Our Team

CHRISTOPHER CHANEY

CHRISTOPHER CHANEY

Office Phone Van Nuys: (818) 453-6994
Office Phone Century City: (310)-810-4909
Fax: (877) 590-1102
Email: [email protected]

About Christopher
Christopher Chaney is a Southern California native. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in archaeological and anthropological studies, Chris received his master’s degree from Boston University, followed by his J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. Throughout his studies, Chris studied advanced negotiations through religious conflicts at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he had the opportunity to train in Hostage Negotiations with the Israeli Mossad.

While a law student, Chris worked as a certified Law Clerk for the Los Angeles County Office of the District Attorney. Here, he participated in multiple high-profile murder trials and grand jury investigations and was responsible for performing preliminary hearings. During his time at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office, Chris had the opportunity to work in the Los Angeles Superior Court Airport Courthouse, with jurisdiction over West Los Angeles (including Beverly Hills, Brentwood, and Santa Monica). Later, Chris worked in the prestigious “Major Crimes Division” at the Hall of Justice in Downtown Los Angeles with a focus on complex and high-profile prosecution throughout Los Angeles County. Additionally, he has been a key member of the Operations Teams for a number of nationwide developers and has extensive experience in the planning and development of thousands of residential homes and master-planned communities.

Chris founded the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney in 2019. Since then, he has represented clients across California in both state and federal court. Chris has handled a number of high-profile cases across state and federal courts, successfully defending clients facing homicide charges; conspiracy; prosecutions under the RICO act; racketeering, fraud, identity theft; domestic violence; sex crimes; narcotic possession and distribution, among countless others.

With locations in Century City and the San Fernando Valley, The Law Offices of Christopher Chaney provide California state criminal and restraining order services throughout California, with federal, criminal, and immigration services nationwide. Our clients have ranged from doctors, lawyers, and educators to police officers and high-profile public figures & celebrities. Chris is an active member of the California State Bar as well as multiple Federal Court jurisdictions, the California Lawyers Association’s Criminal Law section, The Beverly Hills Bar Association, The American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Memberships

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CLA

BH 20Bar

NACDL2

Recommendations

VERUCA D. RECOMMENDS CHRISTOPHER CHANEY

If you ever find yourself in need of an attorney, give Chris Chaney a call. Chris helped me with a small legal matter and I really couldn’t be more pleased with the experience. I felt like Chris was genuinely looking out for me and my best interests and so would absolutely recommend him without hesitation. Oh, and he was always available to take my call, responded today emails right away 🙂

– Veruca D.


LISA H. RECOMMENDS CHRISTOPHER CHANEY

I needed a lawyer for a legal matter.  I was referred to Christopher Chaney.  Christopher handled my manner with professionalism and expedited my legal documents through the courts!  Thank you Christopher.  He is definitely now my go to guy for all legal matters!

– Lisa H.


PRUDENCE V. RECOMMENDS CHRISTOPHER CHANEY

I highly recommend Chris Chaney. I’ve known Chris for almost a decade, and can say that he is one of the most honorable, genuinely kind and intelligent people I’ve ever met. He recently helped me with a legal issue, that literally lifted a million dollar weight of my shoulders. With his quick mind, he untangled a web, drilled down to the heart of the matter, and communicated a plan of action in terms I could understand. Chris also has true empathy for others. It’s simply not in him to take advantage of someone, a quality that is rare. Chris Chaney is honest, hardworking, determined, caring and utterly professional. His qualities set him apart from the vast majority of the other attorneys out there. You couldn’t ask for a better attorney to represent you.

– Prudence V.

DAN MELNICK

DAN MELNICK

Office Phone Van Nuys: (818) 453-6994
Office Phone Century City: (310)-810-4909
Fax: (818) 981-8777
Email: [email protected]

About Dan

Known as “Dan” to his friends and clients, Mark Daniel Melnick was born and raised in Southern California where he grew up on the movie studio lots and worked as a production assistant for United Artists. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from UCLA, Dan attended the San Fernando Valley School of Law where he received his J.D. Following law school, Dan entered the field of labor law in Chicago. Dan eventually returned to Los Angeles in 1984 where he turned his attention exclusively to criminal law. In the time since Dan has gained extensive experience in the Southern California justice system, representing thousands clients in cases ranging from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies. Dan is committed to protecting the rights of the individual person from the often overzealous prosecution in a system that shows time and again the inequities of the individual against the state or federal government. Dan is an active member of the California Bar and has been practicing law for nearly 40 years.

