David H. Chen

Mr. Chen practices all areas of civil litigation, with a focus on federal litigation and appellate work. Before joining Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, he was the Deputy County Attorney for Appeals for Westchester County. Prior to his Westchester County employment, Mr. Chen worked in the White-Collar practice of a national law firm located in Boston and New York and was the 2016 recipient of the firm’s Pro Bono and Community Service award. Following law school, he clerked for the Hon. Dora L. Irizarry, U.S. District Judge in the Eastern District of New York.

A graduate of West Point, he served with the U.S. Army for six years as an Armor officer, including a 2003 deployment to Iraq. In his spare time, Mr. Chen serves as a volunteer firefighter for the Hastings-on-Hudson Fire Department.

David has over a decade of experience with New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). During his tenure with the Office of the Westchester County Attorney, he was responsible for Westchester’s FOIL training program and drafted responses to all FOIL appeals. Understanding that the best way to avoid Article 78 actions - and the award of attorney’s fees - is a robust compliance program, he has helped promulgate best practices for municipalities across the region.

Mr. Chen has argued before the First and Second Circuit Courts of Appeal as well as the New York Court of Appeals and the Appellate Division. He is a member of our Litigation and Appellate practice groups.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

• Appointed to Judicial Screening Committee for Appellate Division, Second Department by Gov. Hochul

• Member of Congressional Service Academy Nomination Board (NY-16)

• Second Department Judicial Screening Committee

• Volunteer firefighter for the Hastings-on-Hudson Fire Department