ZICO Law is pleased to announce a new Executive Management Team for ZICO Law Vietnam. Ms Phuong Nguyen will be the Managing Partner of ZICO Law Vietnam, based in Hanoi. With more than 20 years of experience in banking and financial, corporate, commercial and global trading matters, Phuong’s reputation and breadth of experience has earned her accolades from prominent legal publications across the region, including Chambers Global 2011 that quoted, “Mai Phuong Nguyen is a talented finance lawyer and is carving herself a strong reputation in the market.”

Joining Phuong in managing ZICO Law Vietnam are Co-Executive Partners in the Ho Chi Minh Office, Mr Kevin Hawkins and Mr Tay Zi Li.

Kevin Hawkins joins ZICO Law Vietnam as of 1 July 2018 after a successful tenure as Partner at VILAF. Prior to that, he was a Partner at Mayer Brown JSM for four years in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Kevin has more than 20 years of experience as a US lawyer, with 15 years as a registered foreign lawyer in Vietnam. Based in HCMC, Kevin has advised clients on a variety of legal matters, notably in corporate, M&A, international trade, dispute resolution, energy projects, and real estate. He is a Recommended Corporate and M&A Lawyer by the Asia Pacific Legal 500 and according to Chambers Asia Pacific, Kevin is regarded as “clear, confident and knowledgeable and has solid experience in M&A work, public listings and both onshore and offshore investment.”

Tay Zi Li has been with ZICO Law since 1 November 2011 and is a true ‘thoroughbred’ of the ZICO Law Network.  Zi Li advanced through the ranks under the guidance and leadership of a multiple award-winning senior partner, Ms Lilian Liew from Zaid Ibrahim & Co. Zi Li’s practice includes debt capital markets, Islamic finance, project finance and single and multi-currency facility and transactions.

The changes in the Executive Management Team follow the planned retirement of former ZICO Law Vietnam Managing Partner David Lim. David’s retirement comes at the end of a productive tenure, having been with ZICO for over 15 years, spearheading the  establishment of the HCMC office in 2012, and the Hanoi office in 2013. Winning awards and accolades during his tenure, David surpassed ZICO Law’s vision for a home grown ASEAN law firm, to be the go-to law firm in ASEAN.

ZICO Law Network Regional Managing Partner, Hanim Hamzah commented, “I am truly excited to work with Phuong in her new capacity as ZICO Law Vietnam’s Managing Partner. With the support of Kevin and Zi Li, we build on the strong team at both the Hanoi and HCMC offices as we deliver value added services to our existing and new clients in Vietnam and those in other ASEAN member countries of the ZICO Law Network.”