Kinstellar partners with two Cambodian firms to deepen its Southeast Asia footprint
Leading European independent firm Kinstellar has strengthened its foothold in Southeast Asia by entering the Cambodian legal market through a tie-up with two local firms.
The Prague-based firm announced on Tuesday (10 June) that it has brought the firms together under a new banner: Sok Siphana Sethalay in association with Kinstellar Southeast Asia. The move follows Kinstellar’s Southeast Asia debut last year when it formed a joint venture with Vietnam’s 21-lawyer Asia Counsel.
At the time of its Vietnam launch, Kinstellar made clear that its regional strategy was to focus on jurisdictions overlooked by the world’s largest international firms, aiming to build a first-class network that could dominate these markets.
Jason Mogg, Kinstellar’s senior partner, emphasised that integrating Sok Siphana Sethalay into the wider firm highlighted its long-term commitment to Southeast Asia. “We are equally pleased with the progress of Asia Counsel in Vietnam and now look ahead to deepening our capabilities across Southeast Asia,” he said. “We will continue to strengthen our presence in Cambodia and leverage regional synergies to deliver greater value to our clients.”
Sok Siphana Sethalay will operate with 40 professionals, including around 30 lawyers, and provide a full suite of corporate and commercial legal services.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe larger of the two Cambodian firms joining Kinstellar, Sok Siphana & Associates, brings a team of 20 lawyers operating from offices in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The firm has earned a strong reputation for advising international clients in areas such as intellectual property, banking, project finance, corporate transactions, and disputes.
Sok Siphana & Associates has also carved out a niche in property development projects, regularly representing multinational Asian real estate investors and developers. In addition, it operates a dedicated foreign desk assisting Chinese investors looking to enter the Cambodian market.
The second firm, Sethalay Law Office, contributes eight lawyers from its Phnom Penh office. The firm has built a solid reputation for its regulatory expertise, often working directly with government ministries and regulatory authorities.
Sethalay Law Office’s managing partner, Vanseka Sok, will take on the role of managing partner for the new combined firm. “This collaboration strengthens our ability to serve clients in Cambodia and across the region,” Sok said. “Together, we are building a platform that not only reflects the dynamism of Southeast Asia, but also sets a new benchmark for legal services in emerging markets.”
Kinstellar’s latest expansion underscores the growing importance of Southeast Asia in its global strategy. Alongside its new Southeast Asia platform, Kinstellar maintains offices in 12 countries across Europe and Central Asia.
The firm, which originally spun out from Linklaters’ offices in Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic in 2008, has continued its aggressive growth in recent years. It opened a new office in Vienna earlier this year and last year absorbed most of German law firm Noerr’s Central and Eastern European network.
With this latest move, Kinstellar positions itself as a dominant player not just in Europe and Central Asia, but also across emerging markets in Southeast Asia where opportunities for cross-border legal work continue to expand rapidly.
