Brian Chu

PARTNER

Brian Chu is a partner of Serviam by Wright LLP, bringing with him over 30 years of litigation experience.  In the 25+ years before joining the firm, he was a Principal Deputy County Counsel with the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office in its General Litigation and Health Services Divisions, defending the County’s Departments and their employees in litigation matters alleging wrongful death, personal injury, dangerous conditions of public property, law enforcement liability, civil rights violations, Public Records Act non-compliance, bail bond forfeiture judgment enforcement, and public contract matters.  While litigating trials and appeals in both state and federal courts, he also supervised outside counsel firms assigned to litigate County cases.  Mr. Chu also supervised the County Counsel’s Government Claims unit for several years, annually processing and/or adjusting approximately 4,000+ tort claims annually.  He frequently rendered advice on corrective actions, HIPAA/Privacy laws, regulatory compliance, public contracting, Ralph M. Brown Act compliance, workplace security policies, and ethics/conflicts of interest.  Mr. Chu also prosecuted administrative disciplinary actions and contractor debarment proceedings for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.  Mr. Chu’s appellate experience resulted in several published cases, including three successful appeals in the California Supreme Court.

Prior to the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office, Mr. Chu was in private practice for five years as an Associate Attorney with the Orange County office of LaFollette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames.  He defended insureds in premises liability, auto liability, medical malpractice, and construction defect cases, as well as rendered insurance coverage opinions.

Mr. Chu is particularly suited to defend law enforcement agencies, as an honorably retired Reserve Police Lieutenant (status Level I Reserve Officer) of the Monterey Park Police Department having served over 26 years in various field and Reserve Bureau command staff assignments (1995-2021).  He is a graduate of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Reserve Academy, and has training and experience in, but not limited to, traffic accident investigation, lethal and non-lethal use of force, laws of arrest, bicycle patrol, and arrest/search warrant writing and service.  His field assignments included beat patrol and specialized enforcement on the Department’s Crime Impact Team.  His law enforcement background plays an integral part in advising and representing the interests of Serviam’s public entity clients.

Mr. Chu’s eclectic work experience includes oyster and mussel farming, residential and commercial mortgage lending, and giving behind-the-scenes tours as a tour guide at Sea World of San Diego.  He is also an active volunteer board member of several community non-profit organizations and foundations.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Liability Defense
• Hearing Officer Services

EDUCATION

• Juris Doctorate, University of San Diego, School of Law
• Bachelor of Arts, University of California, San Diego

ADMISSIONS

• Supreme Court of the State of California
• California Court of Appeal for all Districts
• California County & Trial Courts
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• United States District Court for the Northern District of California
• United States District Court for the Central District of California
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
• United States District Court for the Southern District of California