Chad Thurston

Associate

Services

Biography

Chad Thurston is an associate in the firm’s Special Litigation and Compliance Practice Group, representing businesses and individuals in employment, personal injury, and corporate dispute matters. He has defended and prosecuted over 100 cases across complex constitutional torts, business torts, contract disputes, personal injury claims, and employment matters – including both individual and class actions. Chad has also conducted and led multiple closed-session briefings for the Imperial County Board of Supervisors on various litigation matters involving public entity liability.

Born and raised in San Diego, Chad received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from San Francisco State University and his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. While at San Francisco State, Chad played on the baseball team and was a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

California

Court Admissions

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
United States District Court, Southern District of California

Education

California Western School of Law (J.D.)
San Francisco State University (B.A., Social Science, Criminal Justice)
- NCAA Division II Baseball Player
- Male Freshman Athlete of the Year
- Student Advisory Athletic Committee (SAAC), Member

Experience

Representative Experience

Healthcare

Representing public healthcare districts in relation to various healthcare operational matters, including drafting and negotiating physician and staff employment agreements and advising on compliance with civil and criminal subpoenas under California and federal law
Representing healthcare entities and providers in responding to requests and subpoenas for patient medical records
Representing a behavioral health company in defense of medical malpractice and professional negligence claims
Represented individual physicians and nursing professionals in wrongful death litigation arising from incidents involving incarcerated persons
Represented individual healthcare providers and institutional healthcare entities in relation to HIPAA privacy and security compliance, including drafting and implementing policies and procedures
Represented healthcare providers and entities in relation to compliance with federal substance use disorder confidentiality regulations under 42 C.F.R. Part 2
Represented healthcare providers and entities in relation to transactional matters, including drafting and negotiating provider employment agreements, professional services agreements, management services agreements, and marketing and consulting arrangements

Previous Professional Experience

Schwartz Semerdjian Cauley Schena & Bush LLP, Associate Attorney
Schwartz Semerdjian Cauley & Moot LLP, Intern and Law Clerk

Professional Memberships and Activities

San Diego County Bar Association
Member of the Hon. William B. Enright Inn of Court

Representative Presentations and Publications

“42 CFR Part 2 and Privacy Rule Compliance: Action Required by February 16, 2026,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (January 26, 2026)

Publications

42 CFR Part 2 and Privacy Rule Compliance: Action Required by February 16, 2026

Firm News