CHIAO & WU, LLP – Attorneys at Law

Chiao & Wu LLC have been extremely helpful to us. When we had questions they would help us with patience and gave extremely important and helpful advices. I would recommend to anyone!

I had never gone to an attorney but during a difficult time Sandy was awesome; she was professional and had my best interests in mind. If I ever need legal assistance again I will not hesitate to contact her, thanks again Sandy!

We are not well versed in working with attorneys, but Mr. Chiao could not have made it any less intimidating for us. Yet he was a strong force in representing us and settling our real estate related matter fairly and swiftly. The other party was threatening us with alot of accusations including conspiracy which was absurd (this all stemmed from our former realtor’s bold faced lies). Mr. Chiao put a stop to the nonsense by letting us know we could pursue malicious prosecution if they continued threatening us with wild accusations and violating our agreement. It was a very stressful situation but consulting with Mr. Chiao provided us with a resolution and a lot of relief. He’s very skilled in real estate law from what we’ve seen. We are also grateful this firm is conservative and mindful of alternative solutions before getting as far as litigation.

It’s been several years since I wrote my first review, but I’d like to take a moment to update my review, since I had yet another opportunity to engage Chiao & Wu for a different matter. This time I worked with Sandy Wu with matters pertaining to personal estate planning. After having a great experience with Mr. Chiao (see first review), to no surprise, I had yet another amazing, no stress, very easy and quick experience with Ms. Wu. She is so pleasant to work with, her calming demeanor instantly puts you at ease, and her plethora of knowledge in what she specializes in, immediately takes all the stress that comes with estate planning away. After everything was said and done, I walked away confident and satisfied knowing that everything was handled impeccably from start to finish. A few months later, I had misplaced some documents, and her assistants were so kind and immediately emailed everything I needed to me again. I haven’t had the best experience with other law firms in the past, but I can’t say enough good things about Chiao & Wu! They are professional in every way, intelligent, and thoughtful! Amazing team and stellar work! I’d highly recommend them.

Ching Chiao and Sandy Wu are preeminent attorneys in the SGV. Their professionalism and integrity to their clients are the number one reason their clients come and stay, and wholeheartedly refer their loved ones to Ching and Sandy time after time.
CHIAO & WU have the most knowledgeable and hardworking attorneys. Unlike attorneys who make empty promises, Ching and Sandy map out all possible outcomes of your matter and are honest about any potential problems that may arise. With their expertise, they transform intricate, complicated legalities to much simpler terms so that clients can easily understand such details.
What truly distinguishes Ching and Sandy from other attorneys, is not only the unrivaled results they bring their clients; it is the fact that they genuinely care about their clients. Despite the endless caseload, Ching and Sandy make time to be available to answer any question their clients may have, every step of the way. You know you are in good hands when your attorney takes the time to ensure you have the fullest, best understanding of your matter.
Thank you CHIAO & WU! :)

Chiao & Wu have been our attorneys for several years now and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions we have ever made. Our business has utilized a variety of types of attorneys and firms — big to small — and we decided to go with Chiao & Wu after getting to know one of the founding partners and believing that they would be a fit for us.
At the end of the day there is no replacement for having a trusted advisor to help you think through things and help deal with complex issues. Ching and Sandi have always made me feel like a valued client no matter how big or small the matter. I always feel that they are fair in terms of their time and never feel the sticker shock I often have felt in the past (how many of us have opened a bill from an attorney and said «What??? They spent X hours doing Y???) which as a small business owner is not only financially important to me but a true testament to how Ching and Sandi operate.
Not only that, but they always give very clear advice and opinions that are actually actionable and useful for making decisions as a business owner. If I wanted to learn the theory of law I would have gone to law school. I need attorneys with the knowledge and the courage to proffer opinions and suggestions and not be focused on their liability so much that you only get watered down advice and a nice bill for all the time spent hemming and hawing.
If you are looking to be treated with respect, to be treated fairly, and to have a team in your corner that is looking out for you — Chiao & Wu is the team to turn to.

