Sereyrath Kiri

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Leaders in Law endorses Sereyrath Kiri as our exclusively recommended Corporate Law expert in Cambodia. If you wish to get in touch with Sereyrath please use the contact information provided above.

Sereyrath Kiri (纪国平) has legal experience in Cambodia and the USA. He was a member of the first Cambodian team to join the Willem C. Vis Moot International Commercial Arbitration in Austria in 2010. A member of Cambodian Bar Association and New York State Bar, Mr. Sereyrath holds a master degree of laws (LL.M) from University of Washington, Seattle. Also, Sereyrath is a commercial arbitrator registered with the National Commercial Arbitration of Cambodia (NCAC).

Currently he teaches corporate, security, and contract laws at Royal University of Law and Economics. He speaks Khmer, English, Mandarin, and basic Thai.

Prior to founding the firm, he worked as a legal advisor at a leading regional law office in Phnom Penh providing legal advice and assistance to local and foreign investors across multiple practice areas including:

  • Real estate and construction: drafting various real estate documents such as lease, sale and purchase, mortgage, and construction agreement. Advising on property transfer process, land due diligence, title conversion and consolidation. Preparing applications on long term lease registration, hypothec registration, and construction permit.
  • Corporate and commercial: assisting in corporate matters such as doing company registration and dissolution, share transfer, and corporate compliance with Ministry of Commerce, General Department of Taxation, and the Council for the Development of Cambodia. Applying for specific business license from some ministries and authorities. Drafting memorandum of advice and legal opinion on various corporate matters.
  • Banking and finance : drafting financial documents such as loan, guarantee, escrow, and other security agreements. Advising on banking and microfinance license applications.
  • Mining and Energy: applying for various mining and energy licenses for clients. Advising on merger and acquisition of local mining companies. Drafting and reviewing various agreements in this sectors such as supply agreement, construction agreement, and joint venture agreement.
  • Taxes: advising on tax compliance and on specific business transactions.
  • Citizenship and immigration: advising and assisting clients on their Cambodian and US immigration law matters such as citizenship and other immigration applications.
  • Family Law: advising and assisting clients on their family law issues such as marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, and will.
  • Dispute resolution: advising on litigation and arbitration cases. Drafting legal memorandum and other necessary documents for submission to the judges and arbitrators.

Firm Description:

Husky and Partners Law Firm is a professional advisory firm established by experienced lawyers with a unique depth of experience of law and its application in the Cambodian context.  Our team is capable of providing legal assistance to new foreign investors entering the market as well as already established operating businesses in Khmer, English, and Chinese.  We take pride in our strong work ethic and our goal to cooperate closely with our clients to help them achieve success in Cambodia.

 

Dr. Darwin HEM (Naryth HEM)

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Leaders in Law endorses Dr. Darwin HEM as our exclusively recommended Real Estate Law expert in Cambodia. If you wish to get in touch with Dr. Darwin please use the contact information provided above.

Attorney, Principal Partner

Mr. Darwin HEM (Naryth HEM) is Senior Partner at BNG Legal. Darwin is admitted to practice law in Cambodia, a member of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia (BAKC), a member of APAA (Asian Patent Attorneys Association), LAWASIA (The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific); a member of the Working Party on the Accession of Cambodia into the World Trade Organization. He is a licensed Trademark Agent in Cambodia, and a licensed stock exchange from SECC (Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia). Also, Darwin sits as an arbitrator at the Cambodia Labor Arbitration Council.

Darwin holds an LL.B from the Joint-Law Program of the University of San Francisco (USA) and Cambodia and a CAPA from the Bar Association of Cambodia. Darwin holds a State Doctor Degree in Medicine from the University of Health Science (Cambodia) and an MBA in Finance from Charles Sturt University (Australia). He studied economics in Australia and law in Lyon (France) under various scholarships. Darwin has a Diploma in Economic Law from the Royal School of Administration and a Diploma in Finance from Development Alternatives, Inc. (USA).

Prior to becoming an attorney, Darwin qualified as a medical doctor and worked as Chief Financial Controller for the Ministry of Economy & Finance in Cambodia. Before co-founding BNG Legal, he practiced law with a regional law firm which has a base in Cambodia for many years.

As an attorney and legal consultant, Darwin has worked on a wide variety of private projects for major national and international companies operating business in Cambodia, as well as for many public projects funded by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. Darwin specializes in real estate, corporate law, project finance and intellectual property. Darwin brings a deep understanding of contemporary Cambodian law and practice to BNG Legal.

Languages

  • Khmer
  • English
  • French

Education & Background

  • University of San Francisco and Royal University of Law and Economics, Bachelor of Law
  • Royal School of Administration, Diploma in Economic Law
  • University of Health Science, Doctor of Medicine
  • Charles Sturt University, Master of Business Administration in Finance

Memberships

  • Cambodian Bar Association
  • International Bar Association
  • Cambodian WTO Committee
  • Cambodian Arbitration Council
  • LAWASIA
  • INTA, APAA, ASEANIPA

Firm Description:

BNG Legal is a leading Cambodian law firm providing comprehensive legal services to foreign and local clients.

