Catherine serves as outside general counsel to numerous local government agencies and advises on a wide variety of legal issues. Her clients include transit districts, water districts, fire district, cities, counties, and other special districts. Catherine has particular enthusiasm for, and expertise in, the evolving legal landscape of data security and privacy laws.

Catherine's areas of expertise within the public agency realm are expansive. She advises clients on government ethics, governance laws, legislation, and constitutional issues. She also drafts, reviews, negotiates, and analyzes a wide variety of contracts in a team effort with procurement staff, project managers, and upper management, including agreements for technology, inbound licensing, software as a service (SaaS), professional services, goods, real estate, public works/construction, design-build and alternative project delivery, intergovernmental collaboration, and funding/grants. In addition, Catherine counsels clients regarding privacy policies, end-user license agreements, website terms and conditions, data breach response, and privacy issues in technology agreements. Catherine frequently advises and trains clients on compliance with the Brown Act, Public Records Act, election laws, and conflict of interest laws and regulations.

Catherine is passionate about providing pro bono assistance to various organizations and serves as a member of the firm's Pro Bono Committee.

Bar Admissions

• California

Education
J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law (2012)
B.A., highest departmental honors, University of California, Berkeley (2008)

Significant Accomplishments

Counseled a municipal utility district on assessing and implementing an agency-wide data security and privacy program.

Advised public transit agency clients through all stages of the procurement and launch of mobile ticketing and mobility applications.

Developed all formation documents for new agency, including bylaws, procurement manual, conflict of interest code (including interfacing with the FPPC), investment policy, and template agenda materials.

Professional Associations

• League of California Cities, Fair Political Practices Commission Committee
• The Bar Association of San Francisco, Cybersecurity and Privacy Law

"Amendment to the Brown Act Provides for New Website and Agenda Requirements," Government Law Alert (July 2017)
"New Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Requirement For Local Agency Officials: FAQ & Compliance Tips," co-author, Labor & Employment Law Alert (March 2017)
"California Supreme Court Case Alert: Public Records on Private Accounts," co-author, Government Law Alert (March 2017)
"Why Take 8 Steps When You Can Get There In 4? The FPPC’s New Conflict of Interest Regulations for Public Officials in California," co-author, Public Law Journal (March 2016)
“Ask the Experts: The Brown Act,” co-author, California Special Districts Association Magazine (April 2015)
"New Public Works Requirements for Contractors and Public Agencies Pursuant to SB 854," co-author, Public Agency Law Alert (December 2014)
"New Brown Act Reporting Requirements," co-author, Public Agency Law Alert (March 2014)
"Summary of California Appellate Cases," Association of California Water Agencies, Contributing Author of Summaries (2012-2013 and 2014-2015)

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Briefly is designed to provide readers with updates on the latest litigation developments in California. Our focus is on general litigation as well as issues surrounding class actions, products liability, discovery, privacy, cybersecurity, and the professional practice of law.