I’ll add one more 5-​star review to all the others. Last year, we had an extremely positive experience consulting with Ching Chiao about a routine landlord/​tenant issue, and he helped us get the result we wanted. Not only did Ching have an encyclopedic knowledge of the relevant legal issues for our situation, but he was able to explain the law in easy-​to-​understand terms so we could get a clear sense of what our options were. That background knowledge was critical for us in negotiating with our landlord, and we got the sense that Ching would be tough advocate for us. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that, but we appreciated the perspective he gave us. My only regret is that we didn’t consult with him much earlier

I found this law office through Unilocal.I needed to have a Trust created and filed and really had no idea all the elements a Trust consist of. They have a consultation fee prior to creating the Trust. Sandy Wu was very informative and knowledgeable. I actually learned a lot about how the Trust process works. If you are filling something extensive, I would go with a lawyer versus the Legal Zoom route. Since I wasn’t in an extreme hurry to have it filed, it took about 3 weeks to have it drawn and filed. The reason I didn’t give this place 5 stars is due to me having to send additional e-​mails to follow up on the status and there were some minor items in the Trust (draft version) that were omitted. Always proof read the draft before having it filed. Overall I would recommend them since they were very knowledgeable.

Estate Planning and Landlord/​Tenant issues can often be very stressful. However, with the right assistance, you can rest with the assurance that everything will be okay.
My mother suddenly fell ill several months ago to a life threatening illness. With everything happening so suddenly, I needed to put her affairs into order quickly. Ms. Sandy Wu met with me on short notice and patiently explained every step in the process, from real estate, to bank accounts and other personal assets. Sandy was attentive, knowledgeable and articulate. She was the embodiment of professionalism.
With regards to Landlord/​Tenant issues, a good personal friend of mine was dealing with a difficult former tenant who was making several unreasonable demands. The issue cost him many sleepless nights and negative affected his work day. Upon hearing of the issue, I recommended that he see my good friend, Mr. Ching Chiao, who I have known for over 20 years. Knowing that Ching is an ethical, personable and efficient professional, I knew my friend would be in good hands. My friend still raves about him to this date.
Don’t hesitate to let the professionals at Chiao & Wu handle your legal issues. Simply put, they will make your problems, their problems, and adjudicate them properly.
5 stars and two thumbs up!!!

Ms. Sandy Wu, Esq. represented me on my case. Ms. Wu has been very helpful and personable to get me through my case. She is also very knowledgeable in the language of the law and she is always responsive to my eager questions. I will definitely go to Ms. Wu pertaining to legal needs. She handled my case and it was finalized with impeccable timing. I will say I am satisfied with Chiao & Wu’s services.

I went to Mr. Ching based on the positive Unilocal reviews. Thank god for Unilocal!I am happy to report that my experience with Mr. Ching and staff has been positive.
When I went to my initial consultation I took copies of all documentation and contracts I had questions on. Mr. Ching went over the contracts I had questions too. He is very knowledgeable and explains real estate matters in a simple clear concise form. No gibber gabber. In our consultation he gave us options on how I wanted to handle my case. He was very honest. He did not sugar coat anything. I try appreciate his honesty. After, my consultation I did hire Mr. Ching to write out a letter I needed. The letter was done in a 48 hours! I went to his office on a Tuesday afternoon and he said the letter would be done by Friday. The letter was done by Thursday at noon. In addition, Mr. Ching is ver accessible via email. I had question regarding my case which was out of his work scope and he still answered my question. This man is very generous. He really looks out for his clients. :) I look forward in hiring Mr. Ching with other real estate matters for my family. I feel convertible that a very professional knowable man will be assisting my family and I.
Also, the staff is nice and friendly. They validate your parking!

