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Batuhan Eser joins Leaders in Law as the Arbitration Law Member in Turkey

Leaders in Law the leading platform in its field, is delighted to welcome Batuhan Eser as our exclusively recommended & endorsed Arbitration Law expert in Turkey.

After graduating from Başkent University Faculty of Law in 2004, Batuhan Eser concluded his lawyer internship subsequently. Following his master’s degree in International Commercial Dispute Resolution at London Westminster University in 2009, Batuhan Eser has been working at Kurucu Law Offices of which he is a founding partner since July 2015 and registered to Ankara Bar Association since 2005.

His expertise has mainly focused on (i) Arbitration, including International Commercial Arbitration and Domestic Arbitration, and (ii) Energy Law, specifically Petroleum and Natural Gas. On the arbitration side, Mr Eser has successfuly represented his clients in numerous ICC, LCIA and ISTAC arbitrations. Among these arbitrations were included those requiring a deep technical knowledge on oil & gas, power markets and construction. Mr Eser, being involved in the disputes from the very beginning, in some cases, even in dispute notice exchange stages, served his client’s submissions and represented them at the hearings and communications with the tribunals.

Firm Description:

The firm: KURUCU is an independent and distinguished law firm formed in 2015 by three lawyers whose names are Batuhan Eser, Serdar Can Özaltınlı and Serkan Çatalpınar, each with its own renowned expertise. It is an Ankara-based law firm committed to provide its superior legal services with its team of lawyers who are highly specialised in their fields.  KURUCU, always meticulous in meeting its clients’ needs, takes pride in deservedly being one of the most successful law firms in Turkey despite its young age. The dynamism of KURUCU originating from its young age is a great help in its success as well as the team’s business-minded approach.

KURUCU’s main area of practice may be described as claim management and dispute resolution services under cross-border projects and disputes, consultancy services with respect to energy investments and legal relations with related regulatory bodies, commercial counselling in corporate matters including various M&As. Not only that, KURUCU’s private litigation consultancy which has enabled many of its clients to reach and/or retrieve their entitlements is its another focal point.

It is also worthwhile to mention that KURUCU has consistently grown both in terms of scope of works undertaken and personnel size. Initially having 3 of its founding partners, it now has a team of lawyers each having extensive knowledge and skill in their respective field of activity. This growth is resulted in establishing another liaison office in Istanbul, Turkey.

Carlton Fon Akkum joins Leaders in Law as the Commercial Law Member in Cameroon

Leaders in Law the leading platform in its field, is delighted to welcome Carlton Fon Akkum as our exclusively recommended & endorsed Commercial Law expert in Cameroon.

Carlton is a founding member and the Senior Managing Partner of Akkum, Akkum & Associates LLP. With 23 years of hands-on experience as a legal practitioner,  he is highly specialized in his craft. He has amassed quite a great deal of finesse in the legal practice and advised on several complex and cutting-edge transactions in the areas of Intellectual Property Rights, Securities, corporate restructurings like mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, corporate governance, due diligence and corporate finance, real estate, regulatory advisory services, labor and employment, competition and commercial litigation.

Carlton is currently advising on a wide range of matters in oil & gas, power and capital markets, His expertise spans through the African Market. He has the ability to guide his team towards meeting deadlines without sacrificing quality. Carlton has advised many local and international based corporations on aviation, mining and technological deals.

Carlton is an accredited agent at the African Intellectual Property Rights Organization (OAPI). He is a bona fide Human Rights activist and an author of many publications in law journals.

Proffessional Membership

  • Cameroon Bar Association
  • International Bar Association
  • International Law Association- Cameroon Branch
  • Terralex
  • Hieros Gamos (HG) Global Legal Resources

Harikrishnan Ravindran joins Leaders in Law as the exclusive Commercial Law member in the UAE

Leaders in Law, the leading platform in its field, is delighted to welcome Harikrishnan Ravindran as our exclusively recommended & endorsed Commercial Law expert in the UAE. Harikrishnan’s office is located in Dubai.

Harikrishnan is a legal consultant with Lutfi & Co since June 2009.  His background prior to joining Lutfi & Co was in counsel practice. Harikrishnan’s expertise and practice focus are in the areas of corporate and commercial law as well as commercial dispute resolution.

He is a key member of both the transactional and the dispute resolution teams.  This experience has assisted him in developing a deeper understanding of the practical implications of specific contractual terms in the context of potential dispute resolution proceedings.  He has considerable expertise and experience in International Trade law particularly pertaining to dispute resolution proceedings.

If you require any assistance in this area, please use the contact details provided in Harikrishnan’s profile below or contact us at info@leaders-in-law.com & we will put you in touch.

