Sector: Disputes

April 28, 2025

This ordinance is one of a number of special laws that have been passed in response to the alarming number of incidents of violence against women and children. The amendment provides a more detailed definition of sexual harassment, increases the punishment and the damages, and speeds up the appeals process. Previously, the aggrieved party could […]

March 18, 2025

This ordinance introduces several significant changes. One notable amendment specifies that, concerning the crime of aggression as a crime against peace, the provisions of that section will apply only to individuals with effective authority to control or direct the political or military actions of a state. Additionally, another amendment reduces the time for an accused […]

February 13, 2025

General Understanding of the Lao constitution The Lao Official Gazette published the proposed draft amendment to the Constitution of the Lao PDR on 23 January 2025 (“Draft Amendment”), inviting public feedback and consultation. The most recent revision occurred in 2015, so the current Constitution has been in effect for a decade. The Constitution of the […]

January 27, 2025

On December 28, 2024, the Management and Preservation of Evidence Law 2024 was enacted by Myanmar’s State Administration Council. Comprising 12 chapters and 54 sections, this law establishes a robust legal framework for the systematic handling, preservation, and management of evidence in criminal investigations and trials. It addresses critical issues to ensure the integrity of […]

December 18, 2024

The newly amended act empowers the international crimes tribunal to prosecute crimes committed both within and outside Bangladesh, including offenses by foreigners occurring within the country. It introduces the definition of “enforced disappearance” that is aligned with international standards and incorporates provisions for special trials and victim compensation, which were absent in the earlier law. […]

September 3, 2024

On 29 August 2024, Bangladesh signed the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (“ICPED”). The signing, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, occurred during the weekly meeting of the interim government’s advisory council, where it was met with applause from the council members. ICPED […]

July 30, 2024

Recently, the Ministry of Justice (“MOJ”) and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications announced the official launch of the “verify.gov.kh file verification” providing a QR code verification of the MOJ’s Criminal Record No. 3, otherwise known as a Police Clearance Certificate. This is part of the government’s broader digitalization efforts. As part of this, last […]

March 2, 2023

On 5 October 2021, the Royal Government of Cambodia issued the Law on Competition (“Competition Law”) with the aim to provide a more fair and harmonized business environment. Subsequently, on 17 February 2022, Sub-Decree 37 was issued to form the Cambodia Competition Committee (“CCC”) as the authority to enforce implementation of the Competition Law. Furthering […]

November 23, 2022

A remarkable change has been added to the Evidence Act of Bangladesh. The amended law said that in a prosecution for an offense of rape or attempt to rape, no question can be asked in the cross-examination as to the general immoral character or previous sexual behavior of the victim, such questions can only be […]

August 26, 2022

The “Plaintiff” operates a travel agency and an air freight cargo handling business in Bangladesh. To extend its business, Plaintiff entered into a General Sale Agent(“GSA”) and General Sales & Service Agent (“GSSA”) agreement with a foreign air (“Respondent”) operator on 1st September 2008. The agreement was later renewed in 2013. Thereafter, the Respondent terminated […]

June 16, 2022

As the costs of essential commodities continue to soar, driven by the unfettered weakening of the Lao Kip (“LAK”), the pandemic, and other external factors, many people in the Lao PDR are having a hard time making ends meet. In consideration of the ongoing monetary crisis and following a tripartite discussion between the Lao Federation […]

May 24, 2022

In this briefing the team of VDB Loi (Vietnam) answers to the most frequently raised questions relating to the provision of foreign loans to companies in Vietnam. This article generally assumes that parties are looking to implement long-term financing for a company registered in Vietnam. Note that additional requirements may apply to certain specifically regulated […]

May 17, 2022

In 2009, Bangladesh lost its first and so far only international investment arbitration against an Italian specialized construction company for the energy sector. It was a painful experience for Bangladesh whose counsel team had mounted a valiant and intelligent defense.

March 1, 2022

Three years on from the issuance of the Law on Trusts (dated 2 January 2019), the Non-Banking Financial Services Authority (“NBFSA”) issued Prakas No. 003 F.S.A.PrK on 26 January 2022 on Rules for the Management, Establishment, and Functioning of Trusts (“Prakas”) to set out the rules, conditions, and procedures on the establishment of trusts, their […]

October 23, 2021

In the wake of a 2019 Supreme Court decision allowing Bangladesh courts to issue injunctions in support of foreign arbitration procedures, international commercial disputes with a Bangladesh angle might soon get a lot more complicated. Highlights of this note What happened in the case? What is the dispute before the Bangladesh court? Why would it […]

October 11, 2021

Dubbed by some “an economic miracle”, even the global pandemic has not been able to stamp out Bangladesh’s upward development trajectory. It eked out its larger neighbor India in terms of GDP growth according to World Bank reporting, at least in 2021, and its projected GDP growth for 2022 is higher than that of Pakistan, […]

May 25, 2021

Recently a district court in Myanmar has granted an execution order to approve enforcement of a foreign court judgment against defendants in Myanmar. The case concerns a complex foreign arbitration on an infrastructure project which has dragged on for many years. After a foreign party won the foreign arbitration proceeding, the Myanmar defendant refused to […]

May 25, 2021

In order to reduce and relieve the economic impact from the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Lao PDR, the Prime Minister’s Office has issued Notice No. 532/PMO dated 20 May 2021 (the “Notice”) specifying policies for further implementation by the relevant governmental authorities. 1. Tax policies Exemption from personal income tax for […]

May 14, 2021

On 10 May 2021, the Division of Health of Vientiane Capital (“DH.VTE”) issued Notice No. 378/DH (the “Notice”) requiring that those wishing to travel in and out of Vientiane Capital must apply for a permit from the COVID-19 Taskforce Committee to travel during the lockdown period up to 20 May 2021, or a further lockdown […]

April 20, 2021

On the night of 14 April, the Cambodian Government ordered a number of restrictions in response to the recent rise in COVID-19 infections by means of Decision nr. 49 SR dated 14 April 2021 (“Decision 49“). The regulation was follow up by an amendment providing some additional details by Decision nr. 50 dated 17 April […]