Senior Partner Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh addresses the allocation of legal liability and compliance risks in cloud computing models.
On 29 October 2026, La Défense participated in the academic conference “Developing a Legal Framework for Cloud Computing Applications: Towards Legislation to Support Sustainable Development”, organised by the Vietnam Women’s Academy in Hanoi.
The conference brought together academics, legal experts, lecturers, researchers and policymakers to examine the legal foundations for the application and development of cloud computing services in Vietnam. Participants included speakers from the Vietnam Women’s Academy, Hanoi Law University, Phenikaa University and La Défense.
Discussions addressed the relationship between technological development and legal certainty, with particular attention to data protection, intellectual property, cross-border data transfers and the allocation of responsibilities among parties involved in providing and using cloud services.
Legal foundations and international experience
The conference comprised two substantive discussion sessions. The first, chaired by Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Dung Sy and Dr. Kieu Thi Thuy Linh, examined theoretical issues, Vietnam’s legal framework and international experience concerning cloud computing applications and services.
Presentations explored legal approaches to cloud technology, comparative experience in developing regulatory frameworks, and the protection of intellectual property rights in digital learning materials hosted on cloud platforms at Vietnamese higher education institutions.
These discussions provided a basis for considering how Vietnam’s legal framework can accommodate the operational characteristics of cloud services while protecting the legitimate rights and interests of service providers, users and other affected parties.
La Défense’s contribution: legal liability and compliance risks
The second session, chaired by Dr. Kieu Thi Thuy Linh and Dr. Le Thi Giang, focused on proposals to improve Vietnamese law governing the application and development of cloud computing services.
Representing La Défense, Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh (Nguyen Linh), LL.M., Senior Partner, participated as a speaker and presented her paper, Allocation of Legal Liability among Parties in Cloud Computing Models: Legal Gaps and Compliance Risks in Vietnam.
Drawing on legal research and practical experience advising businesses, her contribution examined the allocation of responsibilities among parties in cloud computing arrangements. A central consideration was how legal obligations should correspond to each party’s functions, actual degree of control and ability to prevent or remedy harm.
For businesses, these questions have direct operational implications. Service interruptions, data loss or unauthorised disclosure may require coordinated action by several parties. Clear obligations concerning incident notification, cooperation, service restoration and access to relevant information are therefore important both for managing incidents and for determining liability.
The presentation also highlighted the importance of translating legal requirements into workable contractual arrangements. Greater clarity regarding the respective obligations of providers and customers can help businesses assess risk, strengthen data protection and manage compliance throughout the service relationship.
Other presentations at the second session addressed the protection and governance of migrant workers’ data, alongside legal frameworks for cloud-based data storage and cross-border transfers.
Connecting legal research with business practice
The conference provided an opportunity to connect academic analysis with the practical concerns of organisations adopting cloud services. Its discussions supported a broader consideration of how legislative development can promote innovation while ensuring accountability, legal certainty and effective protection of rights.
La Défense’s participation reflects the firm’s engagement in legal research and policy dialogue on issues affecting businesses in the digital economy.
La Défense extends its sincere appreciation to the Vietnam Women’s Academy, the session chairs and fellow speakers for facilitating substantive exchanges on the development of Vietnam’s legal framework for cloud computing, digital transformation and sustainable development.
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