Vicki Chou, a recognized rising star and accomplished trial lawyer, is a key member of both the Trial Practice and the White Collar and Investigations teams. She represents individuals and companies in high stakes business disputes and criminal matters, including complex commercial litigation, intellectual property matters, SEC enforcement actions, and white collar criminal defense.
Since joining Hueston Hennigan, Ms. Chou has earned leadership roles in several of the nation’s most high profile bet-the-company cases. She has also been involved with developing strategies related to the defense of some of the highest profile defendants and in terminating high-stakes criminal investigations. She has earned praise from clients and colleagues achieving her client’s objectives.
Ms. Chou is a seasoned trial and appellate attorney who recently served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California in both the Criminal and National Security Divisions and was a Deputy Chief. She represented the United States in hundreds of criminal cases, including computer and internet fraud, intellectual property, money laundering, cryptocurrency, bank fraud, tax fraud, immigration fraud, drug trafficking, and racketeering offenses. Many of her matters involved high level, international coordination. As lead counsel, she prevailed at trial in numerous cases. She successfully tried over ten cases as lead counsel and won every one of her appeals before the Ninth Circuit, securing affirmances in every case she argued.
Prior to becoming an Assistant United States Attorney, Ms. Chou was an associate at Irell & Manella and Quinn Emanuel, where she focused on white collar defense, SEC enforcement actions, internal investigations, and shareholder litigation.
Experience
Representing TotalEnergies in a lawsuit against a solar module manufacturer involving fraud and breach of contract claims.
Representing a major online retailer in an USDA-OIG food safety investigation.
Representing a publicly traded company in parallel SEC and DOJ investigations involving potential violations of tax and securities laws.
Representing a founder and CEO of a telehealth startup in a federal criminal investigation of potential violations of narcotics and fraud laws.
Representing a former banking executive in DFPI and FRB proceedings.
Representing dental offices in a civil investigation regarding PPP loans.
Represented a video game publisher and its high level executives in a high-profile billion-dollar FTC investigation in Washington, D.C. and North Carolina.
On the eve of trial, favorably settled a lawsuit on behalf of Palantir Technologies alleging intentional interference with economic advantage relating to an alleged potential $300 million sale of stock.
Obtained a favorable settlement, after a week of trial, for Synchrony Financial (formerly GE Capital) in a lawsuit involving breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation, and alter ego claims.
Represent a high-profile CEO and an award-winning entrepreneur in a federal investigation by the San Diego U.S. Attorney’s Office for alleged violations of the CAN-SPAM Act, resulting in no charges being brought.
Represented Flexi-Van Leasing in a commercial dispute with a terminal operator with intersecting maritime issues.
Secured a criminal declination for a former Chief Scientific Officer from the Department of Justice.
Representing a real estate company in two overlapping matters involving the FTC and a receivership’s demand for return of monetary transfers.
Advised major real estate development company on regulatory and criminal issues involving HUD and the City Attorney’s Office.
Represented an international law firm in a legal malpractice claim.
Representing a major laboratory in a HHS-OIG investigation of billing and compensation practices related to the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.
Represented a Chinese entrepreneur in a civil dispute against former business partner in China, obtaining Hague Convention based default judgment.
Secured a declination from the California Department of Justice for Southern California Edison in connection with the 2018 Woolsey Fire that burned in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Secured a favorable pre-trial disposition for Bill McGlashan, founder of TPG Growth LLC and The Rise Fund, in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions case.
Represented Robinhood Markets, Inc. in a commercial lease dispute, securing full return of disputed funds.
Represented the founder and partner of a personal injury law firm in a partnership dispute concerning issues of corporate governance and control.
Represented the CEO of a Fortune 500 corporation in a lawsuit filed by the SEC alleging securities fraud and insider trading, reaching a favorable settlement on the eve of trial.
Represented a medical services company in a criminal investigation, preventing felony charges from being filed against any of the owners or officers of the company.
Represented an auto parts manufacturer in a criminal antitrust investigation.
Secured a probationary sentence after a favorable plea disposition, then subsequent presidential pardon, for a serial entrepreneur in a 56 count wire fraud indictment.
Represented a global law firm against threatened professional liability claims arising out of complex transactional and litigation services.
Conducted time sensitive internal investigation for research university on allegations asserted by a purported whistleblower.
Recognitions
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigation, Chambers (2022)
- Best Under 40, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (2020)
- 40 & Under Hot List, Benchmark Litigation (2020, 2021)
- Top White Collar Lawyers, Daily Journal (2021, 2022)
- Future Star, Benchmark Litigation (2021-present)
- Minority Leaders of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal
- Women of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal
- Key Lawyer for Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense, Legal 500
- Top 100 Lawyers, Los Angeles Business Journal
- The Best Lawyers in America
- Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal
- Leaders of Influence: Thriving in Their 40s, Los Angeles Business Journal
- Named to the Southern California Super Lawyers list
- Director of National Intelligence, Meritorious Unit Citation (2016)
- HIDTA National Award for Outstanding Financial Investigative Effort (2015)
- IRS Certificate of Appreciation
- Attorney General’s Award Nominee
Activities
Vice President, Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association
Member, Merit Selection Panel for Central District of California
Co-Chair, ABA Computer Crime, Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets Sub-Committee
Member, LACBA’s President’s Task Force on Racial and Social Justice
Executive Committee, LACBA Litigation Section
Board Member, Social Justice Legal Foundation