Overview
Allard Chu focuses his practice on consumer litigation, specifically in the financial services sector. He represents a wide range of financial services clients in state and federal courts. Allard brings perspective to his work, gleaned from years in both government service and private practice involving litigation, licensing, regulatory, and enforcement matters.
Prior to joining Steptoe, Allard served as Senior Counsel in the Enforcement Division of California’s state financial regulator, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). Allard was involved in and had leadership roles in multistate investigations with other state regulators and state attorneys general. This included leading a 45-agency task force in investigating a business that helped mortgage loan originators across the country commit fraud, resulting in over 500 settlements and license revocation actions against non-settling subjects.
In addition, while at the DFPI, Allard handled regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, including litigation in civil and administrative courts, covering consumer finance, commercial finance, sales finance, emerging financial technology, bank partnership, extensions of credit, mortgage loan origination, and cryptocurrency. Allard also routinely advised internal DFPI stakeholders on financial services issues relating to license applications and revocations, regulatory policy, and litigation assessment.
- California
- New York
- Supreme Court of the United States
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US Patent & Trademark Office
- J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2013, Notes Editor, Federal Communications Law Journal; Moot Court Board
- B.S., University of California, Berkeley, 2009, Mechanical Engineering
- B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz, 2008, Business Management Economics
Representative Matters
*Includes matters handled in government and prior to joining Steptoe.
- Co-led 45-agency multistate fraud investigation task force that led to over 500 settlements nationwide, seven-figure aggregate penalties, and administrative actions against non-settling subjects; lead counsel on behalf of the state for license revocations before the Office of Administrative Hearings.
- Defended state agency in civil litigation concerning applicability of state law to emerging financial technology and bank partnerships.
- Obtained six-figure settlement for violations of loan origination laws.
- Defended litigation involving a first-impression issue of whether a state franchise law preempted common law claims. Obtained discovery sanctions and secured a favorable judgment on the pleadings leading to dismissal of the suit.
Noteworthy
- California Lawyers Association, Outstanding Achievement in Public Law Award (2022)
- Super Lawyers, Southern California, "Rising Star" (2021)
News & Publications
- "A Practical Guide to Investigations and California Administrative Procedure Act Discovery," 59 U.S.F. L. Rev. 241 (2025) (co-authored with Denise Smith).
- "Protecting the Common Good with the Required Records Doctrine," 51 Urb. Law 393 (2022). ABA Urban Lawyer, Section of State and Local Government.
Previous Employment
- Senior Counsel, California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, Enforcement Division (2021-2026)
Professional Affiliations
- Member, Howard T. Markey American Inn of Court
- Former Board of Directors, California Alumni Association (UC Berkeley) 501(c)(3)