“He regularly represents clients in both litigation and arbitration. He has experience acting for a range of international companies on arbitration matters, including in SIAC proceedings.“ – Chambers Asia-Pacific
Dr. Chau Huy Quang is Managing Partner of Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers.
As a lawyer acting as a leading legal advisor to international corporations in Vietnam, Dr. Chau Huy Quang is recognized in the regional legal community as an excellent commercial dispute lawyer. Dr. Quang’s experience covers foreign investment, commercial transactions, employment, investment arbitration, maritime law, and construction for both dispute settlement and transaction work. From complex construction disputes to arbitrations over projects of national significance, Dr. Quang has been highly regarded by clients for his advocacy and strategic advice, being able to untangle complex and sensitive disputes involving the state authorities. Dr. Quang has successfully litigated for and against governments and government-linked entities.
With more than 24 years of experience in the legal field, Dr. Quang is ranked as a leading lawyer by many well-recognized legal organizations including The Legal 500 Asia–Pacific, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Asia Legal Business, IFLR1000 in the categories of Commercial Dispute Resolution, Investment, Construction, Intellectual Property, and Tariffs. Dr. Quang was the first Vietnamese lawyer to be recognized as “Regional Managing Partner of the Year” in the ASIAN at the Asian Legal Business SE Asia Law Awards in 2018, and as one of the best Asian litigation lawyers in 2018 by The Legal 500. Dr. Quang is a prestigious commercial arbitrator of VIAC, SIAC and a member of the ICC arbitration court in Vietnam for two consecutive terms.
EXPERIENCE
International Trade and Commerce
- Acted for a former high-ranking government official in an investment dispute of almost US$2.5 billion under the Vietnam – US bilateral trade agreement.
- Acted for a Vietnamese commodities trader in ICC arbitration against a Siberian company in respect of a contractual dispute regarding the sale of activated carbon (Paris seat).
- Acted for a Singaporean company in the recovery of a loan against a Vietnamese company arising from a joint venture contract.
- Acted for a Vietnamese company in a multimillion-dollar construction litigation at the People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City, including the first hearing and appellate phases of the dispute.
- Acted for a Canadian company in a VIAC arbitration against a Vietnamese company in respect of a contractual dispute.
- Acting for a private waste management company in a Singapore-seated arbitration (SIAC) commenced to pursue claims for alleged breaches of a contract for delivery, receipt and treatment of solid waste for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- Advised a Chinese company on contractual claims against an investor for outstanding payment of approximately US$7 million.
- Acted for a Spanish commodities trader in VIAC arbitration against a Vietnamese company in a pepper sale and dispute.
- Acted for the client as claimant and counterclaim respondent before the People’s Court of HCMC against Vietnamese construction company in connection with recovery of a loan given for a joint venture development project.
- Acted in a dispute against a Vietnamese agent, warehouse operator, and goods owner before the People’s Court of Long An Province in relation to damage to transported tobacco leaves stored in a warehouse.
- Advising on recourse and initiation of arbitral proceedings (under the Rules of VIAC) in connection with defaults on various loan agreements and in the breakdown of a joint venture for the development of an international hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Providing legal advice to a Malaysian financial company in a dispute arising from the Share Purchase Agreement and ancillary agreements between the involved parties.
Energy and Resources
- Advised a German manufacturing company in resolving multiple disputes arising out of a power production project.
- Advised a Vietnamese contractor on claims against a subcontractor regarding delays in constructing a gas pipeline in Vung Tau Province, Vietnam.
- Acted for a Vietnamese oil company in a VIAC arbitration against a British Virgin Islands company in respect of the sale and purchase of a US$6+ million FPSO vessel.
- Representing a Chinese listed insurer in the pursuit of non-contractual damages in connection with the spontaneous combustion of the materials which resulted in a vessel fire.
- Acted for a Singaporean engineering company in ICC arbitration against a Vietnamese state-owned enterprise in respect of the construction of fueling facilities in Tan Son Nhat Airport.
- Acted for a Singaporean energy company as co-respondent in an SG$1.1 billion SIAC arbitration (Singapore seat) in relation to the proposed termination of an EPC contract for the construction of the Thermal Power Plant project occasioned by the imposition of economic sanctions by the US against Russian companies.
