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BUSINESS
LS HORIZON HAS THE ANSWERS BY SALLY PRYOR PHOTOGRAPHS BY PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
T
here is always a solution.” Was there ever a more helpful slogan for foreign investors in Laos? In an environment where many common legal concepts are new or being developed in the Lao legal framework, one legal firm is there to step in. The Lao branch of respected Thai law firm LS Horizon was set up more than 10 years ago to meet the needs of Thai and other foreign investors who want to take advantage of the Lao Government’s foreign investment policy. One of the branch’s original practitioners and current partner Xaynari Chanthala says the firm is often called on to help clients navigate the gap in the law caused by the rapidly evolving nature of investment in Laos. “As a Lao law firm, we are often tasked to help investors navigate this gap in the
law to ensure they are in line in both the spirit and the letter of the law,” she says. “The Lao government’s policy to attract foreign investors, Lao PDR’s commitment to ASEAN, the World Trade Organisation and other important international organisations have given a major boost for international law firms like ours to establish a presence here.” She says the company’s motto speaks to its objective of providing the most practical legal advice to enable a client to reach its goals. “This means we zealously represent the client in discussions and negotiations with Lao government authorities for a fair solution for the client where there is disagreement in the meaning or application of law,” she says. And this is a frequent scenario in an
