Naomi Chung

Naomi Chung graduated from The University of Chicago Law School and ran her own criminal defense practice for many years before joining forces with her partner, Brendan Hickey, to establish Hickey & Chung LLP. Ms. Chung is a tenacious advocate for individuals, corporate, and organizational clients facing serious state and federal crimes. She also has extensive experience representing accused students and faculty in Title IX disciplinary proceedings.

Ms. Chung: A record Of Distinction

Ms. Chung has top ratings from her clients and colleagues. She been listed in Super Lawyers as a Northern California “Rising Star”, a distinction given only to 2.5% of the attorneys listed in each state. She also received the distinction for Super Lawyers Rising Star in White-Collar Criminal Defense for 2023. She was also given the Avvo Clients' Choice Award and has a five-star rating from her clients.

Professional Achievements

Ms. Chung's successes include preventing the filing of criminal charges, outright dismissal of a case, acquittals, favorable plea deals, and reducing prior sentences. Her certification in immigration law from the American University Washington College of Law has also proven invaluable to noncitizen clients facing criminal charges and the risk of deportation.

Federal Criminal Defense

Ms. Chung has secured victories in a wide range of matters involving multi-defendant conspiracies, RICO violations, money laundering, fraud, narcotics trafficking, tax evasion, sexual assault, and homicide. Her cases have been featured in local and national publications such as CNN, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, NBC, Law 360, and the China Daily.

A Commitment To Equal Justice For The Accused

Ms. Chung's commitment to the principle that all persons are entitled to equal access to justice can be seen through the pro bono services she provides to disadvantaged individuals, such as her recent representation of individuals arrested for their involvement in Black Lives Matter protests.

She is also a proud member of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel for the Northern District of California, which provides quality legal representation to indigent clients facing criminal charges in federal court.

Giving Back

Ms. Chung's pledge to fight the system is not limited to inside the courtroom. She volunteers as a mentor with Defy Ventures, a nonprofit organization that addresses the social problems of mass incarceration and recidivism through an entrepreneurial program that provides education, mentorship, and connections to those individuals with criminal histories to help them achieve a life of economic independence.

Ms. Chung is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ), and Asian American Bar Association. She is also fluent in Korean.