Cambodia

DFDL in Cambodia was established in 1995. Our Phnom Penh office is one of our largest offices today, and we have a strong relationship with the Royal Government of Cambodia.

DFDL experts have provided our international experience to help the Royal Government create legal and tax guidelines that are still in use today. DFDL Cambodia has unrivalled expertise in advising on complex, multi-layered cross-border transactions, corporate structuring, international tax implications and tax optimization strategies.

DFDL serves major international and Asian foreign investors in Cambodia, including well-known brands and financial institutions. We have advised on major projects across the Kingdom in various sectors, such as electricity, aviation, telecommunications, infrastructure, and large real estate developments.

DFDL is licensed by the Council for the Development of Cambodia and the Cambodian Investment Board as an investment company. We are also registered with the Ministry of Commerce as a private limited company. These licenses and registrations allow us to provide international business consulting, tax and investment advisory services.

On 1 March 2016, DFDL and Sarin & Associates formed a commercial association and cooperation to create a new business transactions platform for clients with interests in Cambodia and the growing ASEAN market.

DFDL and Sarin & Associates have a long-standing collaboration of over 10 years in Cambodia. Sarin & Associates is renowned for providing advice to companies in Cambodia in several sectors, such as telecommunications, energy, retail, real estate, financial services, banking, etc.

Well-regarded regional firm considered a go-to for Cambodian counsel by many international law firms and clients. Full-service offering that encompasses market entry and corporate restructuring, as well as land use, securities, tax and project finance. DFDL's team is able to understand complex issues and solve them in a systematic manner. — Chambers Asia Pacific 2023 – DFDL Cambodia

Key Credentials

  • Alibaba, Tencent, Amazon, Mastercard, and others (fintech), are major players in the Asian and international e-commerce and Fintech industry, on various legal and tax advice to ensure compliance with Cambodian law and regulations.
  • Altimeter Growth Corp, on its $40 billion business combination that resulted in taking Grab Holdings public in the U.S. The record-breaking de-SPAC transaction is the largest-ever U.S. equity listing by a Southeast Asian company, with e the company valuing at nearly $40 billion.
  • Apollo Aviation Group LLC, on advising on regulatory compliance to an aircraft lease with a Cambodian operator and on aircraft registration, security perfection, enforcement, and opinion on warehouse financing.
  • B.Grimm, in relation to its solar project in Cambodia by assisting in conducting legal due diligence, drafting and negotiating the share purchase agreement, other transaction documents, and closing the acquisition transaction.
  • China Road and Bridge Corporation, in relation to development of the Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville $2 billion expressway project, a 190km-long road that will link the capital city Phnom Penh and the coastal city of Sihanoukville, including assistance regarding PPP aspects and the BOT concession agreement.
  • Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, and UBS, in acting for the underwriting banks with respect to a $200 million bond issued by NagaCorp, the operator of Cambodia’s NagaWorld casino and hotel complex.
  • International Finance Corporation (IFC), in advising on the provision of two senior loan facilities to Amret and Hattha Bank which are intended to provide access to finance/liquidity and support the banks’ social lending programs to Cambodia’s female-owned businesses affected by the covid pandemic.
  • JPMorgan Chase, in advising to an enormous $2 billion pre-IPO syndicated financing for Southeast Asian tech giant Grab.
  • Raffles, famous hotel group, and a hotel investor, Lodgis Hospitality, in relation to the restructuring of two Raffles hotels in Cambodia – the Le Royal Phnom Penh and the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor Siem Reap.
  • Royal Group of Companies, Cambodia’s largest diversified conglomerate and holding company with investments in various industries in the country including telecommunication, media, banking, insurance, resorts, education, property, trading and agriculture, as well as advising  millions of projects with respect to energy, power plan and joint venture.
  • Siam Cement Group, a leading industrial conglomerate in ASEAN, in relation to the provision of legal and tax advice on the landholding structure, land transaction options, title search and preparation of transactional documents for land transfer.
  • Smart Axiata, a top Cambodian telecommunication provider, on its legal and tax restructuring involving carving out of its tower infrastructure business in Cambodia.

Awards

2024 chambers and partners asia pacific

  • General Business Law CambodiaBand 1

2024 legal 500 asia pacific

  • Leading Firm Cambodia & Lao PDRTier 1

Address

#30, Norodom Boulevard, 4th Floor BRED Bank Building,
Sangkat Phsar Thmey 3, Khan Duan Penh (P.O. Box 7),
120203, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
View on Google Maps

Contact

+855 23 210 400
cambodia@dfdl.com

Opening Hours

8 AM – 6 PM
Monday – Friday

Key Contact

Senior Partner, Head of Cambodia Practice
Cambodia
+855 23 210 400
Martin Desautels
Senior Partner

Position

  • Senior Partner

Expertise

  • Banking and Finance
  • Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure
  • Investment Funds