I rarely write reviews on Unilocal,but this time, I want people to know how to benefit from a good law firm, not just the standard service (signing this and that), but gain in-​depth information from real legal experts, that will sink in your mind for a long time.
I need an an attorney to review my commercial lease agreement (not a big job), but as soon as Mr. Chiao enters the conference room, the consultation began.
Not a minute wasted throughout the consultation, 100% dedicated attention to my case, and the best part is… he spoke «normal English», so I can understand every word he said.
Be sure to bring a note pad, and expect to take allot of good notes.
I’m not saying Mr. Chiao is the best attorney in town, but to me, he is the BEST!
p. s. Sunny (receptionist) is very warm and receiving, too!

Had a home modification finalized contract needed to be signed, met with Mr. Chiao last week for the review of it since I’ve heard a couple of negative things about the modifications, his full attention was with me; listened to my concerns carefully and provided me answers with all aspects which gave me more confidence to signed it.
And he was nice enough to briefly went over my other contract which involving with a completely different issue, so that I have a better mental preparation as to negotiate with the other party, which contract I’m going to have Mr. Chiao to look it over as well as soon as the negotiation is settled between me and the other party. My experience with Mr. Chiao’s advices and service was very positive.

My issue was a fairly simple one involving tenants’ rights during a building conversion, but one that I wanted to keep from turning into a conflict or misunderstanding. To that end, I chose to consult with Ching as a precaution, to make sure I knew what my rights and responsibilities were, and what those of the other party would be, and to craft a communication strategy to ensure that both parties understood each other and walked away happy.
I felt that Ching gave me a very clear picture of what the law specifically stated, but also of the ‘softer’ parameters — other statutes and tactics that the other party might potentially use as loopholes or evasions, limits to legal protections, and human-​relations factors that might come into play. I came away from our consultation with what felt like a solid understanding of the soft and hard boundaries of the situation, and a good sense of how to phrase and present communications to prevent an issue from arising.
Without a doubt, this consultation helped bring about a resolution that I believe left both parties satisfied. I’ll happily work with this firm again.

I had an issue involving a plumbing leak that affected another unit that was not covered under insurance. Because the construction work to fix the unit was related to water damage (sometimes risky), I requested a consultation to determine if I needed a legal document to indemnify myself from future instances where people could sue me. I found Ching Chiao via Unilocal and going with Chiao and Wu ended up being the best decision I could have made.
In the first 10 minutes of the consultation, Ching was able to very clearly understand my situation, provide smart recommendations on next steps, help me understand what my liability is and answer a ton of questions I had. Not only that, but gave me very clear headed advice on how to legally handle sensitive water damage issues such as mold, based on different scenarios. He also reviewed parts of a contractor agreement and explain my rights and explain through Legalese that appeared complicated. This brought me enormous peace of mind. And this is just in the first 10 minutes!
Based on the consultation, I decided to have him draft a Settlement Agreement. He was great enough to roll over the consultation hours into the document creation fee. The cost was reasonable from a cost perspective and cheaper than other law offices. The document was delivered the next day (fast) and was very clear and straightforward without being too stringent or intimidating to the parties who needed to sign it. The service, end to end, was very professional and friendly.
If you are in a jam, and have issues related to real estate, renting, construction, water damage/​mold or really anything, I highly recommend Ching Chiao. The initial consultation is fee-​based, but do not let that detract you. It will be completely worth it. I would have his team handle anything Legal related for me if I need it (knock on wood, not).

My experience with Ching Chiao was very positive. Earlier this year I was dealing with an uncooperative tenant neglecting to pay rent. It was reassuring to know that Ching had a strong background in real estate matters. He explained to me what I can expect from this type of situation and laid out all the possibilities/​options. During this process, Chiao and his firm handled my situation professionally and promptly. I couldn’t be more happier, knowing that Chiao and I communicated consistently and worked on this matter like play-​by-​play. As a result, after a few weeks we successfully got the tenant out.
If you want to feel good about the decisions you make at the end of the day, consider your avenues wisely and go with people you trust.
You want to be educated fully with your situation and know all the options. The benefits of working with Chiao and Wu is the high level of value, education, and integrity.
It’s a great feeling when you can walk out of the office, feeling empowered that there is always an option.
Office is cozy, staff is warm, the environment is positive, great location.

