Leonard Tengco

Greetings! My name is Leonard Tengco, and I am an attorney in private practice and member of the Virginia Beach School Board.

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Leonard C. Tengco is an attorney whose practice includes civil litigation and real estate law, with emphasis in financial services litigation, residential and commercial real estate, foreclosure, closings, title resolution, landlord and tenant law, creditor's rights, mechanic's liens, easement disputes, residential and commercial leasing, land use and zoning, property disputes, and community associations. Leonard has represented major lenders, mortgage investors, servicers, agents, and trustees in actions throughout Virginia. Leonard's extensive courtroom advocacy experience includes service as as a prosecuting attorney, assistant appellate defender, and law clerk for the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia. In addition, Leonard is one of less than 40 legal professionals designated by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). A product of K-12 Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Leonard was awarded a college debate scholarship before graduating from Tallwood High School in 2000. In 2004, Leonard graduated from James Madison University, earning degrees in economics and political science. In 2007, Leonard earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law, where he was elected to serve as Vice President of the National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association. More recently, Leonard was selected for class membership to the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia's flagship Political Leaders Program in 2011 and Candidate Training Program in 2012. On November 6, 2012, Leonard was elected to serve as a member of the School Board of the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, with 55% of the city-wide vote. He was sworn into office on December 18, 2012, and his four-year term began January 1, 2013.

Litigation Attorney at Samuel I. White, P.C.

August 2010 - October 2012

Defended financial services companies, national lending institutions, and government-sponsored enterprises in complex civil litigation matters involving real property in state and federal court; Represented title and insurance companies, lenders, and servicers in title curative litigation; Prepared advisory memoranda regarding case development affecting mortgage banking industry Reported Cases: Lubitz v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 2012 Va. Cir. LEXIS 97 (Virginia Beach Sept. 20, 2012) Fannie Mae v. Harbin, 2012 Va. Cir. 99 (Virginia Beach Mar. 20, 2012)

Assistant Appellate Defender at Office of the Appellate Defender

December 2009 - June 2010

Represented indigent defendants on appeal before Virginia Supreme Court and Court of Appeals; Delivered oral argument before a three-judge writ panel in Court of Appeals; Drafted petition reversing and remanding trial court in Reeves v. Commonwealth, Record No. 0108-10-3 (2010)

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney at Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney's Office

September 2008 - October 2009

Prosecuted violent felonies and property crimes including but not limited to construction fraud, robbery, sex offender registration violations, burglary, larceny, traffic offenses in jury and non-jury trials; Prepared appellate and trial briefs and administrative memoranda to public officials; Drafted conflicts of interest opinions directed to City Council members on behalf of Commonwealth's Attorney

Judicial Law Clerk at Third Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia

September 2007 - August 2008

Prepared opinions and orders on behalf of judges on civil litigation, criminal, and family law matters; Researched and recommended judicial dispositions for civil motions, demurrers, special pleas, habeas corpus petitions, and administrative issues involving constitutional officers

Extern (District Court, Litigation & Collections Section) at Lansing City Attorney's Office

August 2006 - December 2006

Prosecuted misdemeanors and civil infractions on public record in 54A District Court of Michigan; Drafted argument section for briefs filed in federal and state court in response to claims filed against City of Lansing; Revised appellate court briefs for city attorneys and recommended legislation to be adopted by City Council

Intern (Preliminary Examination Unit) at Wayne County Prosecutor's Office

August 2006 - November 2006

Conducted cross-examinations of police officers and witnesses on public record in 36th District Court of Michigan as part of its preliminary examination unit; Prepared and organized dockets for prosecutors and issued subpoenas to law enforcement officers and witnesses

Summer Extern (Public Policy & Administration Division) at Virginia Beach City Attorney's Office

May 2006 - August 2006

Proposed amendments and made recommendations regarding ordinances that may violate federal and state law as part of the office's Public Policy Division; Researched and wrote memoranda about First Amendment issues, conflict of interest, and criminal investigations

Summer Law Clerk at Superior Court of Georgia (Third District)

May 2005 - August 2005

Researched Georgia law and briefed judge on criminal, civil, and domestic cases pending before the Court; Drafted charges to be read to jury at criminal trials, made recommendations regarding habeas corpus petitions

Research Intern at International Center for Terrorism Studies

May 2002 - August 2002

Conducted research and compiled database of terrorist activity used for the publication of international legal responses to terrorism in United Kingdom; Research focused on maritime piracy in Southeast Asia and Middle East

School Board Member at Virginia Beach City Public Schools

December 2012

Associate Attorney at Sykes, Bourdon, Ahern & Levy, P.C.

October 2012

Civil litigation, with an emphasis on financial services litigation, residential and commercial real estate, foreclosure, title resolution, landlord and tenant matters, creditor's rights, and other real estate matters, including mechanic's liens, easement disputes, breach of contract, missing interests, partition, legal description errors, unreleased liens and judgments, fraud and forgery, land use and zoning, and community association law

Michigan State University College of Law

2004 – 2007

J.D.

James Madison University

2000 – 2004

B.A., B.S.

Concentration: Political Science, Economics

Tallwood High School

1996 – 2000