Gael Tchouba joins Leaders in Law as the exclusive Commercial Law member in Cameroon

Leaders in Law, the leading platform in its field, is delighted to welcome Gael Tchouba as our exclusively recommended & endorsed Commercial Law expert in Cameroon. Gael’s office is located in Douala.

Douala’s top tier corporate and commercial law firms. He is an emerging lawyer with experience in corporate, commercial, regulatory and litigation fields. He has assisted local and foreign clients across a full range of transactional practices and has hands-on experience on OHADA law practice and procedures.

His boardroom practice encapsulates corporate and commercial transactions, commercial disputes, business advisory, incorporation of companies, liaison offices, regulatory compliance, corporate due diligence, debt recovery, immigration, employment issues, litigation services, legal translation.

If you require any assistance in this area, please use the contact details provided in Gael’s profile below or contact us at info@leaders-in-law.com & we will put you in touch.

Neil McLarnon joins Leaders in Law as the exclusive Commercial Litigation Law member in the Cayman Islands

Leaders in Law, the leading platform in its field, is delighted to welcome Neil McLarnon as our exclusively recommended & endorsed Commercial Litigation Law expert in the Cayman Islands. Neil’s office is located in Grand Cayman.

Neil joins us having spent 12 years practising as a Barrister in London’s leading offshore commercial chancery Chambers. Before that Neil spent 2 years in the London litigation department of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. Neil has specialised in complex international commercial litigation and arbitration involving disputes up to the value of US$50 billion. As sole Counsel, Neil has represented clients at every level of the English civil law court structure, from tribunals and county courts, through the High Court, the Court of Appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

He has represented clients in ICC, LCIA, DIAC and ad hocarbitrations. He also regularly appeared before the Dubai International Financial Centre Court. As Junior Counsel, he has worked alongside Senior Counsel for hearings and trials taking place before the High Court and the Courts of the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey.

Neil’s practice areas include arbitration, banking and finance, civil fraud, commercial law, company law, directors’ duties, funds law, injunctions, insolvency law, partnership law, private international law and trusts and estates law.

If you require any assistance in this area, please use the contact details provided in Neil’s profile below or contact us at info@leaders-in-law.com & we will put you in touch.

Vanja Mugoša joins Leaders in Law as the exclusive Commercial Law member in Montenegro

Leaders in Law, the leading platform in its field, is delighted to welcome Vanja Mugoša as our exclusively recommended & endorsed Commercial Law expert in Montenegro. Vanja’s office is located in Podgorica.

Experienced Managing Partner with a demonstrated history of working in the legal services industry. Skilled in Commercial Law, Negotiation, Business Planning, Legal Writing, Corporate Law, and Intellectual Property. Strong business development professional graduated from University of Montenegro, Law Faculty Podgorica.

If you require any assistance in this area, please use the contact details provided in Vanja’s profile below or contact us at info@leaders-in-law.com & we will put you in touch.

Philip Lopatka joins Leaders in Law as the exclusive Commercial Law member in Canada

Leaders in Law, the leading platform in its field, is delighted to welcome Philip Lopatka as our exclusively recommended & endorsed Commercial Law expert in Canada. Philip’s office is located in Alberta.

Philip has been a practising Lawyer since 2005, providing expertise, advice and legal services clients can trust in a cost-effective manner for over 16 years of practice.

Philip has a diverse clientele with an expansive range of legal transactions, documentation, issues and disputes, and in part due to the breadth of his practice, he is fortunate to have had the time and opportunity to forge long lasting relationships with many of his clients.

Philip has also seen the Laws and practice of Law evolve, and he continues to strive to provide expertise, advice and service his clients can trust that is cost-effective, and this challenge has also helped to make the practice of Law engaging and enjoyable throughout his 16 years of practice.

If you require any assistance in this area, please use the contact details provided in Philip’s profile below or contact us at info@leaders-in-law.com & we will put you in touch.

Anthony O. Maceira Zayas joins Leaders in Law as the exclusive Commercial Law member in Puerto Rico

Leaders in Law, the leading platform in its field, is delighted to welcome Anthony O. Maceira Zayas as our exclusively recommended & endorsed Corporate Law expert in Puerto Rico. Anthony’s office is located in San Juan.

Maceira is the Founding Member of MZLS. With a decade of experience in Government Services, Maceira has been involved in major reforms implemented in Puerto Rico since 2010 when he started as advisor to the Majority Leader of the Senate. Serving mainly as full service/external legal counsel to foreign companies doing business in Puerto Rico, Maceira has developed a robust commercial law practice, including but not limited to: civil litigation, appellate, corporate law and government services practice.

