World Tax - Home
The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

The Thomas McClelland-led tax practice at Deloitte comprises four partners and 76 others, and is building its reputation in the region to make the firm a stiff first-tier competitor.McClelland and Dion Thai advised a client on the $159 million private ... [more]

The Thomas McClelland-led tax practice at Deloitte comprises four partners and 76 others, and is building its reputation in the region to make the firm a stiff first-tier competitor.

McClelland and Dion Thai advised a client on the $159 million private equity acquisition of Vietnam's leading producer of fish, soya and noodles. It was one of the largest in Vietnam to date. The pair provided Vietnamese and offshore tax structuring and due diligence advice.

Deloitte is advising a client on all direct and indirect tax aspects of its investment, and seeking corporate tax incentives. Worth $1 billion, this is the largest foreign investment into Vietnam in 2011.

KPMG has gone from strength to strength in the last year, solidifying its position as a leading tax accounting firm in Vietnam. "KPMG is leading the pack," said a peer, though it shares a tier-one ranking with Deloitte and PwC. The tax team, comprising ... [more]

KPMG has gone from strength to strength in the last year, solidifying its position as a leading tax accounting firm in Vietnam. "KPMG is leading the pack," said a peer, though it shares a tier-one ranking with Deloitte and PwC. The tax team, comprising 10 partners and 220 fee earners, was given a significant boost in December 2010 with the arrival of Nam Nguyen, Ernst & Young's head of tax, and 13 other professionals from that firm. The influx of new professionals has strengthened the firm's tax dispute resolution capabilities.

Recommended in the market for his corporate tax work, tax leader Warrick Cleine is also KPMG's Asia-Pacific head of tax.

Hoang Thuy Duong leads the growing transfer pricing department. To complement it and the trade and customs practices, a new tax efficient supply chain management practice has been set up.

Recent work includes advising a leading Russian oil company on tax due diligence, selecting tax efficient investment structures and the tax implications on employment arrangements in its acquisition of assets in Vietnam.

Richard Irwin leads the tax practice at PwC, consisting of three partners and 90 fee earners. Offering a range of services, the firm is known for its M&A and tax due diligence work, and maintains good relationships and often negotiates with government ... [more]

Richard Irwin leads the tax practice at PwC, consisting of three partners and 90 fee earners. Offering a range of services, the firm is known for its M&A and tax due diligence work, and maintains good relationships and often negotiates with government departments on tax issues and policy matters.

Working with an affiliate legal practice, PwC Legal, the firm is able to provide comprehensive tax services. As a result, the firm has become more active in the tax dispute resolution sphere.

Frederick Burke heads Baker & McKenzie's tax practice, and focuses on tax planning and foreign investment projects. The practice's other partner, Nguyen Thanh Vinh, specialises in tax and customs advice, tax planning and cross-border structuring.Burke ... [more]

Frederick Burke heads Baker & McKenzie's tax practice, and focuses on tax planning and foreign investment projects. The practice's other partner, Nguyen Thanh Vinh, specialises in tax and customs advice, tax planning and cross-border structuring.

Burke and Vinh are assisting an international development and real estate holding company in reviewing draft legislation and tax issues surrounding the casino gaming business. This work is addressing a new business line in Vietnam, which is giving rise to new tax issues and implications.

Vinh is advising a leading nutritional product manufacturing company on tax planning and the tax implications of a proposed acquisition. The deal involves complicated acquisition structures to reduce the client's tax exposure.

DFDL Mekong is an established firm in Vietnam, and is well integrated with offices in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. Edwin Vanderbruggen leads the team comprising four other tax professionals. Partner Jean Loi joined the firm in January 2011 from ... [more]

DFDL Mekong is an established firm in Vietnam, and is well integrated with offices in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. Edwin Vanderbruggen leads the team comprising four other tax professionals. Partner Jean Loi joined the firm in January 2011 from PwC Vietnam, and specialises in M&A and cross-border tax issues, particularly in infrastructure and energy.

Vanderbruggen, Huy Luu and Thuan Pham provided tax structuring advice on topics such as foreign ownership of property, tax implications of structuring options, and multi-jurisdictional tax issues covering Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore to real-estate investors.

The team also advised a real estate developer on the tax implications of selling land plots, restructuring advice, and tax due diligence.

Vanderbruggen, Luu and Pham also teamed up to advise a multinational steel company on the tax implications of its market entry into Vietnam, including tax incentives, customs and international tax planning.

Despite the loss of head of tax Nam Nguyen, Ernst & Young is maintaining a stable presence in the market. Christopher Butler has taken over the firm's tax practice comprising 100 professionals.The transfer pricing division is providing advisory services ... [more]

Despite the loss of head of tax Nam Nguyen, Ernst & Young is maintaining a stable presence in the market. Christopher Butler has taken over the firm's tax practice comprising 100 professionals.

The transfer pricing division is providing advisory services and documentation support to several clients. Nitin Jain and Huong Vu teamed up in January 2011 to advise a client on a transfer pricing risk assessment. In addition to reviewing the arm's-length nature of and the supporting documentation for the client's related-party transactions, the pair validated a signed provision similar to an APA. The issue becomes complicated as there are no APA provisions in Vietnam's existing transfer pricing regulations.

Butler and Jain performed tax planning services for a client to provide a technically appropriate and commercially realistic transaction model, as well as associated transfer pricing policies, for the project.

Ronald Parks is supervising the growth of Grant Thornton's tax practice, which is recognised for cross-border restructuring and tax planning work, and has a growing presence in transfer pricing. The team consists of two partners and 12 fee earners. Parks ... [more]

Ronald Parks is supervising the growth of Grant Thornton's tax practice, which is recognised for cross-border restructuring and tax planning work, and has a growing presence in transfer pricing. The team consists of two partners and 12 fee earners. Parks plans to hire more advisers shortly, particularly in the transfer pricing department.

While the firm has done substantial work surrounding expatriate remuneration planning and transfer pricing, the professionals have also done more VAT, customs and tax efficient supply chain management work.

Le Quynh Anh is the executive partner of Vision & Associates' legal department. The tax team has been involved in a number of successful court cases where tax incentives have been granted for clients' investment projects in Vietnam. The firm helps clients ... [more]

Le Quynh Anh is the executive partner of Vision & Associates' legal department. The tax team has been involved in a number of successful court cases where tax incentives have been granted for clients' investment projects in Vietnam. The firm helps clients achieve benefits through incentive tax rates, tax holidays and tax reductions and exemptions.

While the tax professionals have represented clients before the tax authorities, their services are not limited to just tax dispute resolution. Clients also seek advice on issues regarding corporate income tax, capital gains tax, VAT, foreign contractor tax, import-export tax and income tax.