Dispute Settlement in International Trade

In international trade, when drafting international contracts, the parties usually focus on the terms of payment and expense but little attention to terms of dispute settlement. Thus, the parties should be aware that the disagreements and disputes can arise at any time. Therefore, in the process of concluding an international economic agreement, the parties should note the provisions on the selection methods of dispute settlement if a dispute occurs. Currently, there are 4 dispute resolution methods in international trade as follows: negotiation, mediation, commercial arbitration and court.

 

Dispute law firm in Vietnam

Negotiation

Negotiation is a settlement method which is usually applied in international dispute settlement. In particular, the parties discuss together, struggle, compromise and agree to settle the dispute. The result of the negotiation is that the dispute could be resolve or not. Negotiation is conducted in two ways: The two parties directly meet each other to discuss and deal or one party submit complaint to the other party and the other party answers the complaint.

Mediation

Mediation is the method of resolving dispute between the parties through the role of a third party. Mediation can be accomplished by two ways: One is that the parties agree with each other about mediation, the mediator will be designated and conduct the mediation without following any rules of mediation. The second way is that the parties agree to conduct the mediation under rules of a professional organization or one specific arbitration institution, such as mediation rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Commercial arbitration

Arbitration is a method of dispute settlement arising in trade activities that are agreed between the parties and carried out according to the order and proceedings. Presently, there are kinds of arbitration such as: ad hoc arbitration and permanent arbitration.

Court

The 3 dispute settlement methods above are voluntary in nature. They are different from the dispute settlement in accordance with judicial procedures at court. The settlement of dispute by court is to resolve dispute through the activities of the State tribunals. Therefore, litigants in the dispute are often considered as a final solution to protect their legitimate interests. Especially, when there is a conflict, the parties will choose the form of trade negotiation or mediation rather than commercial arbitration or court.

ANT Lawyers – Arbitration law firm in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

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What Conditions to File Divorce Petiton?

Divorce means termination of the husband and wife relation under a court’s legally effective judgment or decision.

 

Divorce dispute law firm in Vietnam

What is the condition of divorce?

Firstly, we need to know about subjects being entitled to request divorce settlement. That is husband or wife or both having the right to request divorce settlement from a Court; a parent or other relatives has the right to request divorce settlement from a Court when the spouse is unable to perceive and control his/her acts due to a mental disease or another disease and is concurrently a victim of domestic violence caused by his/her spouse which seriously harms his/her life, health or spirit. In addition, a husband has no right to request a divorce when his wife is pregnant, gives birth or is nursing an under-12-month child.

The divorce is divided into two cases, those are divorce by mutual consent and divorce at one party’s request.

Conditions of divorce by mutual consent: if both wife and husband request a divorce and both parties are really willing to divorce and have agreed upon the property division, looking after, raising, care for and education of their children on the basis of ensuring the legitimate interests of the wife and children, the court shall settle the divorce a court shall recognize the divorce by mutual consent; if the spouses fail to reach agreement or have reached an agreement which fails to ensure the legitimate interests of the wife and children, the court shall settle the divorce.

Divorce at one party’ s request: if a spouse requests a divorce and the conciliation at a court fails, the court shall permit the divorce if there are grounds to believe that a spouse commits domestic violence or seriously infringes of the rights and obligations of the husband or wife seriously deteriorates the marriage and makes their common life no longer impossible and the marriage purposes unachievable. When the spouse of a person who is declared missing by a court requests a divorce, the court shall permit the divorce. For a parent or other relatives’ request for a divorce mentioned above, a court shall permit the divorce if there are grounds to believe that the domestic violence committed by one spouse seriously harms the life, health or spirit of the other.

Domestic violence acts is one of the important factors mentioned in unilateral divorce. Domestic violence acts and “serious condition, common life no longer impossible and the marriage purposes unachievable” are defined in Vietnam laws.

