Denise Choung
Top rated Employment & Labor attorney in La Jolla, CA
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP
Practice areas: Employment & Labor, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate; view more
Licensed in California since: 2023
Education: University of Minnesota Law School
Languages spoken: English, Korean
Selected to Rising Stars: 2026 Call today:
619-859-6801
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP
7911 Herschel AvenueSuite 300
La Jolla, CA 92037 Visit website
Denise Choung is an attorney at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP, in La Jolla, California, practicing nationwide. She focuses her practice on employment disputes and high-stakes financial services litigation, representing classes in ERISA matters involving 401(k) mismanagement and corporate malfeasance claims. Bringing a disciplined, detail-oriented approach to uncovering financial irregularities, she ensures robust advocacy and strategic resolution for clients navigating intricate regulatory and commercial landscapes.
Prior to launching her legal career in California, Ms. Choung completed her bachelor’s degree from Korea University and a master’s in business administration from INSEAD. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School and proceeded to obtain a Master of Laws at Queen Mary University of London. Licensed in California since 2023, she is additionally admitted to practice law in Minnesota, New York and New Jersey and as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Earning early experience through a clerkship for the Honorable Jamie L. Anderson of the Fourth Judicial District Court of Minnesota, Ms. Choung gained valuable insight into judicial decision-making. Internationally, she also served as an arbitration intern at Herbert Smith Freehills in London and the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC in New York. These roles provided her with opportunities to work on complex cross-border commercial disputes and the administration of international arbitrations.
Prior to her legal career, Ms. Choung spent more than a decade working internationally as a business developer, sports marketer, and management consultant for global corporations like Samsung Electronics and Nokia. This extensive corporate background—spanning both strategic and operational roles, particularly in the IT sector—enhances her ability to serve clients. She speaks the language of business, identify misconduct embedded in complex corporate decision-making, and develop credible, business-grounded case theories.
Practice areas
Employment & Labor: Employee, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate, Employment Litigation: PlaintiffFocus areas
Employment Law - Employee, Wrongful Termination
- 70% Employment & Labor: Employee
- 10% Alternative Dispute Resolution
- 10% Appellate
- 10% Employment Litigation: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2019, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: https://sanfordheisler.com/team/denise-choung/
Bar / Professional Activity
- California
- New Jersey
- New York
- Minnesota
Representative Clients
- Ms. Choung is counsel for the plaintiff class in Cathy Pover, et al. v. The Capital Group, Inc., et al. The class action complaint, filed in 2023 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of Ms. Pover and approximately 11,000 participants in The Capital Group Companies’ 401(k) plan, alleges that defendants The Capital Group breached their fiduciary duties of loyalty and prudence under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by mismanaging plaintiffs' retirement funds. On July 30, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a published opinion affirming the district court’s denial of the Capital Group’s motion to compel arbitration and dismiss., 2024
- Ms. Choung also serves as counsel for the plaintiff class in Matthew Daly v. West Monroe Partners, Inc. et al. The amended complaint, filed in August 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of Mr. Daly and 145 other former participants in West Monroe’s employee stock ownership plan, alleges that defendants West Monroe and Argent Trust Company breached their fiduciary duties under ERISA by, among other things, redeeming class members’ shares for significantly less than fair market value. The case is currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on appeal from the district court’s March 27, 2026 order allowing the case to proceed on a class basis.
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Solicitor (England and Wales), 2021
Pro bono / Community Service
- Human Rights Litigation and International Advocacy Clinic, University of Minnesota
Educational Background
- Queen Mary University of London, Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in International Dispute Resolution, 2018-2019
- Korea University, B.A., Mass Communications, 1994-1999
- INSEAD, MBA, Business Administration and Management, 2007-2008
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Managing Editor of the Minnesota Journal of International Law
Honors
- Outstanding Editor Award, University of Minnesota
Office location for Denise Choung
7911 Herschel Avenue
Suite 300
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 619-859-6801
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2026
