PRACTICE AREAS
Commercial Law & Competition Law
We advise domestic and international businesses on the legal frameworks that govern day-to-day operations, commercial transactions, and market competition across Singapore and Vietnam. Our practice ensures that your supply chains, distribution networks, licensing models, and market strategies are robust, compliant, and optimized for growth.
Our Core Expertise
Commercial Contracts & Distribution
Drafting and negotiating complex commercial arrangements, including franchise models, supply chain agreements, distribution and agency networks, and cross-border logistics contracts.
Intellectual Property Licensing
Structuring commercial licensing, technology transfers, and asset exploitation strategies, ensuring seamless alignment with international frameworks like the Madrid Protocol.
Antitrust & Merger Control Compliance
Assessing transactions, joint ventures, and market behaviors for competition risks, and preparing necessary notifications for regional antitrust authorities.
Regulatory Compliance & Consumer Protection
Guiding businesses through consumer data privacy mandates such as the PDPA, e-commerce regulations, advertising standards, and sector-specific product compliance.
Navigating Singapore
Active Antitrust Enforcement
The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) actively monitors markets for anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant position. Distribution agreements and joint-venture collaborations must not inadvertently trigger anti-competitive behavior.
Strict Data Privacy Accountability
Under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), Singapore enforces heavy financial penalties for data breaches. Any commercial agreement involving cross-border data transfers or automated technology requires rigorous data-processing terms and compliance frameworks.
Unrivaled Commercial Predictability
Singapore's commercial law, rooted in English common law, offers unparalleled freedom of contract. Businesses can structure sophisticated commercial clauses — including robust indemnities, liquidated damages, and limitation of liability caps — with absolute confidence they will be upheld.
A Hub for IP and Brand Commercialization
With a world-class intellectual property regime, Singapore serves as the ideal regional headquarters for holding and licensing IP assets safely across Southeast Asia, backed by efficient local enforcement and clear franchising laws.
Navigating Vietnam
Evolving Merger Control Hurdles
The Vietnam Competition Commission (VCC) enforces a broad merger control regime. Because notification thresholds are triggered by relatively wide metrics — total assets, revenues, or transaction value — even standard offshore commercial expansions can face unexpected notification delays.
Rigid E-Commerce and Digital Scrutiny
Vietnam has significantly tightened its regulatory grip on digital commerce, data localization, and online consumer services. Commercial structures involving online marketplaces or digital platforms must carefully navigate localized licensing requirements and strict state oversight.
The Rapid Modernization of Consumer & Franchise Law
Vietnam's updated commercial frameworks provide clearer pathways for international brands entering the market via franchising and licensing. While local registration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) remains mandatory, the process has become increasingly streamlined.
Strategic Adaptation of Distribution Networks
Navigating Vietnam's retail and distribution sector requires careful structuring due to conditional market access rules. Strategic local commercial partnerships and carefully drafted distribution agreements allow foreign investors to scale efficiently while staying fully compliant.
