b'In VietnamBetween 1993 and 2006 Vietnam underwent a periodThe Allens Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offices have advised of dramatic economic reform. As the country becameon many of Vietnams large-scale projects and commercial progressively more integrated into the global economy,transactions, including the largest foreign-investment foreign investment flows and export revenues increased.project, the $9 billion Nghi Son Oil Refinery. Annual GDP grew to more than 7.5 per cent and Vietnams impending membership in the World Trade OrganisationIn recent years Allens has witnessed growing interest in was expected to facilitate even greater global integration. Vietnam as an investment destination for renewable energy projects and consumer-focused businesses looking to In 2006 Allens Arthur Robinson announced that themeet the needs of Vietnams rising middle class. Allens has Vietnam practice of Australian law firm Phillips Fox wouldtrained many Vietnamese lawyers, including Linh Bui who join the firm. This gave Allens offices in Hanoi and Ho Chihas been with the firm since 2005. She became a partner in Minh City.2014 and now leads the Ho Chi Minh City practice. Vietnam has experienced tremendous growth over the past few With little infrastructure development since the early 1950s,decades with rapid economic and social change. Allens has office space was scarce. Bill Magennis established the played an important role, advising clients and nurturing Hanoi office in 1993 in a tiny hotel room, having beenlocal lawyers, Bui says.granted one of the first foreign law firm licences issued in Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh City office was opened by NigelThien Tran joined Allens in 2015, having graduated topRussell in 1997.of her class at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law in 2014. The Allens office is a long way from her mothers rice We had already been working closely with the Allensfield in Binh Thuan Province where she grew up. Thien is teams in the Singapore and Phnom Penh offices on a largeamong many Vietnamese lawyers Allens has supported BHP bauxite deposit, which straddled the border betweento realise their dreams. In 2018 she was awarded a MSc Vietnam and Cambodia, remembers Magennis. We got onof Law and Finance from Queen Mary University of well, so it made for an easy transition. Our work spoke forLondon, which she completed on a full scholarship from itself, but I think it was a favourable report on the art in the British Government. Today she works in the Hanoi our offices which finally sealed the deal. office on renewable energy projects. The firm has been a tremendous support on my journey from the rice field to We learnt quickly that in Vietnam, patience is key, the legal profession. I have worked on inspiring projectssays Magennis. Approvals took time and laws werethat have strengthened my passion for the law and constantly changing. reinforced my desire to help others, says Thien. 224'