My company has worked with several different law firms and I must say this firm is best in LA.
First off, Mr. Chiao made me feel really confident and comfortable after I consulted with him on multiple situations regarding my company’s legal issues. I think this is the main key from a client point of view when it comes to legal matters. Also, he is very knowledgeable and will do everything only in your best interest. He makes it hassle free for you as a client. He is always there for me anytime whenever I have concerns, and was very professional and helpful.
Thank you Chiao & Wu, LLP for all the services you provided for our company. I highly recommend them and will use them again in the future

I own several companies and love starting new (or buying existing) businesses. I’m always looking for the next business venture to start or buy. I like taking over distressed businesses because I can add value before selling them after fixing its problems. It’s been a good time to do this lately especially because so many businesses need help.
I found this law firm because of a referral from a friend actually (not through Unilocal). However, before calling them, I investigated the firm online and did my own independent research for the best law firms with the most business law know-​how.
I eventually hired Ching to negotiate and write up contracts for the sale of one of my restaurants.
Ching was exceptionally detail-​oriented and described the entire process to me from start to finish, even telling me about the sales tax implications of the equipment I was selling as part of my business (He described the entire process to me just to verify he knew what he was talking about. I can tell when someone’s lying to me). Ching also brought up liability issues and other things related to transferring the lease and utilities. I could tell he had a lot of experience because he knew all the intricacies of each piece of advice he was giving me and allowed me to make solid business decisions after telling me the risks and rewards of each decision. He also helped me draft a contract that got me out of the rental agreement from our landlord.
I got to pick his brain about several of my other businesses and he gave me very clear answers and answered my questions directly. What I liked most is that if he didn’t know the answer to something, he didn’t make it up to sound like he knew what he was talking about. He honestly told me he’d have to look into it and get back to me without trying to make something up. I really appreciate that quality especially when seeking advice.
The transaction went smoothly and I am confident I am covered. I will definitely recommend this law firm for their straight-​forward, no-​nonsense approach.

I am extremely happy and satisfied with the services at this law firm!
I recently underwent a family emergency, and didn’t know how crucial it was to have a will and trust in place. Luckily, I met with Sandy Wu, one of the attorneys from «Chiao & Wu» — I was definitely educated and learned about the benefits of having a good estate plan… important!
I know most people don’t think about or like to think about what would happen in the event of an emergency or death (example like my parents, who are old school traditional Asians). I definitely realized how important it was to plan for the future now (I’m only in my 20’s). It was smart for me to start now.
Even though I initially just went in for a consultation regarding my family situation, I ended up having Ms. Wu to set up my will and trust. She was super informative, helpful, personable but very professional in providing guidance and suggestions for me. I would definitely recommend her if you are looking for a good wills and trusts attorney in the San Gabriel Valley area.
Thanks Ms. Wu!

I don’t usually have the time to write reviews for services. I consider myself an true hustler without time to get boggled down with the goofy stuff in life. I generally have no respect for attorneys, real estate brokers. So, I was selling my business because my business partners and I ran into some tough times during the recesson.
We were about to lose it all, and my partner and I were fighting everyday because of the stress of losing our shirts. I needed help and googled for business law help. I was still doubtful, but as I was in the corner, I had to give it a shot. I called these guys and I got to speak to the attorney right away. He was generous with his time and spoke to me like a friend. At first impression, he was upfront and didn’t beat around the bush.
In the end, my partner and I went in for a consultation, and we made out BIG! We ended up keeping our business and have been profitable using the suggestions attorney Ching Chiao gave us.
Will be using them call them and decide for yourself, you wont go wrong. Good luck…