Teresa C. Chow

Partner

Los Angeles

T +1.310.979.8458

F +1.310.820.8859

tchow@bakerlaw.com

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Overview

Teresa Chow focuses her practice on privacy and data protection, class action defense and business and commercial litigation. She is experienced in representing clients in a variety of industries, including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, technology and hospitality, in high-stakes complex and class action litigation.

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Co-lead defense counsel in a putative class action and 17 mass tort actions against a healthcare industry client that allege(d), among other things, invasion of privacy, multiple violations of the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unlawful recording of confidential information, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Defeated class certification, obtained summary adjudication of five out of eight causes of action in the putative class action and negotiated voluntary dismissal of a later-filed federal court putative class action.
Lead defense counsel in an individual lawsuit set up to become a putative class action against marketing industry clients, alleging numerous violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Aggressive defense strategy included significantly limiting plaintiff’s ability to conduct discovery, and an early motion for summary judgment, which facilitated a favorable settlement on the eve of the summary judgment hearing.
Lead defense counsel in a putative class action against a retail client arising out of payment card data breach. Set claims up for standing challenges and potential dismissal at the pleading stage, negotiated class-wide settlement and then a favorable settlement on an individual basis after plaintiffs failed to obtain preliminary approval of the class-wide settlement.

Co-lead defense counsel in a putative class action and 17 mass tort actions against a healthcare industry client that allege(d), among other things, invasion of privacy, multiple violations of the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unlawful recording of confidential information, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Defeated class certification, obtained summary adjudication of five out of eight causes of action in the putative class action and negotiated voluntary dismissal of a later-filed federal court putative class action.
Lead defense counsel in an individual lawsuit set up to become a putative class action against marketing industry clients, alleging numerous violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Aggressive defense strategy included significantly limiting plaintiff’s ability to conduct discovery, and an early motion for summary judgment, which facilitated a favorable settlement on the eve of the summary judgment hearing.
Lead defense counsel in a putative class action against a retail client arising out of payment card data breach. Set claims up for standing challenges and potential dismissal at the pleading stage, negotiated class-wide settlement and then a favorable settlement on an individual basis after plaintiffs failed to obtain preliminary approval of the class-wide settlement.
Lead defense counsel in lawsuit against education sector clients arising out of an alleged data breach impacting plaintiffs’ personal and financial information. Plaintiffs alleged, among other claims, violations of the California Customer Records Act (CRA), fraud, negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy, violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. After multiple rounds of pleadings challenges, obtained dismissal with prejudice of all causes of action alleged on demurrer.
Lead defense counsel in multiple data breach putative class actions against clients in the healthcare, manufacturing and personal services industries stemming from phishing incidents and ransomware attacks, alleging claims such as violations of the CMIA, CRA, California Consumer Privacy Act and California Unfair Competition law (UCL).
Lead California defense counsel for a major healthcare services company in multiple litigations and Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding arising out of concerns about distribution of controlled substances.
Served as member of a cross-office team that obtained summary judgment for a healthcare billing services provider in a data breach putative class action seeking nearly $400 million in statutory damages under the CMIA arising out of the theft of eight computers. Also blocked the plaintiffs’ attempt to amend the complaint to include claims for breach of contract and violation of the UCL.
Served as a member of a cross-office team that successfully defended a California hospital and network of California hospitals in two of the largest data breach class actions ever filed under the CMIA. Played a key role in obtaining dismissal of all CMIA claims on behalf of the clients.
Served as lead trial counsel and successfully defended a charter school at trial against claims for potentially catastrophic damages arising out of the alleged reach of an exclusive real estate brokerage agreement. The jury awarded only a de minimis portion of the total damages sought.
Served as lead litigation counsel for an international manufacturer and distributor of freeze-dried food products in a high-value breach of contract action against a distressed natural snack foods company. Secured the client’s priority or other similarly situated creditors and recovered 100% of the amount owed.
Served as lead defense counsel for a global workforce solutions provider facing multimillion-dollar business torts claims. Brought a motion for terminating sanctions and motions in limine to exclude all of the plaintiff’s key evidence, which provided the leverage needed to negotiate a settlement for only 2% of the amount sought in the lawsuit.
Represented a multimillion-dollar judgment creditor in an enforcement action against the judgment debtors and foreign recipients of their fraudulent transfers. Pursued defendants and assets internationally and obtained the debtors’ largest asset in satisfaction of the client’s judgment.
Served as trial counsel in a case involving claims of defamation, assault and battery and other personal torts against a major domestic air carrier, which resulted in a unanimous defense verdict.