For divorce involving foreign elements, an important condition is permanent residence. First of all, marriage and family relation involving foreign elements means the marriage and family relation in which at least one partner is a foreigner or an overseas Vietnamese or in which partners are Vietnamese citizens but the bases for establishing, changing or terminating that relation are governed by a foreign law, or that relation arises abroad or the property related to that relation is located abroad. Two foreigners shall be settled a divorce in Vietnamese court if both of them reside permanently in Vietnam. In case a partner being a Vietnamese citizen does not permanently reside in Vietnam at the time of request for divorce, the divorce shall be settled in accordance with the law of the country where the husband and wife permanently co-reside; if they do not have a place of permanent co-residence, the Vietnamese law could be applied.  However, it is suggested to consult with civil or dispute lawyers in civil matters in the court proceeding to best protect the rights and interest especially involving property division and child custody.

ANT Lawyers - a Law firm in Vietnam has experience lawyers with divorce procedures or dispute matters of assets, properties in Vietnam. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529

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Registering Copyright Services in Vietnam

Under Law on Intellectual Property of Vietnam, copyright means rights of an organization or individual to Work which such organization or individual created or owns. In addition, the subject matter of copyright shall comprise literary, artistic and scientific works; the subject matter of copyright related rights shall comprise performances, audio and visual fixation, broadcasts and satellite signals carrying coded programs.

However, in fact, it is challenging to prove the owner’s copyright if there is no prior prepared evidence. A registration of copyright is the most important proof if violation or dispute happens. The copyright registration shall deter infringement, when owner can prove that the Work is protected under copyright law.

With highly professional staff and great experience in intellectual property aspect in Vietnam, ANT Lawyers would like to support you in registering and protecting your copyright and related rights in Vietnam as following:

Our services in copyright registration

-Provision of professional opinions and advice in relation to registration of copyright and related copyright;

-Advising, preparation, drafting, filing and prosecution of registration of copyright and related copyright;

-Provision of professional opinions and advice in relation to license and assignment of copyright and related copyright;

-Appeal and cancellation;

-Proceedings before the judicial authorities.

How to register a copyright or related rights in Vietnam?

Condition of copyright registration

A Work shall be registered its owner’s copyright if it does meet the following conditions:

-The ideas of the Work shall be presented particularly in a visible material

-The Work shall be original (Be made directly by the author without copying from any other works or people).

Required information and document

-Original Power of Attorney (POA) from the Applicant;

-Information of the author such as: Full name, Identify Card Number, Current address, permanent address; …

-Information of the Works such as: Name, the date of publication (if any), the place of Publication (if any); …

-Business registration certificate or establishment certificate (if applicant is association or organization);

-Written promise of being ownership of the work of the applicant;

-Some other specialized document with each specified aspect.

Note: The POA must be signed by the applicant or a duly authorized representative on behalf of the Applicant and no further notarization or legalization is required.

 Duration of copyright protection

-The following rights are protected forever:

-Right to give titles to their works.

-Right to attach their real names or pseudonyms to their works; to have their real names or pseudonyms acknowledged when their works are published or used.

-Right to protect the integrity of their works; and to forbid other persons to modify, edit or distort their works in whatever form, causing harm to the honor and reputation of the author.

The following rights are protected within the stipulated duration in law

-Right to make derivative works;

-Right to display their works to the public;

-Right to reproduce their works;

-Right to distribute or import the original or copies of their works;

-Right to communicate their works to the public by wireless or landline means, electronic information networks or other technical means;

-Right to lease the original or copies of cinematographic works and computer programs;

-Right to reproduce their works.

The protection duration of each type of Work with the above rights shall be different. In particularly, cinematographic works, photographic works, stage works, applied art works and anonymous works shall have a term of protection of fifty (50) years as from the date of first publication. Other work shall be protected for the whole life of the author and for fifty (50) years after his or her death.

ANT Lawyers -  Law firm in Vietnam is supported by a team of experienced patent, trademark, design attorneys with qualification and skills handling full range of legal services relating to intellectual property rights in Vietnam.  We have specialized in the preparation and registration of patents, trademarks and designs for our clients.

We assist our clients in all steps of the prosecution phase of IP management.

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How Violations of Fundamental Principles Causes Annulment of Arbitral Awards?

Arbitration award is final and binding upon the parties. The arbitral award takes effect from the date of its issuance and is not subject to appeal and protest which is a feature of dispute resolution through commercial arbitration. Therefore, the regulations on annulment of arbitral award should be carefully implemented to closely monitor these awards, ensure compliance with the laws and protect the interests of the parties involved. This is an important matters to discuss when lawyers specializing in dispute through commercial arbitration encounter when requested by the client to assist the enforcement of the arbitral awards under Vietnam laws.

