Foreign Attorney
TEL |
+84-28-3827-3886 |
E-MAIL |
binh.tran@leeko.com |
|
|
With over 13 years of experience practicing law in Vietnam, Tran Thanh Binh is a key member of Lee & Ko’s Vietnam office, specializing in foreign direct investment, real estate, banking and finance, mergers and acquisitions, and energy.
At Lee & Ko, Mr. Binh has advised a broad range of high-profile clients, including leading financial institutions such as Keb Hana Bank, Woori Bank, Shinhan Bank, and Samsung Securities. He has also worked with prominent corporate investors on intricate cross-border transactions, solar power project financing, syndicated loans, and significant real estate ventures. Beyond major projects, he provides ongoing legal counsel to both large corporations and niche enterprises in industries such as manufacturing, duty-free retail, and cinema operations, with notable clients including CJ Vietnam, Lotte Phu Khanh, Lotte Entertainment, and LotteCinema Vietnam. Additionally, Mr. Binh is a respected legal training coach, conducting annual compliance training sessions for corporate groups such as CJ Vietnam (2021–2023) and Marine Connections Vietnam (2023), as well as for local financial institutions like Vietnam Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VietBank) in 2024.
Before joining Lee & Ko in 2017, Mr. Binh sharpened his skills at VILAF and an international investment venture, while simultaneously enriching the legal field as a finance lecturer at the University of Law in Ho Chi Minh City. His strategic insight and deep understanding of Vietnam’s evolving legal framework have solidified his reputation as a trusted legal advisor to multinational corporations operating in the region.
Education
2012 |
Monash Law Chamber, Australia – LL.M. (Commercial Law) |
2009 |
University of Law of Ho Chi Minh City – LL.B. |
Work Experience
2017-Present |
Lee & Ko |
2016 |
Legal Consultant, Sugar Ventures Pte Ltd |
2015-2016 |
Gia Luat Group |
2014-2017 |
Lecturer of Commercial Law Faculty, Ho Chi Minh City University of Law |
2014-2015 |
Tran Trung and Associates Law Firm (TTA) |
2012-2014 |
Vilaf - Hong Duc |
2009 |
Legal Staff, Department of Justice (HCMC) |
Expertise
Mergers & Acquisitions |
Real Estate |
Outbound Investment |
Banking |
Labor & Employment |
Foreign Investment |
Energy · Natural Resources |
Languages
Representative Cases
[Banking and Finance]
- Advised Keb Hana Bank, Singapore Branch, and Woori Bank, Singapore Branch, on financing a solar power project in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, with (i) a commitment of USD 50 million in 2018, (ii) a USD 39.45 million refinancing loan in 2021, and (iii) a USD 24.438 million refinancing loan in 2024
- Advised on a VND 89.4 billion onshore term loan in 2024 between Shinhan Bank Vietnam Limited as the lender and SG (Solar Green) Vina Company Limited as the borrower
- Advised on a USD 100 million syndicated loan in 2023 involving Mirae Asset Finance Company (Vietnam) Limited as the borrower, a consortium of financial institutions as the offshore original lenders, and a commercial bank in Vietnam serving as the security agent and collection account bank
- Advised on a USD 20 million bridge loan in 2022 between New Renewable Energy No. 1 Joint Stock Company as the borrower and Woori Bank, Singapore Branch, as the lender
- Advised a foreign investor on the subscription of a portion of USD 525 million fixed-rate exchangeable bonds issued by Vingroup Joint Stock Company in May 2022
- Advised on an Onshore Guarantee in 2021, issued by Woori Bank Vietnam Limited as the guarantor, in connection with a USD 50 million Offshore Credit Agreement involving No Va Land Investment Group Corporation as the borrower, Meritz Securities Co. Ltd. as the arranger, Stark1st Co. Ltd. as the original lender, and Woori Bank Vietnam Limited as the agent, security agent, and account bank
- Advised a consortium of lenders, including Keb Hana Bank, Bank of China Limited, and Shinhan Bank, on financing a medium-density fiberboard production project in Thai Nguyen Province, with a commitment of EUR 100 million in 2019
- Advised Shinhan Bank and Samsung Securities Co. Ltd. on financing solar power projects in Khanh Hoa Province, with a commitment of USD 76.5 million in 2018
[Real Estate]
- Advised a Korean investor in exiting a real estate project in Tan Phu District from 2019 to 2021
- Advised a South Korean investor on an investment of USD 45 million in Project Lemongrass II.2 by Son Kim Land Corporation in 2018
- Advised a Singaporean investor on acquiring 80% of the shares in a local real estate company for a project on Phu Quoc Island in 2018
- Advised a Korean investor on an investment of USD 100 million in convertible preferred shares issued by a leading Vietnamese real estate company in 2017
[Merger and Acquisition]
- Advised on the merger between AJ Total Vietnam Co., Ltd. as the surviving entity and AJ Total Ha Noi Co., Ltd. as the merging entity in 2024
- Advised Shinwoo Vina Co., Ltd. on the acquisition of the entire charter capital owned by two foreign investors in Ecotude Co., Ltd., located in an industrial zone in Binh Duong province, in 2023, and on the merger of two entities in 2024
- Advised Hyundai Elevator (Korea) on the acquisition of a 10% stake in Hoa Binh Construction Joint Stock Company (stock code: HBC), valued at USD 25 million, through a private placement in 2019
- Advised STIC Investment on the purchase of new ordinary shares issued by Viet Uc Seafood Joint Stock Company, amounting to USD 33 million in 2018
[Energy]
- Advising Korean investors to purchase all the equity interests being owned by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) companies
- Advised foreign investors to develop and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fired power generation center in Vietnam
- Advised foreign investors to acquire 100% of the total issued and outstanding shares of 02 solar power projects in Binh Thuan province
- Advised foreign investors to acquire 45% of the issued and outstanding shares of a solar power project in Ninh Thuan province from its foreign shareholder
[Taxation]
- Advised a foreign leading steel company related to taxation, for instance matters on transfer pricing, tax assessments and inspections, and method identifying the market price