Binh Nguyen is an associate in Tressler’s Employment and Litigation Practice Groups in the Orange County, California office. She focuses her practice on employment law, insurance defense, and general litigation matters. Binh first joined Tressler as a law clerk in the Employment and Litigation Practice Groups from 2023 to 2024. She later worked as an associate at a Georgia-based law firm, practicing plaintiffs’ personal injury, and business law.

Before practicing law in the United States, Binh gained over a decade of legal experience in Vietnam. She served as a senior associate at a prominent law firm in Vietnam, where she focused her practice on employment and labor law, compliance, and investigations. Additionally, she served as a legal advisor at DFDL Vietnam, a law firm with operations across Southeast and South Asia, where she advised on employment, compliance, and corporate M&A matters. In these roles, Binh assisted multinational companies in navigating Vietnam’s regulatory environment, ensuring they could conduct their business activities smoothly and in compliance with local laws. Furthermore, she worked as in-house counsel for Panasonic Industrial Devices Vietnam, overseeing all legal affairs for the manufacturing company. Binh’s diverse international background and deep understanding of common law and civil law systems enable her to deliver strategic and practical legal solutions to clients across a wide range of industries.

Binh earned her L.L.B. from Vietnam National University Hanoi – School of Law, L.L.M. from Vietnam National University Hanoi – School of Law, and her L.L.M. from University of Georgia School of Law. She is currently an M.B.A. Candidate at New England College.

Where are you from?

I am from Vietnam. I was born in a small town in a province known for its tea. Over time, that area has evolved into a larger and more developed place, and it continues to change.

What was your first job?

My first formal part-time job was teaching presentation skills while I was pursuing my Bachelor of Laws. However, if I’m honest, my first “job” occurred much earlier. When I was about four or five years old, my mom gave me a basket of dracontomelon to sell, and it sold out in minutes because I had priced it too low. That experience has stayed with me. Even today, I focus less on “selling” and more on finding the right solution for the client. If I’m not the right fit, I would rather guide someone to a better option.

Do you have any hidden talents and/or unique hobbies?

I enjoy hiking and occasionally join a group of Vietnamese small business owners for hiking trips. It is a good way to stay active while also connecting with a community of entrepreneurs.

I also attend gatherings where small business owners share their experiences and insights. As someone relatively new to the United States, I value these opportunities to listen, learn, and understand different perspectives on business and decision-making. Although I am naturally more introverted, I enjoy hearing how people navigate challenges and build their lives.

What is on your bucket list?

I would like to learn Spanish and Mandarin, and revisit my French. These goals, along with pursuing a DBA or Ph.D. in law and writing a book, are all on my list. At some point, I may need to narrow that list, but for now, I appreciate having ambitious goals that continue to push me forward.

Why did you decide to become an attorney?

I was influenced by a film I watched as a child about a highly skilled lawyer, and that film stayed with me for many years.

That said, if I had been tall enough at the time, I might have tried to become a police officer or join the military. Law ultimately became the path that allowed me to combine structure, problem-solving, and advocacy in a way that fits me.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

My work primarily involves litigation and insurance defense, often representing clients in matters involving liability and employment issues. On a typical day, I evaluate case strategies, draft pleadings and discovery, and work closely with clients to assess risk and develop practical, cost-effective approaches to resolving matters. I also spend time negotiating with opposing counsel – sometimes to narrow issues, sometimes to resolve matters early, and sometimes to position the case more effectively for the next stage of litigation.

My prior in-house experience influences how I approach each matter. I tend to look beyond the immediate legal issue and consider how a decision will affect the client’s broader business objectives.

I am also particularly interested in how different legal frameworks shape dispute resolution. Recently, I have been involved in discussions comparing contingency fee structures in the United States and Vietnam, focusing on how fee models influence litigation strategy, access to justice, and risk allocation. The constant variation is what keeps the work engaging.

Why did you choose your areas of practice?

My practice developed organically over time rather than through a single decision. I began as a law clerk in banking and finance, which exposed me to corporate and employment matters. After moving in-house, I worked across a wide range of legal and operational issues, including capital transactions, employment matters for a workforce of more than 2,000 employees, compliance, customs and import/export, environmental auditing, and cybersecurity frameworks.

When I returned to private practice, I focused on M&A, commercial, and employment/compliance work. After moving to the United States and joining Tressler, I expanded into litigation, particularly insurance defense.

Alongside my practice, I have also contributed to legal scholarship and policy discussions on cross-border legal systems, including publications and presentations addressing differences between U.S. and Vietnamese legal frameworks and their implications for legal development and practice.

Today, my work integrates litigation, compliance, and cross-border experience. That combination allows me to approach disputes not only from a legal perspective, but also with an understanding of how risks develop and how they can be managed before they escalate into disputes.

What do you like most about Tressler?

I value the firm’s collaborative culture and its focus on efficiency and practical problem-solving. I also appreciate how supportive my colleagues are; there is a strong sense that people are willing to help each other succeed.

The emphasis on lean management and flexibility enables attorneys to focus on delivering effective and client-focused legal services.

What are you most proud of, professionally and/or personally?

Professionally, I am proud of building a career across different legal systems and roles – from Vietnam to the United States, and from in-house counsel to private practice.

I am also grateful for opportunities to contribute to the broader legal community, including being invited to speak and participate in academic and professional discussions involving cross-border legal issues.

Personally, I value adaptability and continuous learning. Relocating to a new country and integrating into a different legal and business environment has reinforced the importance of perspective, resilience, and openness to new ideas. I also appreciate opportunities to learn from mentors, engage with peers across jurisdictions, and support early-career legal professionals as they develop their paths in the profession.

What impact has Vietnam’s history had on you personally and professionally?

I did not think much about the Vietnam War when I was growing up. It was only after coming to the United States that I realized how strongly it remains in people’s memories. Some of my most meaningful experiences came from listening to my late father-in-law share his stories and reading his poems about the war: about loss, resilience, and rebuilding. Those stories shaped how I view the present. While many people still associate Vietnam with its past, the country today is dynamic, fast-changing, and full of energy. They also remind me to value stability and perspective: both in life and in the practice of law.