Ha Noi (VNA)- Laywers expect that WTO membership will register a pitch for the legal consultation market in Viet Nam, but they call for strong partnership between domestic and international lawyer offices.
Prof. Andre Cabanis from the French Toulouse I University emphasised that the Vietnamese legal market has a great potential, in his brief talk with Viet Nam News Agency outside an international workshop on Asia-Pacific framework of economic laws, held recently in Ha Noi.
The famous university professor forecast that there will be an increasing number of businesses needing laywers for legal protection as Viet Nam is on the fast track towards a booming import-export market. He also said many French investors are keen to set up partnerships with Vietnamese businesses, thus needing legal consultation to be able to operate.
Nicolas Audier, Director of the Ha Noi and HCM City branches of the Gide Loyrettee et Nouel Law Office, shared the previous view, saying that WTO membership will induce big changes in tens, hundreds or even thousands of Vietnamese legal documents dealing with banking, insurance, mass media and services.
The French lawyer remarked that with such a huge number of new laws in need of drafting, Viet Nam now looks like a legal construction site.
It is a good opportunity for lawyers and jurists," said Nicolas, who has been in Viet Nam since the early 90s and has a good understanding of the local legal system, especially issues relating to investment.
The Director of the DS Avocats Viet Nam Law Office, Albert Franceskinj, said more and more local and foreign clients are coming to his office for consultation, especially since November, 2006.
The Vietnamese-French lawyer added that Vietnamese law offices should network with foreign colleagues to meet the increasing demand for legal consultation services and protection.
"It's pretty sure that Vietnamese businesses would come to local law offices for help, however, when they stumble over things related to foreign legal systems, lawyers should seek international partnership to meet clients' demand," he explained.
His view was echoed by a young laywer from the local Pham & Associates law office, who said Vietnamese businesses have already faced law suits on trademark disputes as well as anti-dumping taxes abroad.
"Local lawyer offices' failure in dealing with the cases would drive businesses to foreign lawyers for their strong experiences in international competition laws," he remarked.
He added "foreign law offices offen boast a broad international network which is still a disadvantage of local barristers. Otherwise, foreign law offices have not yet fully understood the local legal system, which is a strong point for the local partners."--Enditem
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