Overview

Don H. Nguyen represents employers and management in a broad range of labor and employment law matters. He brings a wealth of experience and insight to his clients as a first-chair litigator and investigator.

Prior to joining Littler, Don served as an attorney in the Office of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining for the New York City Department of Education. He defended management officials and school administrators in matters involving novel and complex determinations of law and fact, and in cases having significant legal, policy, or financial implications. Don has been involved in all phases of dispute resolution, including pre-litigation, pleadings, motion practice, discovery, settlement negotiations, evidentiary hearings, trial preparation, and grievances resolved through arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. His prior representative matters have involved:

  • Wage and hour disputes
  • Employment investigations
  • Hiring, performance rating and appeals, and termination
  • Time and attendance issues
  • Leaves of absence and disability accomodation
  • Unfair/improper practice charges
  • Retaliation claims
  • Unit clarification petitions

Don also served as an assistant attorney general at the New York State Attorney General’s Office. He focused on the investigation and prosecution of real estate fraud, mortgage fraud, tax fraud, cyber crime, commercial bribery, embezzlement, and money laundering, resulting in the recovery of millions of dollars in criminal penalties and civil forfeitures, and the return of fraudulently transferred real property. Don was appointed as the chair of the Deed Theft Task Force where he coordinated the efforts of various District Attorney’s offices to investigate, prosecute, and comprehensively address deed theft. He has served as a knowedgeable resource on complex investigations, trainings, and legislative efforts related to real estate fraud. Don received the 2020 Louis J. Lefkowitz Award, the highest commendation bestowed by New York’s attorney general for law practice.

Don began his legal career in New York as an assistant district attorney at the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, where he investigated and prosecuted hundreds of criminal matters and tried dozens of matters to verdict at bench and jury trials in New York State Supreme Court and New York City Criminal Court.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Asian American Bar Association of New York

2010-present

Member

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

2010-present

Member

Vietnamese Bar Association of Northern California

2022-present

Member

Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley

2022-present

Recognition

Recipient, Lefkowitz Award

New York State Attorney General's Office

2020

Speaking Engagements

Real Estate Investigations

Instructor, Office of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, New York, NY

Summer 2022

The Long Arm of the Law: Perspectives from the Prosecutors

CLE Panelist, San Francisco Banking Attorney’s Association, San Francisco, CA

Spring 2022

The Basics of Title Insurance for Prosecutors and Legal Investigators

Moderator, New York, NY

Spring 2021

Asian American Heritage Month

Event Panelist, Office of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, New York, NY

Spring 2020

Homeowner’s Town Hall

New York State Public Employees Federation, New York, NY

Spring 2020

Homeowner Protection Town Hall

Keynote Speaker, hosted by Senator Zellnor Myrie, Brooklyn, NY

Fall 2019

Education

  • J.D., New York Law School, 2009
  • B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 2005

Languages

  • Vietnamese

Bar Admission

California
New York