Pham & Associates

No 8 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

Firm's Overview

Established in 1991, Pham & Associates is the oldest IP law firm in Vietnam. Over the years, the firm has developed into one of the leading IP law firms in the country with strong practice groups in both prosecution and contentious matters. The firm is the most prolific filer of patent, trademark and industrial design applications in Vietnam each year. It is also renowned for acting on appeals and oppositions before the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) and the courts, and providing expert opinions.

Since 2001, in addition to its core services of intellectual property, the firm has developed expertise in business law and has become well versed in advising clients in this field.

Pham & Associates is widely recognised as one of the best IP law firms in Vietnam due to its diligence, careful preparation of work and strong commitment to its clients regardless of their size or location.

Staff

The firm has over 120 full-time staff, including 14 lawyers, 34 IP attorneys and 28 consultants. Before joining the team, some key consultants were senior patent or trademark examiners at the NOIP. The firm’s patent attorneys work in a wide range of technical areas, including chemistry, mechanics, electronics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, energy, material science and telecommunications. This staff is supported by 25 part-time collaborators who are researchers, specialists from universities and R&D institutions, and 8 qualified translators who can timely and accurately translate patent applications, prior art and foreign references, as well as discovery documents relating to patent litigation.

The firm’s staff has handled 25,000 trademark and design registrations and 16,000 patent applications since its foundation. Pham & Associates has retained its tier 1 ranking for patent and trademark prosecution and contentious matters in Vietnam for many years. The firm is especially well known for handling IP infringements by using administrative measures implemented by competent authorities. This is the result of a deep understanding of IP rights and related laws, the business environment in Vietnam and the trust relationship with the authorities that has been built over the years.

Equipped with full-featured docketing software and a regularly updated IP database, the firm’s attorneys carry out fast and flexible patent and trademark searches and effectively manage each type of IP case with timely reporting to clients to ensure that services are provided in due time, of the highest quality and at reasonable costs.

As a founder and managing partner, Pham Vu Khanh Toan has a profound understanding of intellectual property, is extremely creative and can come up with solutions. He has built a strong team – the key factor for sustaining development and ensuring the firm’s long-term success.

Areas of practice

The firm’s IP practice areas include patents, utility solutions, trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications, trade names, domain names, trade secrets, IP asset management and evaluation, searches, filing, prosecution, maintenance and renewal, IP rights litigation and alternative dispute settlements, IP rights enforcement by administrative measures, anti-counterfeiting, unfair competition, licensing and franchising and technology transfers.

The firm’s business law practice areas include counselling on corporate investment, real estate and construction, commerce, tax, finance and banking, shipping, insurance, employment and dispute resolution.

Office network

With a head office in Hanoi and branch offices in Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang and Hai Phong, the firm’s attorneys can respond quickly to clients and, if necessary, have face-to-face meetings with them to advise and give solutions to problems, particularly when handling cases regarding IP disputes and infringement.

Working languages

Vietnamese, English, French, Russian, German and Chinese

Memberships

  • International Trademark Association
  • International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys
  • European Communities Trademark Association
  • Chartered Institute of Trademark Attorneys
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Licensing Executives Society (United States and Canada)
  • International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
  • Asian Patent Attorneys Association

Awards and rankings

  • Tier 1 for patent, trademark prosecution and contentious matters in Vietnam (2008-2018) – Managing Intellectual Property 
  • Vietnam Patent Firm of the Year (2009-2017) – Asia IP
  • Shortlisted as one of five firms for the Vietnam Trademark Firm of the Year (2009-2017) – Asia IP  
  • Intellectual Property Advisory Firm of the Year (2014-2017) – Corporate INTL (Global, United Kingdom)
  • Top Five Leading Firms in Vietnam, Intellectual Property (2014-2017) – Chambers & Partners (United Kingdom)