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Alexander Ying-Chi Chan (WSBA No. 41709, admitted 2009) of Bellevue, was disbarred, effective 10/02/2020, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Chan’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.1 (Competence), 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 8.4 (Misconduct).
In relation to his representation of multiple clients in separate immigration matters, the Hearing Officer recommended, and the Supreme Court ordered, that Chan be disbarred following a hearing. Chan was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by: 1) failing to prepare or file an Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver on behalf of client A; 2) failing to respond to client A’s reasonable requests for information and failing to keep client A reasonably informed about the status of the case; 3) failing to provide a copy of client A’s file to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC); 4) failing to respond to the government’s motion to dismiss and failing to file a complaint that adequately stated the legal basis for client B’s claim; 5) failing to respond to client B’s reasonable requests for information, failing to keep client B reasonably informed about the statue of the case, failing to explain to client B the effect of the government’s motion to dismiss, and his decision not to respond to the motion; 6) charging client B $3,500 for doing little or no work of value to her; 7) failing to provide a copy of client B’s file to ODC; 8) failing to timely file an Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal for clients C and D and by filing an error-filled asylum application for client D; and 9) failing to respond to client C’s reasonable requests for information and failing to keep clients C and D reasonably informed about the status of their cases.
Codee McDaniel, Francesca D'Angelo and Joanne S. Abelson acted as disciplinary counsel. Alexander Ying-Chi Chan represented himself. Rebecca L. Stewart was the hearing officer. Nadine D. Scott was the settlement hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Recommendation; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
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