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Hout Sotheary

Partner

Practice Area:

Business Law
Commercial Litigation
Employment & Benefits
Restructuring & Insolvency

LLM (International and Comparative Law), National University of Singapore
LLB (Private Law), Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

T +855 23 963 112 /113
E hout.sotheary@rajahtann.com

Sotheary obtained her Master Degree (in International and Comparative Law) awarded by the National University of Singapore, Singapore, and a Bachelor of Laws from the Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Beside these two major degrees, she also obtained other law and business certificates recognizing her participation in various short courses conducted in Cambodia and overseas.

Before joining us, Sotheary has been practicing commercial and corporate law for more than 05 (five) years from May 2006 when she started her job as a legal advisor at one of the major consulting firms in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Sotheary joined R&T Sok & Heng for more than 8 (eight) years.

Through her long-term practice, Sotheary has gained expertise in commercial and corporate law, investment law, banking and finance, contract law, insolvency law and labor law. Her other areas of expertise include intellectual properties, alternative dispute resolution, INGO registration, and legal translation.

Sotheary is acknowledged as a highly regarded practitioner by The Legal 500 and is described by IFLR1000 as a practitioner who is “dedicated, hardworking and has good client management skills.”

Experience
Corporate Commercial
  • Acting for HGB Group, actively operating in three main industries: luxurious automotive, F&B, and trading, in relation to the licensing requirements for establishment and operating filling (petroleum and gas) stations.
  • Acted for Botanical Cosmetic Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Appletree Group and a local company carrying on distribution business for Yves Rocher products, in relation to office location registration of its local branches with the City Hall.
  • Acted for CPAC Concrete Products (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., an affiliate company of SCG, a Thai-based leading business conglomerate in the ASEAN region, in relation to its business closure in Cambodia.
  • Acted for Khema Global Co., Ltd., holding the operation of Khema clinics, leading private medical clinics in Cambodia, in relation to the registration of its branch and other regulatory filing related matters.
  • Acted for Teho International Inc. Ltd., a Singapore listed company offering multi-faceted solutions provider for the marine, construction and real estate industries, in relation to its business setup in Cambodia and its joint venture arrangement with local business partner, the application for shareholding restructure, board restructuring, business structure, regulatory compliance, and other general legal advice.
  • Acted for CEVA Logistics Asia Pte. Ltd., based in Singapore, part of the world’s leading non-asset-based supply chain management companies, in relation to its business setup in Cambodia and its joint venture arrangement with Worldbridge International (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., one of the first local logistic companies established in Cambodia.
  • Acting for Zilingo Pte Ltd, the Singapore based company and the leading online store operator in Asia for fashion and beauty supply chain, in relation to the setup of its subsidiary and business operations in Cambodia.
  • Acting for Changi Airport, one of the world’s best airports, in relation to its business setup and operations in Cambodia and provision of on-going corporate secretarial services.
  • Acted for Moo Moo Farms Co., Ltd., the first dairy farm in Cambodia, in relation to its equity restructuring and regulatory filings.
  • Acted for Ascent Business Consulting Co., Ltd., a business and IT consulting firm based in Tokyo, in relation to its joint venture arrangement with a local business partner on co-working space leasing business.
  • Acted for Evangeline Verto Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Verto Technology Ltd, the second largest mobile digital media value added-service ("VAS") service provider in term of gross revenue in Malaysia, in relation to its application for license to operate telecommunication consulting related services, labor matters and other corporate compliance related matters.
  • Acting for Ming Fai International Holdings Limited, a listed company on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, in relation to its business setup, business structure, regulatory compliance, and other general legal advice.
  • Acted for Luxasia, the Singapore based company and the leading omnichannel partner for luxurious beauty and lifestyle brands in Asia Pacific, in relation to the setup of its subsidiary and business operations in Cambodia.
  • Acted for Starlight Apparel Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a garment manufacturing company and part of the Crystal International Group, a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, in relation to its business operations in Cambodian and other general advice.
  • Acted for Shriro (Singapore) Pte Ltd, a leading distributor, manufacturer and retailer of premium brands throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and America, in relation to its business structure, joint venture arrangements and its business setup in Cambodia.