Annulment of arbitral award also known as setting aside is means that the Court as a juridical authority is entitled to review such award upon request of parties in dispute in case there is a ground proving that the arbitral award belongs to one of the annulment cases under the laws. The competent court to take this action is the provincial court of locality at which the parties agree or at which the Arbitral tribunal given the award.

An arbitral award in contrary to the fundamental principles of Vietnam laws is one of five grounds to set aside. The Court is responsible for verifying and collecting evidences to determine whether or not to annul the arbitral award; the requesting party is responsible for other grounds.

Fundamental principles of Vietnam laws are the basic principles impacting the formation and implementation of Vietnam laws. Each law or code contains those principles on its own. Arbitration awards are respected by laws, however within the boundary permitted by laws to not infringe the interests of concerned parties and the national interests, which has been mostly referred to by the court.

When reviewing a request for annulment of arbitral award, the court shall determine whether the award violates any fundamental principle and how such principle concerns or bind the dispute settlement of arbitrator. The court shall set aside an arbitral award in case it contains decisions in contrary to any fundamental principle of Vietnam laws which are not abided by arbitral tribunal upon issue of the arbitral award and the arbitral award seriously infringe upon the interest of the state, the lawful rights and interests of either party or parties, third parties.

In order to apply this fundamental principle ground, the Court may review the application of substantive law decided by the Arbitral Tribunal, as such, the Court may review legal issues of case. In the meantime, Vietnam Courts are not entitled to review the substantive matters resolved by the arbitral tribunal when reviewing request of requesting parties, the Courts are permitted to refer annulment cases stipulated by laws and evidences proving its conclusion. Therefore, the above restriction conflicts with the ground which is annulment of arbitralawards caused by violation of fundamental principles of Vietnamese laws. In fact, to consider whether or not to violate the fundamental principles, the Courts seem to review the substantive matters of dispute to make an argument for its decision.

Hence to improve the efficiency and judicial system under Vietnam laws, it is expected that the fundamental principle ground to cause annulment arbitral award of arbitrator should be instructed in more detail in Vietnam laws to improve the independence of the Arbitral Tribunal and avoid the Vietnam Court trying to re-resolve the substantive matters.

ANT Lawyers – Arbitration law firm in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

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Birth Registration with Foreign Element

Registration of Birth in Vietnam

From January 1st 2016, the Law on Civil Status of 2014 went into effect, replacing other documents on the registration and management of civil status. Accordingly, the law has clearly defined the authority for registration and management of civil status of the Commune People’s Committee and the District People’s Committee. Commune People’s Committee in charge of the registration and management of civic status that do not have foreign element. The remaining case that have foreign element will be under the jurisdiction of registration and management of the District People’s Committee.

For the case of children born in the territory of Vietnam, whose father is foreigner and mother is Vietnamese, but the parent does not have legal marriage (in other words: illegitimate children), the competent for birth registration belongs to the District People’s Committee where the father or mother reside.

In terms of the birth registration procedure, the Law on Civil Status provides only the procedure in case that the parents of the birth registration children have legal marriage.

The remaining case that parents of the birth registration children do not have legal then according to the provisions of the Law on Civil Status, if the father wants his name to be included in the birth certificate of the children, he have to register through adoption procedure. Accordingly, the father requesting for children adoption have to submit the declaration, documents to prove paternity, copy of passport or valid documents that can replace passport to prove his identity to the District People’s Committee where the father of the children reside.

Within 15 days of receiving valid dossier, the civil status authority will carry out the verification, listed the recognition of father and children at the headquarters of the District People’s Committee within 07 consecutive days. At the same time, the Commune People’s Committee where the child resides will list within 07 consecutive days at the headquarters of the Commune People’s Committee.

After the listing has been expired, the Justice Department proposed Chairman of the District People’s Committee to decide on the recognition of the father and son. Once registering for the recognition of the father and children, Chairman of the District People’s Committee provide excerpts for the parties.

The registration procedure for recognition of father and children must be done simultaneously or be conducted prior to birth registration of the children.

