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Hout Sotheary

Partner, R&T Sok & Heng Law Office

Practice Area:

Commercial Litigation
Employment & Benefits
Restructuring & Insolvency
Business Law

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's 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 recognising her participation in various short courses conducted in Cambodia and overseas.

Sotheary joined R&T Sok & Heng since 2011. She has more than 15 years of legal practice experience and has gained expertise in commercial and corporate law, investment law, intellectual properties, employment & benefits and trade & customs.

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.” She was recently awarded Women Leader of the Year 2023 Award by IFLR 1000.

Experience
Corporate Commercial
  •  Acting for Select Service Partner Asia Pacific Limited, a Hong Kong based company offers F&B leading business in Asia Pacific and has a listed company in UK, in relation to it’s the review of a memorandum of understanding regarding its new joint venture in Cambodia.
  • Acting for Advanced Bank of Asia Limited, a leading commercial bank in Cambodia in relation to its regulatory filings on the change of its corporate records.
  • Acting for ADM Animal Nutrition (Cambodia) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Vietnamese based company and leading agricultural operator in Asia, in relation to regulatory filings on the change of its corporate records and its business operation in Cambodia.
  • Acted 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.
  • Acting 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 Zilingo Pte Ltd, the Singapore based company and the leading online store operator in Asia for fashion and beauty supply chain, in relation to its business closure in Cambodia.
  • Acting for Changi Airport, one of the world’s best airports, in relation to its business 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.
  • 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, and other general advice.
  • Acting 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 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.
  • 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.
  • Acting for Tung Feng Construction Engineering (Cambodia) Co Ltd, a large Taiwanese construction company, in relation to the business operation, corporate and tax compliances, 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 general corporate advice and corporate secretarial work.
  • Acting for RGB Ltd, a Malaysian based gaming company, in relation to setting up of a branch company, shareholding restructure, winding down of its subsidiaries, other general legal and tax advice, its various reporting and filing compliance requirements.
  • 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 Infraco Cambodia Agri Pte. Ltd., a Singaporean based company, in relation to its subsidiary's business closure in Cambodia.
  • Acted for Emerging Markets Investment Advisers Pte Ltd, a private equity and venture capital firm, in relation to its proposed investment in the form of convertible loan to United Food Group, a leading F&B group in Cambodia.
  • Acted 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 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 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.
  • 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 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 VISA Worldwide Pte Ltd, a global payments technology company, regarding different types of business structures under Cambodian law.
  • Acted for Hooters Restaurants, American restaurant chains, in its business setup in Cambodia.
  • 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.
  • 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.
Intellectual Property
  •  Acting for Heineken (Cambodia) Co Ltd, a leading brewery company in Cambodia in relation to trademark search and observation against any similar registration or infringement in Cambodia.
  • Acting for Sir Stamford Raffles Group Pte Ltd, a Singaporean property developer company, in relation to trademarks registration in Cambodia.
  • 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. registration of exclusivity rights, and other general advice.
  • Acted for Fila Luxembourg S.àr.L., a leading in manufacturing of sportswear brand of shoes and apparel, in relation to trademarks registration in Cambodia.
  • Advised Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co Ltd, a leading Thai company producing of a range of shampoo and detergent products, in relation to legal matters arising from non-renewal of exclusive distributorship agreement.
  • Assisted Tube Café Co Ltd, a local coffee shop, in relation to its franchise agreement in Cambodia.
  • Assisted The Body Shop International Limited, a leading cosmetic company, in relation to registration of its franchise agreement in Cambodia.
  • Advised Cambodia Beverage Company Ltd., a subsidiary of the Coca Cola Company, in relation to its distribution agreement in Cambodia.
  • Acted for Lux Asia Singapore, the Singapore based company and the leading omnichannel partner for luxurious beauty and lifestyle brands in Asia Pacific, in relation to the application for cosmetic importer-exporter license and registration of cosmetic products and setup of its subsidiary and business operations in Cambodia.
  • 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 a local distributor of mineral water bearing mark "Saint Amand" in relation to its exclusivity registration.
  • Acted for BDC Limited, a local distributor of dishwashing detergent bearing mark "LIX" in relation to its exclusivity registration.
  • 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
  • Acting for Gojo & Company Inc, a financial service provider from Japan, in relation to its proposed acquisition of 100% equity interest in Chamroeun Microfinance Plc, one of the leading micro-financial institutions  in Cambodia.
  • Acting for Emerging Markets Investment Advisers Pte Ltd, a private equity and venture capital firm, in relation to its joint venture agreement with its local business partner in establishing dry port and cold storage facilities to provide third-party logistics services.
  • 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 Changi Airport Planners and Engineer (Cambodia) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Changi Airport, one of the world’s best airports, in 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 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.
  • 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.
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
  • Member of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
  • Official Trademark Agent licensed by the Intellectual Property Department of the Ministry of Commerce.