Scope of practice of foreign law firms remains unclear under new Decree
On October 14, 2013, the Government issued Decree No. 123/2013/ND-CP to guide certain provisions and measures for enforcement of the Law on Lawyers (Decree 123). Decree 123, which became effective on November 28, supersedes (i) Government Decree No. 28/2007/ND-CP dated February 26, 2007, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Lawyers, (ii) Government Decree No. 131/2008/ND-CP dated December 31, 2008, guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Lawyers concerning lawyers’ socio-professional organizations, and (iii) a number of articles of Government Decree No. 05/2012/ND-CP dated February 2, 2012, amending some articles of the Decrees on security transaction registration, legal assistance, lawyers and legal consultancy.