Bretton G. Sciaroni

Bretton G. Sciaroni has been a lawyer and investment adviser in Phnom Penh since 1993, making him one of the first foreign lawyers in Cambodia in the modern era.

For over twenty years, Mr. Sciaroni has advised national and international clients with investments and/or operations in Cambodia and has been a leading contributor to the development of the Cambodian economy and private sector.

Focusing principally on commercial law, Mr. Sciaroni negotiated the first foreign investment in Cambodia under the 1994 foreign investment law. The firm has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s ministries. Mr. Sciaroni has made significant contributions to legal development programs, assisting Cambodian governmental institutions in drafting laws and regulations.

In 1995, he entered into a partnership with Tilleke & Gibbins International, the oldest law firm in Thailand, opening an office in Phnom Penh. In 1994, he negotiated the first investment made under the Law on Investment. In 2004, the firm became independent and now operates as Sciaroni & Associates.

In 1996, Mr. Sciaroni was named a Legal Adviser to the Royal Government in a decree signed by King Norodom Sihanouk. He has been reappointed to this position by Royal Decree in successive governments from 1999. The position carries with it the rank of minister.

In addition to a number of other assignments, Mr. Sciaroni served on the Cambodian government delegation that traveled to Quebec City, Canada, in 2008 to attend the 32nd Session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, which inscribed the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site. He served in a similar capacity in successive Cambodian delegations since 2008. Most recently, the firm provided invaluable research on Colonial Property and Cultural Protection laws and drafted expert witness documentation for the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in support of the successful return of a 10th-century warrior statue stolen from the temple at Koh Ker.

Mr. Sciaroni continues to serve the private sector business community in key leadership positions. Since 1998 and 2002, he has served as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham Cambodia) and Chairman of the International Business Chamber of Cambodia, respectively. Mr. Sciaroni was named Vice Chairman representing the ASEAN region for the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC) in 2012. Mr. Sciaroni serves on the Boards of Directors of a number of entities, including banks, commercial enterprises, and non-governmental institutions.

Mr. Sciaroni served as the Co-Chairman of the Working Group on Law, Tax and Good Governance, comprised of private sector and government delegates to seek resolution of issues of concern in the business community. In recent years, Mr. Sciaroni was the head of the private sector delegation to successive meetings of the Consultative Group, held by the Royal Government of Cambodia and the donor community.