Specializing in commercial law and privatization of services, Maceira’s experience in the Private Sector includes defense attorney in high profile cases such as: environmental cases, gambling industry cases, tax litigation, insurance litigation, banking cases, protesting and defending bid awards challenged in court and others. In addition, his private experience includes the negotiation of privatization services in areas such as mass transit, public safety and energy. In addition, Maceira has served as legal counsel and advisor to the former President of the Senate, the Minority Delegation of the Senate, Telecommunications Bureau, Energy Bureau, the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency, amongst others.

If you require any assistance in this area, please use the contact details provided in Anthony’s profile below or contact us at info@leaders-in-law.com & we will put you in touch.

Jon Crain Named to Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna partner Jon Crain has been named to the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under Forty for 2021.  Jon joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna in September 2013 and is a trial lawyer and commercial litigator in the Firm’s Litigation and Appeals Practice Group.  Jon has successfully litigated and arbitrated a broad range of matters, including corporate shareholder disputes, litigation regarding trade secrets and proprietary business information, commercial real estate and construction litigation, First Amendment and constitutional claims, business-to-business collection and breach of contract claims, and complex personal injury and products liability actions.  Jon also has successfully litigated numerous administrative proceedings on behalf of both corporate and individual clients, including land use, zoning and commercial development litigation.

40 Under Forty identifies and recognizes young business and community leaders throughout the Capital Region. The list of 40 honorees were selected from more than 250 nominations.  For more on this year’s honorees, please click here.

India & Vietnam: Increasing Trade and Investment Relations

The year 2020 marks the 42nd anniversary of India-Vietnam bilateral trade. Vietnam and India have shared strong bilateral relations historically, and for the past two decades, trade between the two countries has risen considerably. These economic ties have materialized into several Indian investments in Vietnam in various sectors.

The enormous volatility in the global trade environment has pushed businesses into diversifying their supply chains away from China, which has increased the importance of the India-Vietnam trade route for international business.

India, which is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, currently ranks fifth globally in terms of GDP. The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA), which Vietnam is a part of, was established in 2009 as a result of convergence in interests of all parties in advancing their economic ties across the Asia-Pacific.

Vietnam’s manufacturing industry has rapidly emerged as a highly effective location for incoming electronics and telecom manufacturers who are relocating from China due to increased costs and the US-China trade war. The country has bolstered investor confidence with quick and efficient containment of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam is becoming a leading choice for major companies looking to set up their new manufacturing hubs and diversify their supply chains.

India has significant expertise in IT services, pharmaceuticals, and oil & gas, all of which can significantly benefit Vietnam. Additionally, there are export opportunities in zinc, iron, steel, and man-made staple fibers from India to Vietnam.

A large middle class in India’s 1.3 billion population and its customs-duty exemption for ASEAN products make it a lucrative destination for Vietnamese exports. There is a notable scope for the development of services related to wholesale & retail trade, transportation & storage, business support along with trade opportunities in cotton and knitted clothing.

Bilateral trade

Over the past two decades, bilateral trade between Vietnam and India has steadily grown from US$200 million in 2000 to US$12.3 billion in the financial year 2019-2020.

The two countries aimed to raise bilateral trade to US$15 billion by 2020, but COVID-19 related trade disruption resulted in a 9.9 percent trade shrinkage to US$12.3 billion in the last financial year. Vietnam has emerged as the 18th largest trading partner of India, while the latter ranks seventh among Vietnam’s largest trading partners.

Exports from Vietnam to India include mobile phones, electronic components, machinery, computer technology, natural rubber, chemicals, and coffee. On the other hand, its key imports from India include meat and fishery products, corn, steel, pharmaceuticals, cotton, and machinery.

After India announced its decision to opt-out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the India-ASEAN FTA is expected to be reviewed to compensate for the potential trade loss.

Foreign direct investment

Vietnam’s strategic location close to existing manufacturing hubs, its favorable position in accessing other Southeast Asian markets, and its proactive approach towards opening its markets to the world has helped it gain popularity as an attractive manufacturing and sourcing location.

The rising importance of Vietnam in global supply chains has the potential to strengthen India-Vietnam ties further. India is estimated to have invested nearly US$2 billion in Vietnam including funds channeled via other countries. Over 200 Indian investment projects in Vietnam are primarily focused on sectors including energy, mineral exploration, agrochemicals, sugar, tea, coffee manufacturing, IT, and auto components. Several major Indian businesses such as Adani Group, Mahindra, chemicals major SRF, and renewables giant Suzlon have shown interest in venturing into Vietnam.

India’s salt to IT conglomerate Tata Coffee recently inaugurated their 5000 MTPA freeze-dried coffee production plant in Binh Duong province of Vietnam last year. This US$50 million coffee facility was commissioned within 19 months of the ground-breaking ceremony.

Another example is HCL Technology Group, which is considering establishing a US$650 million technology center in Vietnam and plans to recruit and train over 10,000 engineers within the next five years.

