Senior Counsel to UCLA Named Santa Monica City Attorney

By Niki Cervantes and Jorge Casuso

June 27, 2017 -- Lane Dilg, senior counsel to UCLA and an appellate representative to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth District, has been hired as Santa Monica City Attorney, Mayor Ted Winterer announced Tuesday.

Dilg, who is already a city resident, starts August 14, he said.

She comes to the post with an extensive history of public service, including work with high-profile names that include U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the City said in a statement.

She served last year as a member of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris’ transition team upon Harris’ election to the United States Senate. Dilg is currently an Appellate Lawyer Representative to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the City’s communications office said Photo courtesy of UCLA

“Santa Monica is a complex, cutting-edge city. We’re known for pushing the envelope in our policy decisions and protecting our community’s diverse interests,” Winterer said.

“Given the complex legal issues we face on a regular basis, we were looking for a dynamic, strategic and thoughtful person to serve as our next City Attorney. Ms. Dilg brings a wealth of legal experience and a formidable intellect to the job and she's passionate about public service and the issues that align with our city’s vision.

“We’ve done well,” Winterer said in announcing the hiring during the City Council’s Tuesday meeting. “We’re delighted to have her on board.”

Former City Attorney Marsha Moutrie praised the choice.

"I was delighted to learn that the City Council has appointed Ms. Dilg to serve as City Attorney," Moutrie told the Lookout. "It appears that everyone has caught brass rings.

"The Council and the City are getting an experienced attorney who has successfully demonstrated her talents and abilities in a variety of challenging positions," Moutrie said.

"The office is getting an able and accomplished leader. Ms. Dilg is getting a wonderful job and terrific colleagues. Warm congratulations and best wishes to all."

Moutrie retired last December as city attorney after holding the post for 22 years ("Santa Monica City Attorney Announces Retirement," September 26, 2016).

The City's longtime Assistant City Attorney Joseph Lawrence has assumed the vacant post in the interim ("Lawrence Picked as Santa Monica Interim City Attorney," December 9, 2017).

Prior to her time at UCLA, Dilg spent four years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Central District Office in California, prosecuting cases involving public corruption, organized crime, human trafficking, fraud and other federal criminal offenses.

Dilg also served as Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where she was a legal advisor to Feinstein in confirmation hearings for United States Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, the City said.

“It is an incredible privilege to serve the people of Santa Monica as City Attorney,” Dilg said in the City statement. “I am grateful to the City Council for the opportunity, and I look forward to working with the talented attorneys of the City Attorney’s Office to serve my home community.”

Dilg received her BA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Masters of Theological Study from Harvard Divinity School and her JD from Yale Law School.

As Santa Monica City Attorney, Dilg will be the chief legal advisor to the City Council, City Manager and City Departments. She will be responsible for a team of 24 attorneys and 18 support staff in the areas of civil litigation, code enforcement and criminal prosecution.

Her starting salary is $283,872, the City said.