  • Acted for Schenker (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, a Singapore based company offering global logistical services which operates in over 130 countries world-wide, in relation to its subsidiary setup in Cambodia and other general advice.
  • Acting for Tan Chong Motor, a Malaysia-based multinational corporation that is active in automobile assembly, manufacturing, distribution and sales, but is best known as the franchise holder of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, in relation to business operations of its subsidiary in Cambodia, i.e. reviewing dealership agreement, registration of exclusivity rights, and other general advice.
  • Acted for VISA Worldwide Pte. Ltd., a global payments technology company, regarding different types of business structures under Cambodian law.
  • Acted for YHS (Cambodia) Food & Beverage Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Singapore based company and an internationally renowned and leading beverage supplier in Cambodia, in relation to its board restructuring and the relevant regulatory filings.
  • Acting for Dufry Group, the world’s leading travel retailer, in relation to the board restructuring of its Cambodian entity, relevant regulatory filings, advise on the duty-free licensing requirements and other general advice.
  • Acting for Du Pont (Cambodia) in relation to regulatory filings and other general advice.
  • Acted for Hooters Restaurants, American restaurant chains, in its business setup in Cambodia.
  • Acting for Novus Technologies, Singapore based company leading in digital banking and payments solution, in the business setup in Cambodia, increase of capital, board restructuring, relevant regulatory filings and other general advice.
  • Acted for Singha Corporation, one of the leading beer brewery companies in Thailand, in the setting up of its subsidiary in Cambodia and other general advice.
  • Acted for CJ Group, South Korean conglomerate holding company headquartered in Seoul, in relation to the shares acquisition in one of the biggest feed mill company in Cambodia and other regulatory filings.
  • Acted for SafetyNet Insurance Services Pte Ltd., an insurance agency company, in relation to the setting up of its insurance agent in Cambodia and other regulatory filings.
  • Acting for Sunrise Healthcare Services Co., Ltd., a Japan based leading hospital operator, in relation to corporate structuring, joint venture, licensing requirements, and other general advice for its hospital project operation in Cambodia.
  • Acting for TruVic Co., Ltd., a pharmaceutical company, in relation to its business structure and setup and other regulatory filings.
  • Acted for Qingjian Group Co., Ltd. (CNQC), a large Chinese construction and engineering firm, in relation to the business setup, business structure, regulatory compliance, application for construction license, and other general advice with respect to its business operations in Cambodia.
  • Acting for Tung Feng Construction Engineering (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., a large Taiwanese construction company, in relation to the business activation, business structure, regulatory compliance, tax compliance, application for construction license, and other general advice with respect to its business operations in Cambodia.
  • Acting for Macau Legend Development, a Hong Kong listed integrated resort operator, in relation to the landholding structure, business setup, shareholding restructure, board restructuring, and other general corporate advice and corporate secretarial work.
  • Acting for RGB Ltd., a Malaysian based gaming company, in relation to shareholding restructure, winding down of its subsidiaries, other general legal and tax advice, its various reporting and filing compliance requirements.
  • Acted for Donaco International Limited, a Malaysian based gaming company, in relation to its affiliate's various business operations in Cambodia, including the application for shareholding restructure, board restructuring, business structure, regulatory compliance, and other general legal advice.
  • Acted for Provident Capital, a Singapore based company, in relation to the large-scale due diligence and acquisition of the BTS tower infrastructure from one of the mobile and telecommunication leaders in Cambodia.
Intellectual Property
  • Acted for Khema Global Co., Ltd., holding the operation of Khema clinics, leading private medical clinics in Cambodia, in relation to the application for trademark assignment.
  • Acted for Tan Chong Motor, a Malaysia-based multinational corporation that is active in automobile assembly, manufacturing, distribution and sales, but is best known as the franchise holder of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, in relation to business operations of its subsidiary in Cambodia, i.e. in relation recordal of letter of exclusive importation and distribution of trademarked goods.
  • Acted for AEON KABUSHIKI KAISHA/AEON Co., Ltd., a Japanese retail corporate group, in relation to trademark registration.
  • Acted for Phnom Penh SEZ Co., Ltd., the leading special economic zone in Cambodia, in relation to trademark registration and further filing compliance to maintain the trademark registrations.
Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Acted for Emerging Markets Investment Advisers Pte Ltd, a private equity and venture capital firm, in relation to its equity investment in Khema Global Co., Ltd., holding the operation of Khema medical clinics.
