Attorneys

Dawn Dunbar attended 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 Loyola Law School, she began working for criminal defense attorneys. This type of practice allowed her to be in court everyday 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 turn around time in Civil Harassment Restraining Orders invigorating and still loves the practice of law after 23 years. Dawn prides herself at her level of preparation, skill, and experience in Civil Harassment Restraining Orders. If you need someone on your side, call Dawn Dunbar.  

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.

Learn more about Chris at his website, www.ceclaw.net