Areas of Practice

  • Transactional Law
  • Public Law

Education

  • J.D., UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA, 2002
  • B.A., UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 1999

Admissions

  • Supreme Court of California
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of California

Professional Affiliations

  • State Bar of California

Ivy M. Tsai joined the Firm in 2004 and has dedicated her legal career to serving local government. She is the City Attorney for the City of Lakewood and General Counsel for the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, a joint powers authority composed of 27 cities and county representation in Southeast Los Angeles County.

Ms. Tsai has extensive experience serving as the Legal Advisor to City Councils, Governing Boards, Planning Commissions, and other committees. She is well-versed in a wide range of laws affecting local public entities, including the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, land use, public contracting, and ethics and conflicts of interest. For over 20 years, she has worked closely with public entities to address their legal needs, including drafting ordinances, negotiating contracts, resolving legal conflicts, and providing training. Ms. Tsai has also successfully litigated cases at both trial and appellate levels in cases ranging from dangerous condition of public property to inverse condemnation.

Ms. Tsai has a thoughtful and engaged approach to her legal practice focused on achieving the goals and objectives of her clients through solid legal guidance.

Ms. Tsai received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. She also received her law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Tsai was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2002.

Ivy M. Tsai joined the firm in 2004 and focuses her practice on municipal law. She serves as the City Attorney for the Cities of Lakewood and Santa Fe Springs, and as the Assistant City Attorney for the City of West Covina, and is the primary legal advisor to the Gateway Cities Council of Governments. Ms. Tsai also works closely with a number of the firm’s clients to serve their day-to-day needs and provide legal guidance and training in a number of areas, including the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, public contracting, ordinances and resolutions. Ms. Tsai’s duties include attending City Council, Governing Board, Planning Commission, and other committee meetings, as well as representing clients in negotiations and conflict resolution. Ms. Tsai has also litigated cases on behalf of the firm’s clients and has drafted and argued successful motions at both the trial and appellate levels in a variety of cases ranging from dangerous condition of public property to inverse condemnation.

Ms. Tsai received a Bachelors of Arts in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. She also received her law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Tsai was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2002.