  • Acting for Moo Moo Farms Co., Ltd., the first dairy farm in Cambodia, in relation to the equity investments by Perry Farms, LLC, a leading US based agricultural firm.
  • Acted for Nature Flooring Hong Kong Limited, a company based in Hong Kong, in relation to its potential equity acquisition of a number of flooring manufacturing companies located in Sihanouk Ville Special Economic Zone.
  • Acted for Atalian Global Services, one of the largest facilities management service providers in the world and operating in 32 countries across Europe, North America, South-East Asia and Africa, in relation to its equity acquisition in a local cleaning company in Cambodia, business restructure and other general legal and tax advice.
  • Acted for National Bank of Canada, the sixth largest commercial bank in Canada, in relation to its acquisition of equity shares and further investment in Advanced Bank of Asia Limited, a leading commercial bank in Cambodia.
  • Acted for DKSH (Cambodia) Ltd., a subsidiary of DKSH, a Swiss Market Expansion Services Group, in relation to the legal due diligence for the purpose of share acquisition of a natural mineral water manufacturing business in Cambodia.
  • Acted for dnata Singapore Pte Ltd, a world leading company providing airport services, in its acquisition of Trails of Indochina Co., Ltd., a Cambodia subsidiary of TOI tourist group companies.
  • Acted for E.Sun Commercial Bank Ltd., the flagship banking arm of Taiwan-based E.Sun Financial Holding Co., on its acquisition of 70% equity shares in Cambodia’s Union Commercial Bank Plc.
  • Acted for Fine Star Ltd, a local wholesale importer and distributor of food, beverage and cosmetics, in relation to assets transfer arrangement, tax issues and company closure and other general legal advice.
Employment & Benefits
  • Acting for The William Carter’s Company, a major American designer and marketer of children's apparel, in the labour compliances of its representative office in Cambodia, other regulatory filings and other general advice.
  • Acting for Changi Airport Planners and Engineer (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Changi Airport, one of the world’s best airports, it relation to the drafting of employment contracts, labour related issues and other general advice.
  • Acting for Tan Chong Motor, a Malaysia-based multinational corporation that is active in automobile assembly, manufacturing, distribution and sales, but is best known as the franchise holder of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, in relation to drafting of the internal work rules for its subsidiary in Cambodia.
  • Acting for VISA Worldwide Pte. Ltd., a global payments technology company, in relation its new guidelines on flexible work arrangement.
  • Acted for DHL Global Forwarding Management (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd., a member of DHL Group, a global market leader in the logistics industry, in relation to employment termination and other labour related issues.
  • Acted for Dufry Group, a leading global traveler retailer, in relation to termination of employment and other labour related issues.
  • Acted for Dragon Air and Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong based leading airline companies, in relation to the employment model/arrangement.
  • Acted for FRHI Hotels and Resorts, a global hotel management company, in relation to the revision of a collective bargaining agreement with its employees.
  • Acted for Marks and Spencer Asia Pacific Limited, a major British multinational retailer, in relation to employment termination, preparation of its internal rules, other regulatory filings and labour related issues.
  • Acted for Naga World Limited, a subsidiary of NagaCorp Ltd, a public listed gaming and entertainment company on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, in relation to labour related issues and other general advice related to employment.
  • Acted for Workday, Inc., an on demand financial management and human capital management software vendor, through Lewis Silkin London, on regular updates on labour and employment related regulations.
  • Acted for Sumitomo Corporation Asia Pte. Ltd., a leading integrated trading company, in the preparation of its internal regulations and other regulatory filings.
  • Acted for Polyconcept, the largest global supplier of promotional products, in the labour registration, employment termination, labour compliances and other labour related issues.
  • Acted for Hitachi Ltd., a Japanese multinational conglomerate company, in relation to its Cambodian joint venture company’s labour registration and other regulatory filings.
Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
  • Acted for ThomasLloyd CleanTech Infrastructure Fund GmbH, a UK-based leading global investment banking and investment management group, in relation to its renewable energy and clean tech business in Cambodia, including shareholding restructure and legal compliance of its subsidiary, and other general legal and tax advice.
Securities Market / IPO
  • Acted for Verto Technology Ltd, the second largest mobile digital media value added-service ("VAS") service provider in term of gross revenue in Malaysia, in relation to legal due diligence on Cambodian subsidiary for the purpose of proposed listing exercise in the Hong Kong Securities Exchange.
  • Acted for the Stock Exchange of Thailand in relation to legal comparative study on capital market related laws focusing on shareholder protections.
Memberships / Directorships
  • Official Trademark Agent licensed by the Intellectual Property Department of the Ministry of Commerce.