Sciaroni & Associates Lao PDR

Committed to helping our clients succeed

Since economic integration with ASEAN and the WTO, Laos has seen its economy grow steadily over the last ten years with GDP growing at an annual average of 7.8%. Most of the foreign investments are in mining and hydropower, with large sectors of the economy still underdeveloped. The Lao government has been pushing for diversification of its economy, thus offering unique business opportunities for investors. Strategically located, this landlocked country shares borders with five others—Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and China—making business expansion in the region very convenient. Sciaroni & Associates, with its many years of local experience and keen insight into the particular cultures and societies, is well‐placed to assist investors in maximizing their growth potential in the region. 

Sciaroni & Associates, one of Southeast Asia’s leading professional services and investment advisory firms, has been providing skilled counsel and knowledgeable business insights for over two decades. Based in Cambodia, with offices in Laos and Myanmar, our experienced team of advisors brings considerable general and sector-specific expertise to the challenges confronting companies doing business in emerging markets.  We are proud that our clients comprise many of the world’s premier companies, banks, financial institutions, governments and global development organizations.

Our Team’s Work

Examples of major projects our Laos legal team has worked on:

• Conducted due diligence, advised and drafted various documents for the purpose of a Lao commercial bank’s share transfer in favour of an Australian bank and assisted in transforming the domestic bank into a joint venture bank.

• Advised on a joint venture of a Lao convenience store chain.

• Assisted foreign banks in gaining Bank of Lao approvals and establish operations in Lao PDR. 

• Conducted due diligence of the borrower in the $20 million IFC loan to a Lao brewery.

• Assisted a leading international financial services corporation in establishing a representative office in the Lao PDR, as well as handling the application for a limited company license. 

• Provided local law advice to a global media platform regarding advertising, consumer protection, and data privacy.

Main Areas of Practice

As a full-range professional services and investment advisory firm, Sciaroni & Associates provides legal and tax services in nearly all sectors and practice areas to foreign and local investors operating in the region and abroad. To best serve the needs of our clients, we are organized into the following specialized practice groups that reflect our core areas of expertise and the major industrial sectors:

 • Anti-Corruption/Anti-Money Laundering                                           

• Aviation                                             

• Banking & Finance                                         

• Corporate & Commercial                                            

• Dispute Resolution                                        

• Energy, Mining & Infrastructure                                              

• Family                                                

• Gaming                                              

• Government Relations

• Immigration

• Labor

• NGOs

• Pharmaceuticals &  Healthcare

• Real Estate & Construction

• Securities

• Tax 

• Tourism

• Transportation & Logistics

Our Legal Team in Laos

Joseph M. Lovell – Managing Partner

With over two decades of Asia-focused legal, business and investment experience, Joseph’s expertise includes cross-border investments, banking, corporate finance, securities, M&A and corporate law across multiple sectors. A member of the bar in New York, Texas and Hawaii, he holds MA and JD degrees from the University of Hawaii, pursued advanced studies in International Law & Diplomacy at National Chengchi University (Taiwan), and holds a BS degree from Georgetown University. Fluent in Mandarin, Joseph is conversant in French, Khmer and Thai.

Khamphaeng Phochanthilath – Senior Legal Advisor, Head of Laos Office 

Before joining S&A, she worked for various international law firms in Laos for more than a decade. Her practice focuses on foreign direct investment, corporate and commercial, employment, banking and intellectual property. She has been involved in a number of major transactions advising on relevant laws regarding foreign investment and assisting with legal compliance, conducting legal due diligence, trademark registration and licensing requirements in Lao PDR and has extensive experience in government coordination and relations. She graduated from the National University of Laos and is admitted at the Lao Bar Association as a licensed attorney. Khamphaeng is fluent in Lao, English and Thai.