YKVN LLP

Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration, and International Trade

Partner

Nguyen (Wynn) Do is a respected arbitration practitioner in Singapore and Vietnam, and currently serves as Head of International Arbitration at YKVN.

Since 2012, Nguyen has been part of the team that established and developed YKVN’s Singapore office — located in one of the world’s foremost arbitration hubs. YKVN is the first and, to date, the only Vietnamese law firm included in the GAR 100 (Global Arbitration Review’s ranking of the world’s leading international arbitration practices) and has been ranked for three consecutive years (2023, 2024 and 2025). Benchmark Litigation 2024 also recognized YKVN as “Outstanding” in international arbitration — the only firm in Vietnam to receive this distinction.

Admitted to practice in Washington State (U.S.) and Vietnam, and registered as a foreign lawyer in Singapore, Nguyen has nearly 20 years of experience as counsel and arbitrator in high-value, complex disputes across construction, infrastructure, energy, international trade, and investment. He has acted in arbitrations under SIAC, VIAC, ICC, UNCITRAL, GAFTA, SCMA, and LMAA rules, with proceedings seated in Vietnam and in major international arbitration jurisdictions including Singapore, London, and Paris.

Nguyen is highly regarded for his expertise in complex disputes involving construction, infrastructure, and energy projects in Vietnam, including FIDIC-based contracts, EPC arrangements, and large-scale developments. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnamese edition of the FIDIC 2017 Second Edition suite (Red, Yellow, and Silver Books), an important reference for stakeholders in Vietnam’s construction sector when applying these updated forms, and of the recently published Vietnamese edition of the FIDIC 2021 Short Form (Green Book).

Beyond his core practice areas, Nguyen has extensive experience representing Vietnamese businesses in international trade disputes, particularly in cross-border sale and purchase contracts. He has acted in numerous arbitrations involving exports (including rubber, rice and agricultural products) and imports (including coal, scrap metal and industrial equipment). These cases have given him practical insight into anticipating legal risks, developing strategies aligned with international standards, and effectively protecting the commercial interests of Vietnamese enterprises.

As an arbitrator at the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), Nguyen is frequently appointed as presiding arbitrator or sole arbitrator, and is valued for his independence, impartiality, procedural expertise, and ability to work effectively across both civil law and common law legal systems.

Nguyen is also a regular speaker at arbitration and construction law events organised by VIAC, the Society of Construction Law Vietnam (SCLVN), and the Vietnam Engineering Consultant Association (VECAS), addressing topics such as the application of Vietnamese law in international arbitration and procedural styles in construction dispute resolution. In addition to speaking engagements, he frequently publishes in respected domestic and international outlets including the Supreme People’s Court Journal, Kluwer Arbitration Blog, and The International Arbitration Review.

With his experience in cross-border and complex disputes, Nguyen is regularly instructed in arbitration matters involving Vietnam and the broader Asia–Pacific region.

Vietnamese and English

Washington State Bar Association

Registered Foreign Lawyer, Singapore

Hanoi Bar Association

Vietnam Bar Federation

Nguyen obtained his B.A., M.B.A., and J.D. from Gonzaga University, Washington State, USA.

Publications:

Editor-in-chief, Vietnamese version, FIDIC 2021 Short Form (Green book). Editor-in-chief, Vietnamese version, FIDIC 2017 Second Edition suite (Red, Yellow and Silver books) Co-author, Exclusive Jurisdiction of Courts in Relation to Rights over Real Properties in Vietnam, the Supreme People’s Court Journal, No. 17/2023. Co-author, Interpreting and Applying the Delay Damages Provisions of the FIDIC Red Book standard form contract in accordance with Vietnamese Law, the Supreme People’s Court Journal, No. 14/2023 Author, 2023 Vietnam ADR Week Recap: Comparison of the Interplay of the Separability Doctrine and Questions Relating to Formation and Validity of Arbitration Agreements across Various Jurisdictions, Kluwer Arbitration Blog Co-author, Post-award Interest in the Asia Pacific, Vietnam Chapter, Kluwer Law International 2023. Co-author, The International Arbitration Review, Vietnam Chapter, 2019 Co-author, The International Comparative Legal Guide to International Arbitration, Vietnam Chapter, 2019 Co-author, GAR Know how - Commercial Arbitration – Vietnam 2019