New Tax & Legal Firm launches in South East Asia: VDB Loi
VDB Loi has been formed by Edwin Van Der Bruggen and Jean Loi (see article from last week: /2012/03/01/dfdk-appoints-jack-sheehan-as-regional-director-tax-customs-practice-following-departure-of-edwin-vanderbruggen-and-jean-loi)
Formerly with Loyens & Loeff, Edwin has nearly 20 year’s experience as a tax lawyer, academic, author and government adviser, 15 of which were spent in South East Asia.. He taught international tax law at 6 different universities in Europe and Asia, including delivering a number of lectures at the prestigious International Tax Center in Leyden. He has published 7 textbooks and over 50 scholarly articles, some winning scientific awards. He was an adviser to the Minister of Economy and Finance of Cambodia (2006-2007) on the conclusion of double taxation agreements. He has provided training on tax treaty issues to government officials in a number of South-East Asian countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and has supplied expert testimony to tax courts on tax treaty interpretation. Edwin has consulted for the World Bank and the ADB on tax policy and administration, including with respect to double taxation agreements.
As a partner at regional law firm DFDL he advised multinational enterprises, funds and governmental organizations on international taxation in South-East Asia, and has won recognition for his outstanding practice including “best tax law firm of the year” and “best corporate tax law firm”. He has assisted with structuring some of the largest acquisitions, investments and property deals in the region including the $4.2B petrochemical plant of SCG Chemical in Vietnam, the $425M Mobitel acquisition in Singapore and Cambodia, and the $275M listed property fund JSM Indochina.
Jean Loi is widely recognized as one of the region’s most experienced tax specialists, formerly a tax partner with PwC in Indochina, RSM Chio Lim in Singapore and with leading regional law firm DFDL. Jean is a highly successful tax adviser with a CPA background. She assisted on a large number of projects and market entries in Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand such as the hydro and coal power plant projects, oil exploration blocks and market entry of international banks into Vietnam, and of multinationals into Indonesia. She has particular expertise in infrastructure, energy projects, telecommunication and financial institutions in Thailand. Jean assisted clients with their international tax structure in South-East Asia. She speaks Mandarin, Bahasa Malay, Cantonese and English.
The Firm has launched with offices in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Vientiane