Hailyn Chen

Hailyn J. Chen is a Munger, Tolles & Olson litigation partner who focuses her practice on complex business litigation, white collar criminal defense and government investigations. Ms. Chen frequently represents higher education institutions in a range of litigation matters and investigations.

In 2018, Ms. Chen was named among California’s “Top Women Lawyers” by the Daily Journal and “Most Influential Woman Attorney” by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Ms. Chen has significant experience in preparing complex commercial litigation and class actions for trial, representing companies in various sectors including energy, financial services, entertainment and technology. Ms. Chen’s representative matters include:

• Airbnb in obtaining dismissal under the Communications Decency Act of a lawsuit brought by Apartment Investment and Management Co. (Aimco) alleging short-term renters damaged corporate apartments and disturbed residents.
• Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) in litigation stemming from the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
• Western Asset Management in obtaining a favorable settlement in a lawsuit asserting breach of fiduciary duty in managing a client’s account during the financial crisis.
• Universal Music Group in an lawsuit asserting antitrust violations and tortious interference with business relations arising out of disputed right to license Bob Marley tracks. The case was successfully resolved on summary judgment.
• A defendant company and its chief executive in obtaining summary judgment in a dispute involving claims of tens of millions of dollars.

Ms. Chen has counseled higher education clients in internal and government investigations, crisis management, criminal prosecutions and ongoing compliance issues related to government claims and federal grants. She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and has developed a broad understanding of the unique management, operational and regulatory challenges universities face.

Ms. Chen’s noteworthy higher education matters include:

• Numerous internal investigations regarding potential Title IX liability.
• Defending the University of California in a criminal investigation and complaint filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney arising out of a UCLA chemistry lab accident that resulted in the death of an undergraduate student.
• Internal investigations raising issues related to the use of federal research grant funds and Medicare billing.
• Advising a university in a Cal-OSHA investigation into a workplace accident, in which our attorneys successfully negotiated a settlement with Cal-OSHA and avoided the most serious penalties.

Ms. Chen also has extensive experience representing universities in their handling of sexual misconduct matters, including in administrative writ proceedings and Title IX suits for monetary damages. She counsels clients on compliance with Title IX, the Clery Act and FERPA and recommends changes, where appropriate, to policies and procedures for investigating and resolving sexual misconduct allegations. Ms. Chen guides clients through crisis management and helps them develop internal and external communication strategies with respect to these challenging issues.

Ms. Chen was appointed by the California Supreme Court to a three-year term on the State Bar of California’s governing body, the Board of Trustees. She also co-chairs the ABA Section of Litigation’s Woman Advocate Committee

Ms. Chen earned her undergraduate degree from Yale University, where she was one of the first female coxswains to lead the Yale varsity men’s crew and was awarded the MVP award in 1996.

Education:

• UCLA School of Law (J.D., 2003)
  • Lawrence Irell Prize for highest academic standing after first year
• Yale University (B.A.)

Bar Admissions : California