Ms. Chao is originally from Southern California. For her undergraduate education, she attended the University of California, Davis to study Psychology. Ms. Chao then spent four years working in San Francisco’s technology space. She went on to pursue a legal career and enrolled at the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2020, where she was awarded the Donald B. King Class of 1958 Scholarship for a special interest and pursuit in family law studies.

In line with her specific interest in family law, Ms. Chao completed an internship with Family & Children’s Law Center, the only non-profit organization in Northern California geared towards providing low-cost family law representation. There, she gained invaluable experience and further resolve to pursue family law, after being able to help fight for low-income clients’ rights. Ms. Chao proceeded to widen her experience with an internship at San Francisco’s City Attorney Office, assisting attorneys with legal research on general family law and conservatorship issues.

Some of Wendy’s press releases, media, and publications include:

• Silicon Valley Business Journal – People on The Move

In June 2022, during her last year of law school, Ms. Chao began her tenure at Hoover Krepelka, LLP as a Law Clerk, where she gained a deeper understanding of complex family law issues. She continued to work throughout graduation. After studying for and completing the July 2023 California state bar exam, Ms. Chao returned to the firm as a Post-Bar Law Clerk in fall 2023 as she awaited results. Following her successful passing of the bar exam in November 2023, Ms. Chao was officially admitted to the California state bar and promoted to Associate Attorney at Hoover Krepelka, LLP.

In her free time, Ms. Chao is an avid lover of films, perusing local boutiques and bookstores, reading in Golden Gate Park, and collecting hot sauces.

Bar Admission

• California

Education

• University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, CA
  • J.D. – 2023
• University of California, Davis, CA
  • B.A. – 2016

Honors and Awards

• Public Interest Law Certificate – Departmental Honors
  • USF Law
• CALI Excellence for the Future Award – Constitutional Law II
  • USF Law

Publications

• The Disrupted Path to Becoming Easy, Breezy, Beautiful: How Companies are Deceiving Consumers with their Animal Testing Policies
  • USF Law Review, Vol. 57