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Showing posts from May, 2021

Arbitrability

§ 2 LCA 2010 focuses on commercial arbitration, to settle commercial disputes, with at least one of the parties who is merchant and conducts commercial act. Additionally, the scope of arbitrable commercial disputes is determined by special law, such as Commercial Law 2005, Law on Investment 2014, and Law on PPP 2020. Example from practice: A and B are wife and husband in a pending divorce process. In dividing their joint property, they agree to divide the shares jointly owned in a company: 40% for A, and 60% for B. Disputes arise because A will remain as active shareholder with all voting rights, but B only agrees to compensate the market value of this 40% of these shares, estimated 1200 billion VND. A and B agree to settle this dispute by arbitration. Is this dispute arbitrable? Divorce is a civil procedure under jurisdiction of VN court ( § 28 Civil Procedure Code 2019). In the marriage, wife and husband are not merchants, the divorce is not a commercial act ( § 2 LCA). Theref

Arbitration Agreement: Intention to arbitrate

§§ 5, 16-19, 43 LCA 2010 are referred to Arbitration Agreement. In summary, Parties can agree on arbitration before or after the occurrence of disputes. The details of such agreement can depend on circumstances, but it must at least clearly show the parties’ intention to settle the disputes by means of arbitration. That is the crucially important test to verify whether there is an arbitration agreement or not. Example from my practice: Two close friends A and B jointly run an online business. At some time, A withdraw from the business, B was left as the sole owner. A requested B to pay part of the initial capital contribution, B refused. Per What-up messages, A notified that he would initiate a request for arbitration, if B continues refuse to pay. B responded: A will never receive any money  by doing so . The tribunal is of the view that there is a valid arbitration agreement. The party intention is documented in what-up messages, that is the written form as provided for by  § 1

Changes in Arbitration Law in VN

In the current legislature 2021 to 2026, VN Parliament plans to revise the Law on Commercial Arbitration (LCA 2010). Taking effect since 2011, LCA 2010 has created the foundation for arbitration service in VN. A growing number of legal professionals, estimated 600 registered as arbitrator at   35 arbitration institutions  (with 22 branch offices in HCM). Business community, legal counsels, judges become more familiar with arbitration practice. VN arbitration law and practice made significant progress toward global standards. My up-coming blogs will focus on development of arbitration law in Vietnam, possibly from the practice perspective. 

Lay Judges in Vietnam: Hội thẩm ở Việt Nam

Bài viết dưới đây gợi thảo luận về các vấn đề sau: (i) Vì sao người dân không có nghiệp vụ lại được tạo cơ hội tham gia các hội đồng xét xử tại tòa án cùng với các thẩm phán chuyên nghiệp? (ii) Việc tạo điều kiện cho người dân tham gia xét xử tại tòa án có thể đặt ra những rủi ro gì? (iii) Các gợi ý chính sách làm cho người dân tham gia có hiệu quả hơn vào hoạt động xét xử của tòa án.   I. Khái quát về hội thẩm/bồi thẩm đoàn   Hội thẩm là một chế định ngoại lai, từ nước ngoài, du nhập vào nước ta từ 70 năm nay. Mục đích của chế định hội thẩm là để tạo điều kiện cho người dân có thể tham gia vào quá trình xét xử, nhất là trong cá vụ án hình sự, tạo trao đổi thảo luận giữa các thẩm phán chuyên nghiệp và người nghiệp dư, qua đó nhằm đạt được và làm lan rộng công lý. Tên gọi của chế định này có thể dịch là hội thẩm, bồi thẩm, thẩm phán không chuyên, bồi thẩm đoàn . Tùy theo truyền thống pháp luật theo án lệ kiểu Anh hay dân luật kiểu Châu Âu lục địa, mà cách lựa chọn, phân công c
  Pham Duy Nghia graduated at Leipzig University in Germany (LLB 1988, PhD 1991). He was a Fulbright visiting scholar at Harvard Law School (2001-2002). At Fulbright University Vietnam he teaches Law and Public Policy, Public Governance, Research Methods of Public Policy. As arbitrator Prof Pham Duy Nghia has served in more than 100 cases hearing transnational business disputes, including commercial, investment, construction, insurance, corporate disputes, M & A and intellectual property disputes. Besides teaching, research, and practicing law, Pham Duy Nghia is a frequent commentator in leading newspapers and media in Vietnam. The areas concerned include protection of basic citizen’s right, voice and accountability in public governance, regulatory quality, rule of law and access to justice.