ANT Lawyers - a Law firm in Vietnam  with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

 

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Child Adoption with Foreign Elements

Adoption law firm in Vietnam

Presently, there are many foreign people want to adopt a Vietnamese. Besides, the law of Vietnam also has strict regulations for child adoption by foreigners.

First is the adoption of specific child by foreigners. The Adoption Act 2010 defined that the Vietnamese residing abroad and foreigners permanently residing overseas are allowed to adopt specific child in the following cases:

As stepfather or stepmother of the adopted person;

As uncle or aunt of the adopted person;

Has adopted children who are siblings of the children that are adopting;

Adopt children with disabilities, HIV / AIDS or other fatal diseases;

As foreigners who are working and studying in Vietnam for at least 01 years.

In which the 4th case is a special case that are encouraged by the State with simpler procedures than other cases.

The order and procedures for adoption of child will be conducted as follows:

The profile of child adopting people includes:

+ Application for adoption by name;

+ A copy of the passport or replacing document that have the same value;

+ The written permission for child adoption in Vietnam;

+ The psychological and family investigation;

+ Documents certifying health status;

+ Documents certifying income and assets;

+ Judicial record;

+ Documents certifying marital status;

+ Documents evidencing eligible for child adoption by name.

+ In case of specific child adoption for children over 5 years old and two or more siblings, the record must clearly state the psychological preparation plan for children, preparing conditions for children to integrate into the new family, culture and society environments.

The above documents are issued and certified by the competent authority where the child adopting people permanently reside. To be certified by the State of Vietnam, it should be certified through the procedure of consular legalization.

The profile of children to be adopted includes:

+ Birth certificate

+ Certification of health issued by the district or higher health authorities;

+ Two full body and looking straight images, which was taken within 06 months

+ Documents about the noteworthy characteristics, preferences and habits of children.

These papers are issued by nurturing organizations or natural parents / guardians of children.

Profiles of the child adopting person and the child being adopted are submitted directly at the Bureau for adoption. The case that cannot submit the profile directly at the Bureau for adoption, the child adopting person have to authorize by written document their relatives residing in Vietnam to submit the profile at the Bureau for adoption or send the profile through post office in the form of guarantees.

In the procedure of adoption of specific children with disabilities, HIV / AIDS or suffering from serious diseases, Vietnam law allows the free implementation of procedures to find alternative families and introduce children for adoption. The meaning of this is to shorten the procedure, creating condition for these children to be adopted and nurtured in an enabling environment.

After receipt of the application for adoption, Bureau of adoption will check and appraisal the profile to determine that the child adopting people was certified by the competent authorities of the country where he or she resides that he or she satisfy the eligibility for child adoption under the laws of that country and under the laws of Vietnam.

Towards the child to be adopted, after receiving profile from natural parents or guardians of the child, Bureau for adoption has the responsibility to inspect children’s record, conduct consultation with the natural father / mother or the guardians of child about the child adoption for foreigner during 07 working days.

Within 07 working days from the expiration date of changing opinion about the child adoption for foreigner of the natural parents or guardians of children, if children are eligible to be adopted by foreigner, who are entitled to adoption by name, Bureau for adoption will report the Department of Justice, Department of Justice will certify by document that the children eligible for adoption by foreigner. Finally, Department of Justice submits to the Provincial People’s Committee decided to allow the foreigner to adopt the children.

Second is the adoption of child not by name with foreign element. The adoption of child not by name with foreign element is the cases when Vietnamese residing abroad, foreigners reside in the country in which that country is a member of international treaties on child adoption with Vietnam and adopt Vietnamese children; Vietnam citizens residing in Vietnam adopt foreign children; foreigners permanently residing in Vietnam adopt Vietnamese children.

For the adoption case that not by name, the order and procedures will include:

+ The profile of people that want to adopt children should be submitting to the Bureau for adoption through the adoption agencies of that country that are licensed to operate in Vietnam. If that country does not have adoption agencies licensed to operate in Vietnam, the adoption profile should be submitting to the Bureau for adoption through diplomatic representative offices or consular office of that country in Vietnam.

+ The profile of children being adopted will be submitted by natural parents or guardians of the children at the Bureau for adoption.

+ The Bureau for adoption receives, inspect and evaluate profile of the child adopting people and children being adopted.

