Round 2 Preparation

Mondelēz R2 — Technical Prep Supplement

Detailed technical law refresh, universal case study frameworks, and deputy-level alignment parameters for Giang (VN Legal Lead).

👤 Interviewer: Giang (Head of Legal Vietnam) 📅 Target: Technical Competence & Legal Judgment 💼 Mandate: Position Yourself as the #2 Deputy
01

What's Different In This Round

"Round 1 was a values and communication screen. Round 2 is a legal competence and judgment assessment. Your interviewer is a senior lawyer who will test whether you can do the job — technically, commercially, and as a deputy."

Three Shifts to Make:

  • Technical depth: Giang knows Vietnamese regulations thoroughly. Use exact terms (e.g. Decree 81, Decree 15, SMP).
  • Position as #2: Speak as a leader who runs commercial legal support, manages juniors, and reports upwards concisely.
  • Case study centerpiece: Emphasize legal structuring, risk prioritization, and commercial solutions.

Team Matrix Context:

  • You are the deputy, supervising three junior team members.
  • Giang reports to the regional Head of Legal in Singapore, operating in a lean cross-border matrix.
  • Legal and Compliance are distinct functions — probe this boundary.
02

Technical Law Refresh

A. Commercial Promotions — Decree 81/2018/ND-CP

  • Notification only: straight discounts, gift-with-purchase, samples. Notify Sở Công Thương 5 days in advance.
  • Registration required: lucky draws, prize contests, and cross-provincial promotions (file with MOIT).
  • Prize Value Cap: Max prize value cannot exceed 50% of the total value of promoted products.
  • Duration Limit: Maximum 45 consecutive days per campaign.

B. Law on Advertising 2012

  • Comparative Advertising: Article 45 allows it strictly only for verified characteristics; FMCGs generally avoid it due to enforcement risks.
  • Children (<15): Stringent content rules to prevent fear or parental pressure.
  • Digital (Decree 70/2021): Brands share responsibility with platforms (FB/TikTok) for legal compliance of online campaigns.

C. Consumer Protection & Data Privacy

  • Law on Consumer Protection 2023: Strict rules on e-commerce, banning digital "dark patterns", and active consent for subscriptions.
  • Recall: Mandatory recall notification to authorities and customers under Decree 55/2024.
  • Data (PDPL / Law 91/2025): Loyalty programs and campaigns collecting user data require separate, explicit consent.

D. Competition Law 2018

  • SMP Threshold: Scrutinized if market share >30% for a single firm.
  • Vertical Restraints: Minimum Resale Price Maintenance (RPM) is per se illegal. Exclusivity is evaluated under "rule of reason."

E. Food Labelling

  • Decree 43/2017 & 111/2021 require mandatory Vietnamese labels.
  • Nutrition claims (e.g. "high calcium") require prior approval from the Ministry of Health.

F. IP & Trademark Enforcement

  • Admin route (Market Management Authority) is fastest for seizures.
  • Customs border registry protects against counterfeit imports. Criminal path requires infringement value >VND 100M.
03

The Case Study Framework — How to Approach It

"What Giang is testing is not whether you know the 'right answer' — she is testing how you structure your thinking, how you prioritize risk, and whether your recommendation is practical."

Universal Legal Memo Framework:

  1. 1. Scan Scenarios: Read fully without writing. Spot business objectives vs regulatory blockers.
  2. 2. List Issues: Capture everything before ranking.
  3. 3. Prioritize: Classify as "Hard Stop / Material Risk / Low-level Management".
  4. 4. State Law: Reference specific regulations (e.g. Decree 15/2018 for self-declaration).
  5. 5. Recommend Compliant Path: Don't just say "No". Frame advice as: "We cannot do X because of Y, but we can achieve the commercial objective by doing Z."
  6. 6. Identify Gaps: Note information you would request to finalize guidance.
04

Positioning Yourself as the #2 Deputy

Giang needs to trust that you can run the day-to-day commercial/marketing legal docket independently, so she can focus on regional strategy.

Own Your Accomplishments:

Avoid passive phrasing like "assisted with". Say: "I led," "I negotiated," "I structured." Highlight your supervision of junior lawyers at RHTLaw and DCVFM.

Show Escalation Judgment:

Explain your rationale for when you act autonomously vs when you brief upwards. Prove you know the difference in an MNC matrix environment.

05

Structural Questions to Probe

  • "How is work divided between the deputy role and the Legal Counsel position day-to-day — is it split by business unit, transaction type, or is it fluid?"

  • "How does the Legal function interact with the Compliance team in practice? For marketing reviews, where does legal end and compliance begin?"

  • "Are there regional standard templates or approval processes from the Singapore AMEA team that the Vietnam legal function is expected to adapt?"

  • "When legal advice and strong commercial pressure are in tension — say, a campaign that needs modification for compliance — what does that conversation typically look like here?"
06

Two-Day Study Schedule

Day 1: Technical Law Drill

  • Review Decree 81/2018 (Promotions) and Law on Advertising.
  • Practice a mock memo: "BOGO lucky draw across all 63 provinces, 60 days duration."
  • Fine-tune the 2-minute pitch for a lawyer audience.

Day 2: Alignment & STAR Prep

  • Annotate your STAR examples with technical regulatory context.
  • Select 4 strategic questions from Section 5 to ask Giang.
  • Search recent Mondelēz Vietnam press releases for brand launches or ESG updates.