Registered with the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia, our legal professionals combine international standards with local expertise.

We differentiate ourselves by coupling a deep understanding of the local business environment with international professionalism and integrity.

We facilitate business, investment and trade between Cambodia and the rest of the world through innovative and cost-effective legal services.

Superior knowledge of local protocol, local procedure, and local people is necessary for any business to succeed in Cambodia.

Conducting daily business in Cambodia, BNG Legal is up to date with the newest procedures and requirements, helping clients efficiently and successfully complete any project.

 

LY Tayseng

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Leaders in Law endorses Milko Baiz as our exclusively recommended Administrative Law expert in the Aruba. If you wish to get in touch with Milko, please use the contact information provided above.

Mr. Ly is an experienced business lawyer with demonstrated focus and expertise in the areas of Corporate, Banking, Securities, Merger and Acquisition, Mining and Energy, Real Estate, Arbitration and Commercial Litigation.

He acts regularly for, and advise local and foreign banks, state enterprises, and other multinational corporations on complex financing projects, equity investments, IPOs, corporate bonds, M&As, aircraft leasing, telecommunication and infrastructure projects.

He is accredited by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia to advise on securities laws and regulations, by the Ministry of Commerce as a Mark Agent, and is a Labor Arbitrator for the Labor Arbitration Council. He is also a member and/or director of other local and international business chambers and associations.

Practice Areas

  • Aircraft Leasing & Purchase
  • Banking & Finance
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Energy, Infrastructure & Mining
  • Insurance and Trust
  • Telecommunication and Technology

Languages

  • Khmer
  • English
  • French

Education

  • Master of Laws, The King’s College London, UK, 2019
  • Leadership in Law Firm, Harvard Law School, USA, 2016
  • Master of Laws, Nagoya University, Japan, 2003
  • Bachelor of Laws, University Lumière Lyon 2, France, 2000
  • Bachelor of Laws, Royal University of Law and Economics, Cambodia, 2000

Memberships

  • The Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia
  • International Bar Association
  • Labor Arbitrator for the Arbitration Council, Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training

Firm Overview:

Established in 2005, HBS Law is a highly regarded multi-service law firm. We work with a broad client base which includes major international and Asian companies. Our team has solid expertise to assist foreign and local clients in a wide range of sectors. We also assist educational institutions, international organizations, Government agencies and senior Government leaders.

A combination of teamwork, specialist skills and cooperative relationships with Government means that we are at the forefront of Cambodia’s rapid legal development. HBS Law is frequently called upon to participate in precedent-setting deals and advice on new legislation and regulations.

By building our business in response to clients’ needs, HBS Law has become a significant and credible practice in South East Asia. Our philosophy of developing relations of trust and honesty with our clients is profoundly important. Consequently, our clients entrust us with their most complex legal matters.

HBS Law is particularly proud of its role as a corporate citizen. We provide a pro bono service for people who cannot afford legal services, focusing on aid to children, victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable members of our community. We provide a learning forum for law graduates, junior lawyers, judicial officers and law enforcement officers throughout the country.

We are thankful to all our colleagues who are striving to maintain HBS Law as a leading law firm and all our valued clients who have trusted us as their business partners. We look forward to welcoming new clients to benefit from our experience and honest, balanced services.

 

SON Sokeng

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Leaders in Law endorses SON Sokeng as our exclusively recommended Labour & Employment Law expert in Cambodia. If you wish to get in touch with SON Sokeng, please use the contact information provided above.

Mr. Sokeng is a Managing Partner  of Sithisak Law Office. He was admitted to the Bar Association of Kingdom of Cambodia in 2015.

Professional Experiences

After graduating with high standing from Royal University of Law and Economics, Sokeng attended the Institute of Labor Studies of Lyon, Lumière Lyon 2 University in France. He was trained as a labor law specialist by many reputable professors and lawyers in France and from other European Countries. Prior to joining Sithisak Law Office in 2013, he served as a legal trainee at Global Transitions in Paris. He has also worked with many eminent lawyers from Singapore at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

His main recent projects

  • Led a legal counsel team to advise and assist Acleda Bank Plc. in the process of listing on the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) through an IPO in 2020;
  • Leading a legal team to prepare various agreements, due diligence and advice to a Cambodian and Chinese joint venture company in its real estate projects in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville with amount more than USD 100 million;
  • Leading a legal team to prepare various agreements and advise to a leading commercial bank in Cambodia on properties restructuring with the amount approximately  USD 100 million;
  • Joint a Legal counsel team to advise and assist a Phnom Penh Autonomous Port in the process of listing on the CSX through an IPO in 2016;
  • Led a legal counsel team to assist a foreign garment company in conducting a legal due diligence for its proposed listing on CSX in 2016;
  • Leading a legal counsel team to advise and assist three SMEs in conducting a legal due diligence for its proposed listing on the growth board of the CSX;
  • Leading the legal counsel to advise and assist a Thai wholesale supermarket in Cambodia on the products registration and corporate compliance;
  • Leading a legal team to provide an ongoing legal advice related to corporate and labor compliance to a multi-national beverage company in Cambodia.