Recommendations

NICOLE H. RECOMMENDS DAN MELNICK

Dan was great! Super professional and caring. Made the whole experience easier for me which was nice. I’ll definitely be recommending him to all my family and friends.

– Nicole H.


ERIC D. RECOMMENDS DAN MELNICK

Mr. Melnick and Mr. Beecher are superheroes. Not only are they kind, compassionate, and understanding of life’s circumstances but they go above and beyond to do everything that can to fight for you to ensure that justice is served. They could not have made things easier for my family. They’re both extremely professional, with rates that are absolutely fair, especially for all of their hard work. With decades of experience these are the go-to guys. Thank you for the peace of mind, gentlemen. There are not enough words to describe what you’ve done for my family.

Anyway, for a guy who does a lot of research from even the restaurants he eats at, I can tell you that I’ve done my research for you: CALL THESE GUYS IF YOU NEED AN ATTORNEY. I promise you, you will not regret it.

– Eric D.


JESSICA W. RECOMMENDS DAN MELNICK

Dan has helped me beyond belief. He goes above and beyond for his clients. He has been practicing law for so long he is a well known face within many courtrooms, and will go to bat for his clients. I highly recommend him!!!!

– Jessica W.

Lily Harper

Office Phone Van Nuys: (818) 453-6994
Office Phone Century City: (310)-810-4909
Email: [email protected]

About Lily

Originally from Russia, Lily obtained her bachelor’s degree in History and English at Kazan State Teachers College. She worked as an English professor and interpreter before coming to the United States to earn her MBA at National University in San Diego. Her path continued on through time in banking and mortgages at Wells Fargo.

Now, Lily works as a bilingual law clerk at the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney.

Ween Acevedo

Office Phone Van Nuys: (818) 453-6994
Office Phone Century City: (310)-810-4909
Email: [email protected]

About Ween
After receiving her bachelor’s degree from The University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2008, Ween Acevedo began her career in law as a legal secretary. Over the following fifteen years, she worked closely with immigration clients, appeared before EOIR hearings and USCIS interviews, and acted as the attorney’s personal assistant and fluent Spanish-speaking translator. Ween went on to attend the University of West Los Angeles Law School, where she received the Witkin Award for Evidence in the Fall of 2016 and Spring of 2017. She received her J.D. in 2018. Ween has been an active member of the California Bar since 2021 and has worked with the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney since 2022.

DAN MELNICK

Dawn Dunbar

Office Phone Van Nuys: (818) 453-6994
Office Phone Century City: (310)-810-4909
Fax: (818) 981-8777
Email: [email protected]

About Dawn
Dawn Dunbar attended the University of Arizona (Go Wildcats) where she studied Sociology and Communication and planned her future in academia. After attending a lecture for extra credit and seeing Morris Dees from the Southern Poverty Law Center speak, Dawn decided to apply to law school to fight against racism. Luckily Loyola Law School extended an offer for Dawn to study in Los Angeles, so she packed up and left the summer heat of Tucson, Arizona. While in law school and clerking in the Hate Crimes Unit, Dawn discovered that her ideology was in conflict with fighting on behalf of the government to put people in prison. Dawn wanted to fight for people, not lock up people. Always rooting for the underdog, Dawn realized that the ultimate underdog was the criminal defendant.

So when Dawn graduated from Loyola Law School, she began working for criminal defense attorneys. This type of practice allowed her to be in court every day and gain competence in her trial skills, cross-examination, and knowledge of the evidence code. After defending her criminal clients in related Restraining Order hearings, Dawn realized that she was quite suited for this area of the law. Since approximately 2005, Dawn has increasingly devoted herself to Restraining Order Hearings. She finds the intense turnaround time in Civil Harassment Restraining Orders invigorating and still loves the practice of law after 23 years. Dawn prides herself on her level of preparation, skill, and experience in Civil Harassment Restraining Orders. If you need someone on your side, call Dawn Dunbar.

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