Countries of Expertise

  • Cambodia
  • Lao PDR
  • Vietnam
Nishant Choudhary
Partner and Managing Director, Myanmar | Head of Regional Dispute Resolution

Position

  • Partner and Managing Director, Myanmar | Head of Regional Dispute Resolution

Expertise

  • Aviation and Logistics
  • Banking and Finance
  • Corporate and M&A
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure

Countries of Expertise

  • Cambodia
  • Myanmar
Seka Hep
Partner

Position

  • Partner

Expertise

  • Corporate and M&A
  • Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure
  • Real Estate and Hospitality

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Vansok Khem
Partner

Position

  • Partner

Expertise

  • Compliance and Investigations
  • Corporate and M&A
  • Investment Funds

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Clint O’Connell
Partner, Head of Cambodia Tax Practice

Position

  • Partner, Head of Cambodia Tax Practice

Expertise

  • Tax & Transfer Pricing

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Chris Robinson
Partner, Head of Regional Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions

Position

  • Partner, Head of Regional Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions

Expertise

  • Corporate and M&A
  • Investment Funds
  • Restructuring

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Denora Sarin
Partner, Sarin & Associates

Position

  • Partner, Sarin & Associates

Expertise

  • Corporate and M&A
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure
  • Real Estate and Hospitality

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Dave Seibert
Partner, Head of Regional Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure | Head of US Desk

Position

  • Partner, Head of Regional Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure | Head of US Desk

Expertise

  • Banking and Finance
  • Corporate and M&A
  • Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure

Countries of Expertise

  • Cambodia
  • Lao PDR
  • Myanmar
  • Vietnam
Diberjohn Balinas
Tax Director

Position

  • Tax Director

Expertise

  • Tax & Transfer Pricing

Countries of Expertise

  • Cambodia
  • Myanmar
  • Philippines
Vajiravann Chamnan
Tax Director

Position

  • Tax Director

Expertise

  • Tax & Transfer Pricing

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Etienne Kettenmeyer
Executive Director

Position

  • Executive Director

Expertise

  • Banking and Finance
  • Corporate Advisory
  • Corporate and M&A

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Sophorne Kheang
Partner

Position

  • Partner

Expertise

  • Compliance and Investigations
  • Corporate and M&A
  • Technology, Media and Telecoms

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Simon Burlinson
Senior Consultant

Position

  • Senior Consultant

Expertise

  • Compliance and Investigations
  • Corporate and M&A
  • Technology, Media and Telecoms

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Raksa Chan
Senior Consultant

Position

  • Senior Consultant

Expertise

  • Employment

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Kanitha Chea
Senior Tax Manager

Position

  • Senior Tax Manager

Expertise

  • Tax & Transfer Pricing

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia
Kosal Dun
Senior Manager, Custom & Compliance

Position

  • Senior Manager, Custom & Compliance

Expertise

  • Tax & Transfer Pricing

Country of Expertise

  • Cambodia

Insights

Intelligence from the DFDL legal team

Employment
Mar 7 2024

Cambodia: New Work Permit Requirements for Foreign Patent Tax Holders

On 28 December 2023, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (“MLVT”) issued Instruction 110/23 on the Provision of Foreign…
Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure
Mar 4 2024

Cambodia: Accreditation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Consultant Companies in Cambodia

Following the promulgation of the Environmental and Natural Resources Code dated 29 June 2023 (“Environmental Code”) and the requirements of…
Compliance and Investigations
Feb 20 2024

Cambodia: Annual Labour Compliance Obligations for 2024

Enterprises are subject to various labour obligations and filing requirements pursuant to the Labour Law and its implementing regulations. To…
Tax & Transfer Pricing
Feb 7 2024

Cambodia Tax Alert: Tax Amnesty Deadline Announced

“Amnesty is as good for those who give it as for those who receive it. It has the admirable quality…
Corporate and M&A
Feb 7 2024

Cambodia: Implementation of Prakas on Unfair Contract Terms

Following promulgation of the Law on Consumer Protection dated 02 November 2019 (“Consumer Protection Law”), the Ministry of Commerce (“MOC”)…
Banking and Finance
Feb 2 2024

Cambodia Tax Alert: ACAR and Unaudited Financial Statements – An Explainer

Key Takeaways: Background The Accounting and Auditing Regulator of Cambodia (ACAR) has upgraded its public profile in recent times from…
News
Jan 16 2024

Clint O'Connell of DFDL Among the Top 50 International Voices in Cambodia by CLR

DFDL is proud to announce that Clint O’Connell, Partner and Head of Cambodia Tax and Customs Practice, has been recognized…
Corporate and M&A
Jan 15 2024

Cambodia: Labelling of Products/Goods and Services

Overview From a consumer protection perspective, labels serve as crucial information for consumers in making informed decisions when deciding to…