ broad experience in law practice, Phong has represented numerous international sponsors and lenders in relation to foreign invested projects in oil & gas, power, chemical, automobile, aircraft, sea-port, highway, telecommunication, insurance, real estate development, retail and distribution, and consumer goods industries. He is reputable in advising international businesses and banks on corporate restructuring and financing, share subscriptions, mergers and acquisitions transactions, ECA and syndicated financing, asset financing, and project financing in Vietnam. Phong is recommended  as  a  top-tier  lawyer  in  the  banking &  finance and  capital  market  practice  (Legal500, IFLR1000 and AsiaLaw) and the M&A practice (Legal500, Chambers&Partners and ALB).

Phong has been recognised as a market leader by IFLR1000 in banking & finance, corporate and infrastructure & energy. Who’s Who Legal recognised him as an expert in Energy and Aviation sectors and IFLR ranked Phong as an Asia Best Lawyer in three successive years of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (Vietnam top 4 lawyers). Legal500 honoured him in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Hall of Fame, among top 7 foreign and Vietnamese lawyers in this elite lawyer group for Vietnam. Phong is listed in the Vietnam’s top 100 lawyers list of Asia Business Law Journal and ranked in ALB Asia's Top 15 M&A Lawyers 2021.

Phong is a highly regarded attorney for his admirable capacity to provide practical solutions that well suit the clients' needs. The Legal 500, 2021 edition, commented “Creative and deep experienced team led by the founding partner, Mr. Tran Tuan Phong, providing excellent advice from various angles to see the possible solutions to difficult subjects in the projects and energy sector in Vietnam, especially at the juncture of delicate development of various energy projects in the country”.

Phong is highly rated by market commentators, who say he is “a highly respected projects lawyer who is widely recognised as a specialist in infrastructure and power project financing and acquisitions” and has “very positive and problem-solving” with “deep knowledge of the power sector and project finance deals.”

Professional Memberships

Member of the Standing Committee, Member of the National Bar Council of the Vietnam Bar Federation

Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, Vietnam Bar Federation

Chairman for the first term, Member of Management Board of Vietnam Business Lawyer Club (VBLC), Vietnam Bar Federation

Member of international organisations and professional associations such as Asia Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA), America Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham), International Bar Association (IBA)

Co-Head of the Infrastructure Group of Vietnam Business Forum (led by World Bank, IFC and foreign commercial chambers in Vietnam in dialog with the Vietnamese government)

Publications

Project Finance 2019 Vietnam on Chambers and Partners in 2018

Contribution to “Vietnam’s Strict FDI Rules Prevent Bank Rescues” published by IFLR in May 2017

Contribution to “Lawyers’ Handbook” published by Vietnam Bar Federation and JICA in 2017

“Global M&A Series – Vietnam M&A Handbook” published by Clifford Chance in 2015

“Asia Pacific Insolvency Guide – Vietnam Chapter” published by Clifford Chance in 2013

“Cross-border Financing 2013” published by IFLR in 2013

“Foreign Investment Guides” published by the Ministry of Planning and Investment published in 2009

“Vietnam’s WTO commitments to shape the legal framework for FDI” in 20 Years of Foreign Investment – Reviewing and Looking 1987-2007 of the Ministry of Planning and Investment published in 2006

“Vietnam Investment and Legal Guide Book” published by VILAF and Clifford Chance since 2005 with annual edition

“Vietnam’s Economic Liberalization and Outreach: Legal Reform” on Law and Business Review of the Americas published in 2003

“Taking Security in Vietnam” published by IFLR in June 2003