Printing: Frank Chen Named Attorney of the Year By California Lawyer Magazine

Frank Chen Named Attorney of the Year By California Lawyer Magazine

March 04, 2004

California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year Awards for 2003
By The Editors of CALIFORNIA LAWYER

Although much of law practice is collaborative, and any given project can span years, there are some achievements made by California lawyers that have such far-reaching impact that they cannot go unrecognized. The lawyers selected as Attorneys of the Year for 2003 substantially influenced public policy or a particular industry, brought about a significant development in their field of practice or in law-firm management, or achieved a notable victory for a client or for the public in a difficult, high-stakes matter.

-The Editors

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PRO BONO

Frank W. Chen
Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Pearson; Alhambra

After Trevor Law Group attorneys filed 28 lawsuits alleging unfair business practices (Cal Bus. & Prof. Code §17200) against thousands of small, primarily minority-owned businesses in Los Angeles and Orange counties, Chen took one of the cases pro bono and coordinated a unique and sweeping defense to the allegations. He recruited other attorneys to work pro bono and coordinated with other defense counsel to share research and work product. At the same time, Chen worked extensively with mainstream and Chinese-language media, educating the public and ethnic communities about the section 17200 cases in particular and the litigation process in general. He also worked with state and local prosecutors, local elected officials, legislators, and the State Bar to curb the litigation and help safeguard the justice system and small business owners against such abusive tactics. By year’s end all of the lawsuits had been dismissed, the State Bar had prevented lawyers (who later resigned) from practicing, the state attorney general had filed a civil lawsuit against them, and the state Legislature had begun efforts to reform section 17200 to prevent such abuse in the future.