tchen@agclawfirm.com
Teresa Chen is an Associate with the Firm, specializing in the areas of land use, zoning, public works, and assessment and special tax districts.
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 less than thirty LEED AP attorneys in Los Angeles County. According to the Green Building Certification Institute's LEED Accredited Professionals directory, Ms. Chen is also the only LEED AP O+M in California with a primary practice in the legal field, out of over 17,000 LEED Accredited Professionals in California.
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.
Under certain circumstances, Ms. Chen's LEED AP accreditation will qualify registered LEED projects for one point toward LEED certification. As a LEED AP O+M attorney, Ms. Chen advises clients on green building 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 was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Chen also holds a Real Estate Salesperson License from the State of California.
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 is an active member of the Regional Chamber of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley and serves as an Ambassador for the Chamber to support local businesses. 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.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor, Southwestern University School of Law
Bachelor of Arts, University of California, Los Angeles
ADMISSIONS
PRACTICE AREAS
Land Use, Environmental, and Real Estate Development
Redevelopment Law
Public Agency - Municipal Law
Government Relations/Legislative Advocacy
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.