With the implementation of major infrastructure projects like Tata Power’s Long Phu – II 1320 MW thermal power project worth US$2.2 billion, the investment figures are expected to rise considerably. The thermal power project was first coined in 2013 and was originally expected to be fully operational by 2022, but the revised seventh Power Development Plan (PDP7) indicates an eight-year delay, shifting its launch to 2030.

This delay appears to be due to Vietnam’s shift toward renewable energy. Nevertheless, opportunities remain for Indian investors in the renewable energy industry, specifically in solar and wind due to increased power demand. Reports indicate that the Tata group is in talks of investing further in solar- and wind-power projects.

Opportunities for Indian investors

Vietnam provides several lucrative reasons to invest such as increased access to markets, favorable investment policies, free trade agreements, economic growth, political stability, low labor costs, and a young workforce. As per a Standard Chartered report on trade opportunities, Vietnam’s exports to India have the potential to grow by 10 percent annually, or approximately US$633 million. This projected growth is primarily focused on goods export (53 percent) and services (46 percent).

Pharmaceutical

Vietnam’s domestic pharmaceutical industry is currently able to meet just 53 percent of the country’s demand, representing significant opportunities for Indian investors as India is among the leading global producers of generic medicines supplying 20 percent of total global demand by volume. There is an enormous potential for Vietnam to purchase generic medicines from India, but the former is actively trying to get Indian pharmaceutical companies to manufacture in Vietnam instead of importing.

Agriculture

Vietnam is seeking alternate buyers for its agricultural exports, after the reduction in demand from China due to the pandemic. Lifting India’s trade barriers on the import of agricultural products can open a new market for Vietnamese agricultural exporters. Also, there is a significant potential for investment in breeding technology, irrigation technology, and storage facilities. Vietnam’s topography, climate, and fertile soil make it suitable for coffee plantations. The TATA group has expressed plans of investing in the installation of agricultural machinery to serve demand in the Mekong Delta.

Tourism

The tourism industry in Vietnam is a largely untapped market sector for Indian businesses, which is likely to gain strong traction after the pandemic. The country received over 15.5 million international arrivals in 2018, a seven-fold increase from 2.1 million in 2000. Over 31,400 Vietnamese visited India the same year, a 32 percent increase from the previous year. India is a preferred destination for Vietnamese pilgrims and medical tourists.

India’s low-cost carrier Indigo launched direct flights linking India’s Kolkata with Vietnam’s Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in November 2019. Following this launch, Vietnamese low-cost carrier, Vietjet Air started direct flights connecting India’s New Delhi with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Improved connectivity will help Vietnam in diversifying its tourism portfolio, which currently is largely dependent on Chinese and South Korean tourists.

SMEs

SMEs play a large role in both India’s and Vietnam’s economies. Most recently, India and Vietnam held a promotion conference titled ‘Boosting trade-investment cooperation opportunities between Vietnamese and Indian SMEs’ organized by Vietnam’s Trade Office of the Vietnamese Embassy in India, India’s Uttar Pradesh state government, the Indian Industries Association (IIA), and Vietnam’s Hanoi SME Association. The takeaway was that several major businesses have shown interest in coming to Vietnam.

The IIA noted that Vietnam is looking to attract investment in sectors such as energy, mineral exploration, agriculture, tea, IT, and automobiles. Nevertheless, challenges remain regarding high corporate income tax rates for specific sectors such as oil and gas.

SMEs contribute close to 40 percent of India’s exports but also need government support to thrive. Indian SMEs will have to further internationalize. For example, India’s Tamil Nadu state has a diversified manufacturing industry dominated by SMEs with a number of factories and special economic zones. However, at the moment, SMEs in Tamil Nadu are yet to connect to business opportunities in Vietnam. This is a missed opportunity. As per ADB such businesses can connect through India’s Market Access Initiative and Market Development Assistance schemes to tap into potential businesses and market sectors.

Apart from streamlining regulatory standards between both countries, both governments will also have to hold seminars, events, and trade fairs to ensure that SME are aware of the various opportunities in the relevant market fields.

Supporting industries

Vietnam is an attractive destination to produce and export, thanks to its assortment of free trade agreements with several countries, allowing products to be exported to these countries with attractive low tariffs. There is a need for the development of the local supporting industry to support major manufacturers, and Indian businesses have the potential to fill the gaps in this sector.

Takeaways

With Vietnam’s strong economic growth in the past few years, a review of the India-ASEAN free trade agreement is necessary to foster further trade in promising emerging sectors between both countries. As per Vietnam’s Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), India had almost 300 projects in Vietnam accounting for almost US$900 million as of December 2020.

As pointed out by the Standard Chartered report, there is considerable scope to increase trade between India and Vietnam should both governments take a proactive approach to trade and investment and realize this potential.