Giles Cooper is branch director for Duane Morris' Ho Chi Minh City office. Mr. Cooper practices in the area of corporate law with a focus on international law in Southeast Asia. Mr. Cooper has experience with foreign investment and commercial law related to construction, mergers and acquisitions, securities, contract negotiation and drafting, banking and finance, and employment law.

Mr. Cooper is a graduate of Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, and the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a registered foreign lawyer in Vietnam.

Areas of Practice

International Commercial and Corporate Law

Representative Matters

Acting for a Canada-listed mining company on the establishment of a three-party joint venture and related investment and mining licenses for a US$100 million non-ferrous metals project, including preparing necessary documents, assisting client in negotiations and preparing for IPO.
Acted for lead contractor in Vietnam's first foreign-invested BOT power plant project.
Advised on the sale and purchase of stakes in large fibre optic cable joint venture.
Advised foreign manufacturing investor on liquidation/bankruptcy of a joint venture company in Vietnam.
Lead attorney for NYSE-listed company acquiring and expanding production facilities in Vietnam; included substantial M&A, labour and general commercial advice.
Acted for foreign contractors on numerous infrastructure development projects and addressed issues including tax planning, technology transfer, contract negotiations and government authorizations.
Advised on political risk analysis for power plant insurer, including reviewing of BOT Agreement, Power Purchase Agreement, Gas Supply Agreement, Water Supply Agreement, Government Guarantee, etc.
Advised foreign contractor with all aspect of planning and implementing a large cement plant in Vietnam.
Ongoing advice to potential foreign investors in US$3billion BOT airport project.
Acted for technical services supplier to US$400 million power plant construction project.
Acted for U.S. investor in relation to US$450 million waste treatment plant in Ho Chi Minh City.
Advised leading European telecommunications company on acquisition of interests in state-owned mobile phone companies.
Lead commercial attorney for number of large multinationals operating in Vietnam.
Advised Korean investor on establishment of joint venture electrical equipment manufacturing operation.
Acted for large Japanese logistics company on establishment of four-party joint venture company to undertake inland container depot project.
Acted for U.S. investor on development and implementation of wind energy projects in Vietnam with Vietnamese partners.
Acted for French pay TV company on establishment of enhancement and expansion of satellite television programming in form of Business Co-operation Contract.
Assisted number of major international franchisors to franchise their operations in Vietnam.
Acting for a foreign mining company in relation to a dispute with provincial authorities over land access entitlements.

Professional Activities

Member of New Zealand Law Society
Executive Board member of Australian Chamber of Commerce, Hanoi, Vietnam
Member of American Chamber of Commerce, Hanoi, Vietnam
Member of European Chamber of Commerce, Hanoi, Vietnam

Admissions

New Zealand
Vietnam (Registered Foreign Attorney)

Education

University of Victoria, Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Certificate of Professional Practice, 1998
University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand), LL.B. (Hons), 1996

Experience

Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2009-present
- Special Counsel, 2007-2008
Baker & McKenzie
- Associate, 2000-2007
Rudd Watts and Stone (now Minters Ellison)
- 1998-1999

Selected Publications

Co-author, "Vietnam Opens Wider For Business," December 31, 2008
Enterprise Law: a Rough Transition for Foreign Invested Enterprises? Vietnam Investment Review, April 2006
Enterprise Law set to Make Waves, Vietnam Investment Review, February 2006
Reforms Take Aim at Contract Pitfalls, Vietnam Investment Review, September 2005
Limitations of Liability under the Amended Commercial Law, Asia Pacific Legal Developments Bulletin, October 2005
Contributing author to Vietnam section of "Doing Business" series co-published by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (2003 and 2005 editions)
EPC Case Study for Phu My 3 BOT Power Plant, Corporate Counsel, September 2001
Vietnam Employment Law Case Study, CCH Global Employer, September 2001

Selected Speaking Engagements

Participated in podcast for Asiabizblog, November 3, 2008
"Franchising in Vietnam", Australian Chamber of Commerce Business Essentials seminar series, December 2006
Series of training sessions around Vietnam to Vietnamese Government officials on the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, 2001, 2002
Employment Restructuring, Baker & McKenzie's Regional Employment Seminar, Sydney, September 2001