Teresa Chen is an Associate with the Firm, specializing in the areas of land use, real estate, public works, and business formations and transactions.

Ms. Chen is also a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional with a specialization in Commercial Operations and Maintenance (LEED AP O+M). With this accreditation, Ms. Chen joins a select group of LEED AP attorneys in Los Angeles County and is one of the few LEED AP O+M's in California with a primary practice in the legal field.

As a LEED AP O+M, Ms. Chen has demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building principles and practices, as well as the application of those principles and practices to the LEED® Green Building Rating SystemTM, which is the nationally recognized and accepted standard for designing, constructing and operating high performance green buildings. Ms. Chen's specialization in Operations and Maintenance reflects a dedication to sustainable usage and operation of existing buildings, which is extremely relevant to Southern California and especially Los Angeles County, where dense development leaves less space for new buildings. Ms. Chen's commitment to sustainable Operations and Maintenance is driven by a desire to incorporate sustainable practices into existing buildings, rather than seeing density as an obstacle to sustainable development. Ms. Chen advises clients on requirements related to sustainable building and LEED certification, and customizes clients' contracts to incorporate green building standards and protect against disingenuous "greenwashing" standards and policies.

Ms. Chen is a volunteer with the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Domestic Violence Project, which provides a legal assistance clinic for domestic violence victims in need of temporary restraining orders to protect themselves and their families. Ms. Chen serves on the Board of Directors and as VP of Membership for the Regional Chamber of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley to support the local business community. Ms. Chen is also committed to the Union Station Foundation, a social service agency assisting the homeless and low-income population of Pasadena and the surrounding area.  She also serves on the Pasadena Senior Center's Board of Directors.  

EDUCATION

• Juris Doctor, Southwestern University School of Law
• Bachelor of Arts, University of California, Los Angeles

 ADMISSIONS

• California
• United States District Court

 PRACTICE AREAS

• Land Use, Sustainable Building and Operations, and Real Estate
• Public Agency - Municipal Law, including Public Works and Tax Districts
• Business Formation and Transactions
• General Litigation

**"LEED Accredited Professional" and the related acronym, and the Legacy LEED AP logo are trademarks owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and are awarded to individuals under license by the Green Building Certification Institute.