Biography

Mr. Bui Cong Thanh was originally a trader like his mother, he was in charge of the family’s agricultural commodity business in the South of Vietnam from the early 1990s. At the same time, he graduated from commercial accounting at the College of Commerce directly under the Ministry of Trade of Vietnam. In 1993, he was assigned by the family to manage an additional industrial factory specialized in manufacturing high-class cosmetic products. Despite his busy business, but with a burning dream of working in legal activities like his father, he continued to study at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law to become a law practitioner. During his time in law school, he was still in charge of the family’s business and regularly participated in legal activities arising from the business as an internal lawyer. He also used his legal knowledge to actively support organizations performing social works and participate in law dissemination.

From 2000 to 2005, he joined a law office in Ho Chi Minh City as an assistant to the Chief of Office and participated in consulting and litigation at courts of all levels related to the fields of labor and taxation. From 2005 to 2007, he worked for a company specializing in providing solutions of investment and transaction of enterprises in Vietnam, where he was able to participate in many business transactions related to investment capital and projects for foreign investors in various sectors such as services, retailing, manufacturing, technology, hospitality or food & beverage. In 2007, he joined a prestigious law firm in Ho Chi Minh City as Managing Lawyer, in charge of taxation, labor, intellectual property, real estate, commerce, and investment, primarily assisting foreign traders in Vietnam. At that time, he had the opportunity to develop his strengths through M&A deals by offering practical and effective solutions to help foreign investors from many countries to smoothly deploy many investment projects in Vietnam.

In 2009, he founded PLF with the desire to bridge the different legal understandings, connecting diverse business practices and many rich cultures. Since the early days of establishment, he has wholeheartedly and enthusiastically devoted his knowledge to foreign investors in Vietnam to help them understand and integrate into the business culture and laws of the country. With the empathy and sympathy for the difficulties faced by foreign traders, he always offers practical solutions tailored for entrepreneurs, to overcome initial difficulties and grow their businesses successfully in Vietnam.

As Managing Partner of PLF Law Firm for more than 10 years, Mr. Bui Cong Thanh has ensured the team always meets the clients’ requirements and specificities whilst maintaining professional integrity.

Professional Expertise

Mr. Bui Cong Thanh is highly regarded by his clients in foreign investment activities in Vietnam. He is notably focusing on real estate and M&A deals related to enterprises operating in various sectors such as services, retailing, manufacturing, technology, hospitality or food & beverage. For more than 20 years, he has helped many investors from Japan, Korea, China, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, UK, etc. to be successful with their investment projects in Vietnam.

Notable Cases

Advising and representing for Pacific Silver Company in Hong Kong to negotiate to acquire a wool factory in Tien Giang worth USD 3.4 million.
Advising and supporting Evolable Asia (VN) to perform M&A deals in Vietnam and oversea investment worth USD 12 million.
Advising and supporting Global Cyber Soft (VN) to carry out the work after the M&A deal with Hitachi Consulting.
Advising and supporting UL VS (VN) – The world’s leading testing group in Vietnam to establish an international standard laboratory in Vietnam worth USD 3.2 million.
Advising and supporting Schade, leading heavy industry group in Germany, to sell heavy industrial equipment to the steel smelting factories of Formosa (VN) worth € 16 million.
Advising and supporting TEX – The world’s largest zipper manufacturer to open a factory in Vietnam worth USD 3.5 million.
Advising Khai Hoan – The leading manufacturer of medical gloves in Vietnam to export to foreign countries with a total value of USD 40 million per year.
Advising Siam Brother (VN) – Thailand’s leading rope manufacturer to sell shares to Smart Investment Company worth USD 5 million.
Advising VietGlove to build a factory to manufacture medical gloves worth USD 10 million.
Advising and supporting Global Cybersoft (VN) to transfer USD 4 million of profit to abroad.
Advising Shinsung Eng – Korean leading energy group, to invest in establishing a USD 2.2 million energy project in Vietnam.
Advising Cat Thai – one of the pioneer groups in supporting industry in Vietnam, producing electronic components and precision accessories for leading corporations in Japan and Korea, totaling USD 25 million per year.
Advising and supporting Nam Do Rubber Company to re-structure worth USD 3 million.
Advising Khai Hoan to perform and finalize a wastewater treatment system worth USD 1.5 million.
Advising Khai Hoan to build the third factory to manufacture gloves worth USD 7 million.

Professional Associations

Vietnam Business Lawyers Club (VBLC)

Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)

Admissions

Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association

Vietnam Bar Federation

Education

Bachelor of Commercial Accountancy, College of Commerce (1992)

Bachelor of International Law, Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (1999)

Bachelor of English, Ho Chi Minh City Open University (2007)

Languages

Vietnamese