Languages

  • Khmer
  • English
  • French

Education

  • Institute of Labor Studies of Lyon, Lumière Lyon 2 University (Master of Private Law, majoring Labor law) (2012)
  • Lumière Lyon 2 University and Royal University of Law and Economics, Cambodia (Cambodia-France Dual Bachelor’s Degrees of Laws) (2010)

Firm Description:

“SITHISAK” refers to strength of achieving supreme interest of justice. DEVARAJA, King of all divinities, makes journeys by a royal vehicle “NAGA”, which represents Khmer territory, to render divine justice to Humanity through his divine power.”

We are a full service general practice law office in the Kingdom of Cambodia, serving our clients’ needs since 2010. We have a well-established reputation as a major legal services provider in Cambodia with a clear vision for our clients’ success and growth, earning trust from both local and foreign businesses and investors, as well as private individuals who seek our tax and legal assistance. Our lawyers and advisors are trained in Cambodian law and foreign practice, with many of them having studied in Europe and North America. Our experience covers all types of legal and tax matters, whether they be contentious or non-contentious ones, commercial or otherwise. We also have extensive experience assisting various ministries and other governmental agencies in dealing with regulatory reforms and development projects.

We are recognized for our practical, client-focused tax and legal advice and our dedicated representation as well as for our culture of honesty and trustworthiness, professional ethics, and collaborative approach to meeting and exceeding clients’ expectations. We know that our clients’ success is our success. To ensure both, “Partnering with our Clients” is a perfect expression of our approach to legal and tax advising, using our expertise, devotion, and best efforts to achieve positive results.

Being fully committed to the above uncompromising values and integrity – as also pointed out through our firm’s adopted appellation – defines our efforts and determination to live up to the high aspirations of the legal profession.

Our Key Values

Expertise

We are recognized as skilled professionals with legal expertise and extensive practical experience and well known as dedicated and dynamic team in delivering services in various types of legal and tax matters.

Strategy

Our clients’ success is our success. We advise with our expertise, devotion and best efforts purporting for an optimal solution and strategy for our clients’ interest.

Focus

Achieving the best result is our commitment. We put our clients’ needs as of priority by always focusing on each particular need, strategy and solution with high consideration and concentration.

 

Bretton G. Sciaroni

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Leaders in Law endorses Bretton G. Sciaroni as our exclusively recommended Investment Law expert in Cambodia. If you wish to get in touch with Bretton please use the contact information provided above.

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 of a 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.

Prior to coming to Cambodia, Mr. Sciaroni was in private practice in Washington, D.C., where he continues to be a member of both the Bar Association of the District of Columbia and the American Bar Association. He has served in the U.S. Government, including positions at the White House and in the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Mr. Sciaroni is a graduate of the U.C.L.A. School of Law and earned degrees from Georgetown University and Claremont McKenna College.

Seakkeang Lim

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Ms. Seakkeang Lim is a Legal Advisor in the Family Law Practice Group. Keang holds a Master of Private Fundamental Law and a Master I of Notary Law from Jean Moulin Lyon III University, a Bachelor of Law from Lumière Lyon II University and a Bachelor of Law from the Royal University of Law and Economics. She is specialized in civil law, in particular marriage, family and property law.

Before joining BNG Legal, Keang was a lecturer of legal methodology at the Royal University of Law and Economics and was trained at the Royal Academy for Judicial Professions. She also worked as an interpreter of French for Avocats Sans Frontières for various academic seminars.

Keang speaks Khmer, English, and French.

Firm Overview:

DFDL was established in 1994 and built on a unique vision.

Our vision

DFDL is to be the preeminent integrated Legal and Tax Law firm based in Southeast Asia with a reputation for technical excellence, creativity and integrity. Leveraging from 20 years pioneering practices in the Mekong Region, DFDL is now building a reputation for being the obvious first choice for sophisticated transactions and projects in emerging markets across ASEAN and further afield. We are also committed to building a highly coveted workplace where our advisers and staff can cultivate their talents and where professional success translates into fulfilling personal lives.

Our mission statement

Our mission is to provide international quality, seamlessly integrated, and solutions-oriented legal and tax services to establish, structure and protect our client’s business interests. DFDL is also actively involved, in tandem with local jurisdiction stakeholders, in developing the legal and regulatory environment of the emerging markets in which we operate. DFDL’s unique, innovative, and personalized services are drawn from:

  • The breadth of our industry-specific and technical expertise;
  • The depth of our local knowledge, experience and insights; and
  • The reach of our geographical coverage.

Our values

  • Excellence: Industry Expertise, Technical Depth, Regional Specialty, Local Knowledge
  • Creativity: Pioneers, Frontier Spirit, Entrepreneurs, Dynamic, Innovative
  • Trust: Customer-focused, Solutions-oriented, Value-adding, Open-minded, Accessible