Heart Of The Matter - A Podcast On Legal Developments From Around The World Conventus Law

In the battle against climate change, litigation has emerged as a potent tool, compelling governments and corporations to confront their environmental responsibilities head-on. "Why Climate Change Litigation Matters?" explores the rising trend of legal actions being taken to address the urgent crisis of our warming planet. 

Our Host

Ajay Shamdasani

Ajay is a veteran writer, editor and researcher based in Hong Kong. He holds an AB in history and government from Ripon College, JD and MIPCT degrees from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce Law School, and an LLM in financial regulation from the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law.

His 15-year long career as a financial and legal journalist began as deputy editor of A Plus magazine – the journal of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. From there, he assumed the helm of Macau Business magazine as its editor-in-chief, and later, joined Asialaw magazine as its deputy editor.

More recently, he spent close to seven years as a senior correspondent with Thomson Reuters’ subscription-based trade-wire service Regulatory Intelligence/Compliance Complete (previously called Complinet) in Hong Kong. While there, he covered regulatory developments in that city, as well as Singapore, India and South Korea.

Our Guest

John B. Quinn

John B. Quinn has been named by Bloomberg the “most famous practicing lawyer in the world” at large law firms and described by American Lawyer as a “master strategist.” He was identified as a “Legal Legend” in the 10th Anniversary edition of the Lawdragon: The 500 Leading Lawyers in America.  Some of the victories in Mr. Quinn’s storied career include: winning $176 million as lead trial counsel for Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and his companies in an arbitration against Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. and its CEO Dr. Henry Ji; obtaining a $295 million jury verdict for two former Bertelsmann AG executives against Bertelsmann AG; defending Samsung Electronics Company in Apple Inc.’s “holy war” against the Android smartphone operating system where, after a trial held in Apple’s backyard, the jury awarded less than 5.5% of the amount Apple sought and decided that Apple itself infringed one of Samsung’s counterclaim patents; and obtaining a $2.1 billion settlement for two dozen hedge fund plaintiffs—including Elliott, Davidson-Kempner, Appalloosa, and Angelo Gordon—as holders of Yosemite and Enron Credit-Linked (ECLN) Notes in the Yosemite v. Citibank action in the Enron MDL.

Renewable energy is reshaping the global energy landscape, and Vietnam is no exception. With its significant strides in wind and solar power investment, Vietnam is emerging as a compelling case study in the shift towards sustainable energy production.

Stakeholders in international energy markets, project financing, or environmental legislation will find the burgeoning Vietnamese renewable energy sector both intriguing and rich with opportunity. This episode looks at the complexities and legal intricacies as Vietnam embraces the winds of change and the sun's bountiful rays.

Our Guests

Sesto Vecchi

Sesto has over 35 years of experience practicing law in Vietnam. His expertise includes corporate and commercial law with particular emphasis on foreign investment.

He acts for numerous multinational and mid-size investors, both foreign and Vietnamese. He has written and spoken extensively on Vietnamese legal issues.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, was an arbitrator for the Vietnam International Arbitration Center, and a former active duty lieutenant in the US Navy.

Lâm Nguyễn Hoàng Thảo

Prior to pursuing a law degree, and for nearly 12 years, Thao worked in the Energy Sector with SCHLUMBERGER, one of the world’s largest upstream oil and gas service companies.

Thao completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Practical Legal Training in Australia.

Thao has both Vietnamese and Australian citizenship. Thao returned to Vietnam in 2022 and started engaging in the Vietnamese legal market. Thao joined RUSSIN & VECCHI in 2023 and specializes in Energy Matters.

In this episode, we explore how law firms can benefit significantly from integrating fixed-fee arrangements into their practice. Whether you're an independent attorney or part of a larger firm, this model promises transparency, predictability, and a renewed focus on efficiency—not to mention the strategic leverage it provides in a competitive market.

Our Host

Ajay Shamdasani

Ajay is a veteran writer, editor and researcher based in Hong Kong. He holds an AB in history and government from Ripon College, JD and MIPCT degrees from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce Law School, and an LLM in financial regulation from the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law.

His 15-year long career as a financial and legal journalist began as deputy editor of A Plus magazine – the journal of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. From there, he assumed the helm of Macau Business magazine as its editor-in-chief, and later, joined Asialaw magazine as its deputy editor.

