Practice Areas
- Class Action Litigation
- Consumer Financial Services Litigation
- Complex Commercial Business Litigation
- Employment Litigation
- Insurance Defense Litigation
- Appellate Litigation
Education
Pepperdine University, School of Law
- J.D. 2018
- Recipient of the Dean’s Academic Merit Scholarship
- Recipient of the Parris Awards Honor of Excellence in Peacemaking
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Law Review
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- B.A. 2012, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- State Bar of California
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Courts for the Central and Northern Districts of California and District of Colorado
Chiemela P. Okwandu
Born and raised in Southern California with a Nigerian heritage, Chiemela P. Okwandu is a skilled and versatile attorney with extensive experience across a broad spectrum of legal practice areas, including commercial law, finance, employment, product liability, and business litigation. She has represented clients in all aspects of litigation, including law and motion practice, mediation, arbitration, and trial. Chiemela was previously an attorney in an AM Law 50 firm’s consumer financial services group, where she defended lenders and servicers in litigation. With a strong background as in-house counsel for a mortgage servicer, Chiemela has honed an in-depth understanding of the complexities of corporate legal operations, helping businesses navigate legal challenges while ensuring compliance and minimizing risks. Earlier in her career, Chiemela focused on plaintiffs’ work, gaining invaluable insight into advocating for individuals and securing favorable outcomes in contentious matters against fortune 500 companies. This early experience has contributed to a well-rounded skill set, including excellent negotiation abilities and a deep commitment to providing the highest level of client service. Chiemela is known for building strong, lasting relationships with global clients, focusing on personalized attention and effective communication. With a proven track record of successful legal outcomes and a client-first approach, Chiemela continues to bring dedication, expertise, and a strategic mindset to every legal challenge.
Additional areas of concentration include personal injury, medical malpractice, tort defense, education law, property law, professional liability defense, construction law, and transactional matters. Chiemela is active in a variety of initiatives that involve promoting diversity and inclusion.
- Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of numerous clients in business and financial services litigation that saved clients millions in potential liabilities and cost.
- Represented clients against claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, fraud, wrongful foreclosure, quiet title, and violations of various consumer protection statutes.
- Advised clients on risk management strategies to avoid regulatory violations and litigation exposure by offering training sessions on workplace policies, anti-discrimination practices, and designing new compliance protocols related to ADA, and FMLA, OSHA, Title VII, Title IX, and the Department of Labor.
- Crafted favorable responses on behalf of clients to regulatory inquiries and enforcement actions from CFPB and FTC.
- Successfully defended numerous banks and mortgage loan servicers in lawsuits involving alleged violations of various consumer state and federal protection statutes, including TCPA, FDCPA, RESPA, TILA, ECOA, FHA, SCRA, FCRA, and state consumer protection acts.
- Member of the American Bar Association
- Member of the California Lawyers Association
- Member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association
- Member of the Langston Bar Association
- Member of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
- Author, “Social Competency in Estate Planning,” GPSolo, Vol. 39, No. 6, November/December 2022 by the American Bar Association
- Author, (2013, June). The Manufacturing of Global Citizenry,” Paper presented at the 4th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Service-Learning: Service-Learning as a Bridge from Local to Global: Connected world, Connected future, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China.
- 1999/2000 USATF Jr. Olympics