Vicki Chou

Los Angeles

Vicki Chou, a partner at Hueston Hennigan LLP, is a key member of the firm's trial practice and white-collar and investigations team.

She played a pivotal role in securing unique plea agreements in the "Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal, obtaining a declination for Southern California Edison in a criminal investigation related to the California wildfire, and negotiating a favorable plea agreement for Marilyn Flynn, former dean of USC's School of Social Work, on federal corruption charges.

Her ability to step into cases on short notice, often replacing star litigators from major law firms, demonstrates her exceptional skills and the trust clients place in her capabilities. For instance, she was instrumental in representing the CEO of Done Global amidst DEA and DOJ scrutiny and advising Chris Dawson, CEO of Hawaiian Native Corp, amidst financial crime allegations.

Chou's experience extends to defending Amazon in federal investigations and representing FAT Brands in a combined DOJ and SEC investigation. Her role as co-lead counsel in a billion-dollar fraud scheme case involving former Outcome Health CEO Rishi Shah further exemplifies her prowess in managing complex legal challenges.

Her tenure as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California also highlights her prosecutorial background, including significant cases like the indictment of El Mayo, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel and successful convictions in the Los Angeles Fashion District money laundering case.

Chou's approach to legal challenges is characterized by creativity and a deep understanding of the law, as evidenced by her strategic negotiation of a conditional plea agreement in the college admissions case, which helped evolve wire fraud law.

"In October 2023, United States Attorney Martin Estrada announced the formation of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force, a new section that will focus on complex corporate crimes, abuses by company insiders and offenses that impact the nation's financial system. As a consequence, we're expecting to see more securities fraud and related cases and will need to be prepared to address quick moving probes in this area. Companies should be prepared to respond quickly and cooperatively with an eye toward making a convincing "Filip Factors" presentation," said Chou.

In addition to her legal practice, Chou is actively involved in the legal community. She serves as vice President on the executive board of the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association and is a member of various legal committees and foundations.