More recently, he spent close to seven years as a senior correspondent with Thomson Reuters’ subscription-based trade-wire service Regulatory Intelligence/Compliance Complete (previously called Complinet) in Hong Kong. While there, he covered regulatory developments in that city, as well as Singapore, India and South Korea.

Our Guest

Kevin Bowers

Kevin is a dual-qualified lawyer in England + Wales and Hong Kong and has practiced as a commercial disputes lawyer and partner with three leading independent Hong Kong law firms over the last twenty years.

Kevin specialises in commercial, insurance and employment litigation and dispute resolution both in Hong Kong and internationally. He handles complex multi-jurisdictional commercial cases involving debt recovery, sale of goods, trade finance, media law, fraud, shareholder, joint venture, employment, property (including land rights disputes and building management / tenancy issues) and franchise disputes, contentious family/probate/trusts, asset tracing, injunction proceedings, jurisdictional challenges, public inquiries and judicial reviews.

Kevin is a Solicitor Advocate in Hong Kong, and an Accredited Mediator with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and The Law Society of Hong Kong. He has appeared as an expert witness (on Hong Kong corporate law) in the BVI High Court.

In this episode, we delve into the crucial information about obtaining the Long-Term Resident Visa in Thailand. From understanding the eligibility criteria to navigating the application process, we aim to equip you with the essential knowledge to turn your plans with Thailand into a reality. Whether you are a retiree seeking tranquility amidst breathtaking landscapes, a digital nomad in pursuit of high-speed internet on stunning shores, or an investor exploring a world of vibrant opportunities, we hope will be able to help you with your research.

Our guest.

Dhinapa Apaivongse - Senior Investment Promotion Officer - Thailand Board of Investment

For more information, please visit

https://www.ilct.co.th/

It is essential to foster positive relationships with your local workforce and stay compliant with state regulations. One way to do both is through employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) – an incentive that can potentially have tremendous benefits for corporations operating within Vietnam. In this episode, we explore ESOPs specifically in the context of Vietnam and explain their advantages in maintaining strong corporate relations while carving out financial gains.

Our Guests

Sesto Vecchi

Sesto has over 35 years of experience practicing law in Vietnam. His expertise includes corporate and commercial law with particular emphasis on foreign investment.
He acts for numerous multinational and mid-size investors, both foreign and Vietnamese. He has written and spoken extensively on Vietnamese legal issues.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, was an arbitrator for the Vietnam International Arbitration Center, and a former active duty lieutenant in the US Navy.

Dao Hong Diu

Diu joined Russin & Vecchi in 2008 upon graduation from law school.
Her core areas of practice are corporate and foreign investment.
She specializes in foreign based, long-term employee incentive plans sometimes called employee stock option plans ("ESOPs"), offered to employees in Vietnam.
She has an interest in the regulation of anti-money laundering as it impacts corporate compliance responsibility in both the financial and non-financial sectors.

For more information about labour laws in Vietnam, please visit

https://www.russinvecchi.com.vn/

Vietnam is becoming an increasingly attractive proposition for doing business. Not only is it a flourishing and vibrant economy, but the labour force also offers some unique advantages for those wishing to invest in Vietnam's future. For businesses interested in keeping abreast of the latest developments in this dynamic labour and employment landscape, it pays to stay informed as laws and guidelines are ever-evolving in this country. In this podcast, we explore how businesses can navigate through Vietnam's legal landscape while staying compliant with current regulations.

Our Guests

Sesto Vecchi

Sesto has over 35 years of experience practicing law in Vietnam. His expertise includes corporate and commercial law with particular emphasis on foreign investment.
He acts for numerous multinational and mid-size investors, both foreign and Vietnamese. He has written and spoken extensively on Vietnamese legal issues.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, was an arbitrator for the Vietnam International Arbitration Center, and a former active duty lieutenant in the US Navy.

Dao Thi Ai

Ai’s practice focuses almost entirely on employment issues. This includes compensation and benefits, transfer of employment, foreign employees, labor discipline, termination, restructuring and more.

The task is always to combine legal knowledge with a commercial awareness to help the client achieve the best outcome.

For more information about labour laws in Vietnam, please visit

https://www.russinvecchi.com.vn/