- Representing a major Vietnamese gas & oil company as a lead counsel for the co-respondent in a US$3+ billion, multi-party, Singapore-seated SIAC arbitration concerning the termination of an EPC contract of the Long Phu 1 Thermal Power Plant Project in Vietnam.
Real Estate and Infrastructure
- Acted for a Hong Kong developer on multiple major real estate disputes in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Acted for a Vietnamese company in VIAC arbitration with a claim value of over US$7 million concerning investment capital for a building complex.
- Acted for a US architectural manufacturing company in a dispute with distributors in Vietnam.
- Acted for a Vietnamese company in a litigation at a Vietnamese court for unpaid rent arrears.
- Advised a South Korean company in multiple lease disputes with its tenants in Vietnam.
- Acted for a Vietnamese company in litigation in a dispute over the largest electrical facility in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Vietnam.
- Acted for a Singaporean real estate company as a related party before the courts against claims pursued by subcontractors of a residential project after the insolvency of the main contractor.
- Acted for a Danish real estate company as claimant and counterclaim respondent before the People’s Court of HCMC against Vietnamese construction company in connection with recovery of a loan given for a joint venture development project.
- Representing a Singaporean construction company in a claim of process to request overdue payment.
Employment
- Acted for a Hong Kong software company as respondent in proceedings before the People’s Court of District 1 brought by an ex-employee on grounds of alleged unlawful dismissal.
- Acted for a Singaporean furniture company as claimant before the People’s Court against an ex-employee regarding termination due to the disclosure of photographs/drawings of equipment and trade secrets.
Tax
- Representing A German multinational engineering & technology company in the first instance stage before competent Court to challenge the imposing a tax collection of US$5+ million and late payment penalty of US$4+ million.
- Representing a Singaporean banking institution adjudicated under the arbitration rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre pertaining to the claw back of certain tax payments in connection with the sale by the client of its retail banking business in Vietnam to an Australian bank.
MEMBERSHIPS/ DIRECTORSHIPS
- Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
- Member, Vietnam Bar Federation
- Member, Management Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association
- Member, Law Association for Asia and the Pacific
- Jurist, Vietnam Jurist Association
- Lecturer, Judicial Academy of Ministry of Justice of Vietnam
- Listed Arbitrator, Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC)
- Mediator of Vietnam Mediation Centre
- Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)
- Accredited Mediator of CEDR/IFC
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
- A-list 2024: Vietnam’s Top 100 Lawyers, Asia Business Law Journal
- Leading Lawyers – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022,2023,2024
- Leading Lawyers – IFLR1000 2022, 2023, 2024
- Elite Dispute Resolution Lawyer – Asialaw 2023-2024
- “Litigation Star” Award in Trade, Commercial and Construction – Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2023
- Top Lawyers – Asialaw 2022
- Top 50 Dispute Lawyers – Asian Legal Business 2021
- Regional Managing Partner of the Year – Asian Law Awards Southeast Asia 2018
- Top Lawyer Award in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration, Litigation – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Award (2018-now)
- Band 3 in Litigation – Chambers Asia-Pacific (2014-now)
- Top Lawyer Aware in Dispute Resolution – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2013
PUBLICATIONS
- “Tiến sĩ, Luật sư Châu Huy Quang: “Lấy pháp quyền làm trọng” – Bao Ve Cong Ly Forum, 2024
- “Comparative and Critical Analysis of Investor-state Dispute Settlement Regime in Vietnam” – Golden Gate University School of Law 2019
- Book “Investor-state dispute settlement mechanism in the context of reforms of Vietnam’s investment framework and judicial”
- To Sign or not to Sign? A Conundrum of Vietnam’s Accession to the ICSID, 2019
- Huyen Nhu – VietinBank and the Test to Secure Private Interests, 2018
- “The current state of commercial and investment arbitration in Vietnam” – Legal Business Online 2017
- The Yukos Claim And The Russian Federation: Lessons Learned In Getting The Balance Right Between Public Rights And Private Interest, 2017
- “Corruption”, Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon, (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, January 2014, published in Vietnamese.
- “Domain name dispute settlement”, The Saigon Times Weekly, January 2014, published in English.
