Norma Copado is a Senior Partner with Alvarez-Glasman & Colvin (AGC), specializing in all areas of Municipal and Public Agency Law, and has extensive experience as a transactional attorney and litigator. Ms. Copado has extensive experience invoking administrative, civil, and criminal remedies on behalf of numerous municipalities and public agencies throughout the State of California. Ms. Copado currently serves as Assistant City Attorney for the Cities of Commerce and Norwalk; Interim Assistant City Attorney for the City of Vernon; and Deputy City Attorney for the Cities of Montebello, Pico Rivera, Lynwood, and Huntington Park; and Deputy Counsel for the County of San Bernardino, Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach Community College District, Rio Hondo Community College Board of Trustees, and Rio Hondo Community College District.
On a daily basis, Ms. Copado advises municipal and public agency clients on general government law matters, as well as, public safety, land use and zoning law, compliance with CEQA, education law, code enforcement, business tax and regulatory licensing matters, constitutional law, and employment law. Ms. Copado further advises clients on a regular basis on topics including the Public Records Act, Ralph M. Brown Act, election law, and conflicts of interest, and drafts legal opinions and memorandums regarding interpretation of these areas.
Ms. Copado currently serves as lead counsel during city council and planning commission meetings. Ms. Copado also currently presides over community meetings and city council study sessions over a myriad of issues, including public safety, cannabis regulations, housing, homelessness, code enforcement, accessory dwelling units, and short-term rentals. She is responsible for, and has extensive experience in, drafting ordinances, resolutions, policy directives, and legal opinions. She is also responsible for drafting, negotiating and interpreting contracts, memorandums of understanding, purchase and sale agreements, and development agreements.
Prior to joining AGC, Ms. Copado worked for a law firm for over twelve years with an "AV" rating by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and quality of its legal service, and was listed in the National Bar Register of Pre-eminent Law Firms. Ms. Copado served as an experienced litigator, city prosecutor, code enforcement attorney, and special counsel specializing in municipal law, public agency law, and code enforcement, with a client roster of over 50 cities in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Mateo and San Diego Counties.
Ms. Copado was raised in Maywood, California, and attended Yale University, earning a B.A. in Political Science. Before attending Loyola Law School and earning her Juris Doctorate degree, she worked for the City of Los Angeles Commission for Children, Youth and Their Families, analyzing local, state and federal policy and legislation. During her tenure at Loyola Law School, she was a Certified Law Clerk for the Inner City Law Center and the City of Los Angeles City Attorney's Office. She also was a Judicial Extern for Honorable Justice Carlos R. Moreno in the United States District Court, Central District, in Los Angeles.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Arts, Yale University, New Haven, CT (1997)
- Juris Doctor, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (2002)
ADMISSIONS- California (2002)
- United States District Court (2002)
PRACTICE AREAS- Municipal and Public Agency Law
- Public Records Act, Ralph M. Brown Act, and Conflicts of Interest
- Land Use, Zoning Law and Real Estate Development
- Education Law
- Public Contract Law
- Elections Law
- Ordinance Drafting and Implementation
- Public Safety
- Cannabis Regulation
- Code Enforcement, Municipal Prosecution and Misdemeanor Criminal Appeals
- Business Licensing and Regulations, Tax, Fees, Lien and Assessment Law
- Constitutional Law
- General Litigation
- Health & Safety Receiverships