About Ching K.
Ching K. Chiao began his legal journey after studying political science at the University of California, Irvine, where he earned a B.A. in 2000. He continued his legal education at Southwestern University School of Law, receiving his J.D. in 2004. Those formative years combined public policy and legal training and shaped the municipal and land-use interests that would mark his career.
Early in his professional life he worked in municipal practice. He was a lawyer in the Land Use Division of the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office in 2003. The following year he served as general counsel for Fred Leeds Properties, a role that exposed him to the real estate side of development and property management issues. Those positions gave him firsthand experience with regulatory review, permit processes, and the interaction between private projects and public agencies.
Chiao has a long record of participation in local government in Arcadia. He served as vice chairman of the Planning Commission and chairman of the Modification Committee from 2012 to 2013. In 2015 he was appointed chairman of the Planning Commission, a role he currently holds. His time on those bodies has involved public hearings, zoning adjustments, and collaboration with staff and elected officials on land-use decisions.
Outside of municipal appointments, Chiao has been active in community and professional groups. He has been affiliated with LeTip, serving as vice president during 2012 62013 and as a member in earlier years. He has held memberships in the Arcadia and San Marino chambers of commerce and in the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Earlier in his career he participated in the Young Lawyers Club. These memberships reflect an ongoing engagement with both the legal community and local business networks.
His practice draws on experience in land use, municipal law, and aspects of real estate practice that intersect with public regulation. Working on behalf of municipal bodies and private entities has familiarized him with planning commission proceedings, modification requests, and the administrative processes that shape development outcomes. He combines courtroom and administrative experience gained in the public sector with transactional and advisory work tied to property matters.
Chiao maintains an office in Pasadena where he meets clients and appears before local agencies. He is licensed to practice in California and continues to handle matters that involve land use, municipal law, and real estate development. His current practice concentrates on land-use approvals, municipal proceedings, and real estate-related regulatory work.
