ASL Law is the first Vietnamese law firm to launch an office in the US, primed by local businesses’ appetite to move into the American market, managing partner Pham Duy Khuong has told Asia Business Law Journal.
At the helm of ASL Law’s US operations will be Duyanh Tran, an experienced American attorney who specialises in patent analysis, patent prosecution support and IP portfolio strategy. Pham said that a US-qualified attorney was essential to ensure the firm complieds with both federal and state regulations.
Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, ASL Law’s US office will offer a broad range of legal services, including corporate and M&A advisory, international trade, dispute resolution and arbitration, intellectual property protection and enforcement, technology transfer and legal support for company establishment and operations in the US.
Pham said Vietnamese entities have shown growing interest in areas such as investment structuring, international trade, corporate governance, intellectual property protection and cross-border transactions, and expects strong activity in manufacturing, technology, consumer products and other export-oriented sectors.
“We are proud to be the first Vietnamese law firm opening [an] office in the United States. The move represents an important milestone in the firm’s international development strategy and reflects the increasing demand for legal services supporting Vietnamese businesses expanding abroad,” he told ABLJ.
Pham added that another key reason behind launching the US office was to “expand opportunities to seek and strengthen co-operation with US law firms in carrying out legal transactions for our clients”.
Conversely, he has also observed rising interest from American companies looking to invest in the Vietnamese market, particularly in the manufacturing, technology, logistics, renewable energy and consumer goods sectors.
“Vietnam continues to attract international investors due to its stable economic growth, competitive manufacturing capabilities, expanding consumer market, and strategic role in global supply chains. These factors, together with Vietnam’s participation in major international trade agreements, have made the country an increasingly attractive destination for foreign investment,” Pham said.
