Thomas J. Treutler
Investment, commercial, real estate, and intellectual property
Thomas Treutler is a member of the State Bar of California and has been issued a Certificate to Practice as a Foreign Lawyer in Vietnam. Tom has worked in legal services in Vietnam since 1994, previously working for several years with Baker & McKenzie handling commercial and intellectual property matters. Significant representations include assisting companies in the oil and gas, franchising, telecommunications, computer software, computer hardware, entertainment and fast-moving consumer goods sectors. He has assisted in government-funded reviews of Vietnam’s compliance with bilateral trade commitments. Tom speaks and writes Vietnamese and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Court of International Trade. Tom earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Indiana University-Bloomington, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S.E. in Computer Engineering. He has previously served as a Vietnam Country Co-Correspondent for Tax Notes International. Tom has completed coursework in Vietnam in Real Estate Transaction Center Management, and Real Estate Brokerage in Ministry of Construction approved training centers.
Tom advised on legal issues for various infrastructure and energy projects in regard to Vietnamese BOT regulations, foreign exchange regulations, bank guarantees, power purchase agreements and management issues. He previously drafted and revised CCH Vietnam Business Guide section on Vietnamese BOT regulations. Other related work in the energy sector includes preparing a Vietnam Country Survey Report for a major U.S. energy company regarding the infrastructure, energy and oil & gas sectors in Vietnam. Tom also prepared feasibility study for a BOT rice-loading terminal in the Mekong Delta, that was funded by U.S. Government Technical Development Assistance (TDA). Tom was named a leading practitioner in intellectual property law for 2008 by Chambers U.K., and has assists clients in registration and contentious matters concerning intellectual property.
Qualifications
State Bar of California
Registered Foreign Lawyer in Vietnam
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Experience
Investment and Commercial Law
Energy & Infrastructure Projects:
Advised on legal issues for various infrastructure and energy projects in regard to Vietnamese BOT regulations, foreign exchange regulations, bank guarantees, power purchase agreements and management issues.
Previously drafted and revised the CCH Vietnam Business Guide section on Vietnamese BOT regulations.
Prepared a Vietnam Country Survey Report for major U.S. power company regarding the infrastructure, energy and oil & gas sectors in Vietnam.
Prepared feasibility study for a BOT rice-loading terminal in the Mekong Delta. Feasibility study was funded by U.S. Government Technical Development Assistance (TDA).
Oil and Gas:
Assisted major U.S petroleum company in negotiations and contracts for a four-party joint venture oil refinery in Vung Tau - Ba Ria Province (1994).
Advised a U.S. oil company on foreign contractor taxation, import duty and value added tax issues in Vietnam.
Prepared all documents, worked closely with Industrial Zone Authorities with authorities to obtain a license for a 100% foreign-owned enterprise in LPG production for major U.S. oil company.
Advised a major Vietnamese State-owned oil company on various commercial matters, including contracts with foreign oil companies and dispute resolution.
Financing:
Assisted in advising leading credit institutions on syndicated loan agreements in Vietnam.
Advised leading banks on various commercial and personal banking regulatory issues.
Real Estate Law
Advising on US$100 million dollar mixed-purpose office and residential facility outside of Hanoi.
Advised on hotel and real estate management contracts.
Advised on all aspects of condominium developments in Vietnam.
Advised on eminent domain, zoning and leasing issues for a manufacturing plant in the context of an acquisition.
Speaker at Eurocham’s 2004 Seminar on Real Estate Law.
Completed Ministry of Construction approved courses in several areas of Vietnamese real estate (real estate transaction center management, and brokerage).
Intellectual Property Law
Named a Leading Practitioner in intellectual property law in Vietnam by Chambers U.K. for the year 2008.
Assisted client register trademarks in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the United States.
Handled numerous oppositions, cancellations and appeals in trademark cases.
Successfully organized anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy actions in Vietnam.
Several years of experience in patent preparation and prosecution in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley.