Compared to the case of adoption by name with children with disabilities, HIV / AIDS or other serious diseases, the case of adoption not by name, the Department of Justice has to implement the procedure to find alternative family and introduce children for adoption. The meaning of these two procedures is to encourage local Vietnamese permanent residing in Vietnam to adopt Vietnamese children, enabling Vietnamese children to live, learn and develop in their own homeland. Only when the above procedure to find alternative family and introduce children for adoption have finished without any local people want to adopt that children, the Department of Justice will consider deciding for the children to be adopted by foreigner.

The notice period to find alternative family is regulated as 60 days, during this period, if any Vietnamese wants to adopt children, they should contact the Commune People’s Committee where children resides to consider and settle the adoption. If time runs out 60 days, the Department of Justice has to prepare a list of children who need to find alternative families and submit to the Ministry of Justice.

On the other hand, within 30 days after receiving profile from foreigner that want to adopt Vietnamese children, the Department of Justice has to review and introduce children to be adopted on the basis of children with no domestic adoption. After introducing children to be adopted, the Department of Justice reported the Provincial People’s Committee for comments.

The case that the Provincial People’s Committee disagrees, they have to send a written document stating the reasons and submit to the Department of Justice. On the other hand, the case that the Provincial People’s Committee agrees, within 07 working days, the Provincial People’s Committee decided for children for abroad adoption.

ANT Lawyers - a Law firm in Vietnam  with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

 

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What are Requirement on Sending Notices in Arbitration Proceedings in Vietnam

According to Article 12 of Vietnam Law on Commercial Arbitration, unless otherwise agreed by the parties or provided by the arbitration center’s rules of proceedings, the mode and order of sending notices in arbitral proceedings for dispute are specified as follows:

Each party’s written explanations, correspondence papers and other documents shall be sent to the arbitration center or arbitration council in sufficient copies so that every member of the arbitration council and the other party has one copy, and one copy is filed at the arbitration center;

 

Arbitration Lawyers in Vietnam

Notices and documents to be sent by the arbitration center or arbitration council to the parties shall be sent to the addresses or to their representatives at the correct addresses notified by the parties;

Notices and documents may be sent by the arbitration center or arbitration council directly, in registered or ordinary mails, by fax. telex, telegram, email, or other modes which acknowledge such sending;

Notices and documents sent by the arbitration center or arbitration council will be regarded as having been received on the date the parties or their representatives receive them or if such notices and documents have been sent to addresses or to their representatives at correct address notified by the parties;

The time limit for receiving notices and documents shall be counted from the date following the date such notices and documents are regarded as having been received. If the following date falls on a holiday or day off under regulations of the country or territory in which the notices and documents have been received. this time limit shall be counted from the subsequent first working day. If the last day of this time limit falls on a holiday or day off under regulations of such country or territory, the time of expiration is the end of the subsequent first working day.

ANT Lawyers - a Law firm in Vietnam  with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

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When Arbitration Could Settle a Dispute in Vietnam?

Under the Law on Commercial Arbitration effective Jan 1st, 2011, and other guidance, in principle, arbitration could only be used in disputes among parties which arise from commercial activities, disputes among parties at least one of whom conducts commercial activities, and other disputes among parties which are stipulated by law to be settled by arbitration in Vietnam. Lawyer should be consulted for arbitration from drafting arbitration agreement to resolving the arisen dispute.

 

Arbitration Lawyers in Vietnam

Arbitral tribunals are entitled to resolve the disputes mentioned above if the concerned parties have a valid arbitration agreement agreed, before or after the dispute arise.

When the court is requested to resolve one of the disputes of the above types which a valid arbitration agreement exists, the court shall examine documents enclosed with the petition to determine and if the court finds that the dispute is under an arbitration agreement and such arbitration agreement is valid the court shall issue a decision to terminate the adjudication, return the petition and documents.

The dispute shall be handled by the court though it is under an arbitration agreement, unless otherwise agreed by the parties concerned or prescribed by law: the court issues a decision to annul the arbitral award or the decision made by the arbitral tribunal; or there is a decision to suspend the arbitral tribunal or arbitration center from resolving disputes; or the arbitration agreement is not viable.

ANT Lawyers - a Law firm in Vietnam  with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

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