Ruben Duran

Overview

Ruben Duran brings to the firm significant experience counseling public entities on a range of municipal law and redevelopment law issues. He has advised elected officials, cities and redevelopment agencies on matters pertaining to redevelopment, land use, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance, affordable housing, environmental law, the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, elections, tort liability, gaming, and conflicts of interest.  Recently, Ruben was elected Treasurer of the City Attorney's Association of Los Angeles County.

Ruben is the City Attorney for the City of Desert Hot Springs and General Counsel to its Redevelopment Agency, as well as the Newberry Community Services District. He also serves as General Counsel of the Fontana Unified School District. He previously served as the Assistant City Attorney for the cities of La Puente, Pico Rivera, Bell Gardens, Monrovia, Barstow, La Habra Heights and Beverly Hills. In addition, Ruben has provided special counsel to the City of Pasadena and the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Ruben’s redevelopment experience includes serving as the lead counsel on project teams that negotiated with property owners, developers, tenants and businesses on projects that have included large commercial and retail developments and affordable housing. He has also advised clients on issues related to prevailing wage compliance, owner participation requirements and relocation requirements.

With extensive land use, planning and CEQA experience, Ruben has ably advised the planning commissions and staff of several municipalities on the legal issues involved in general plan amendments and zoning ordinances. In this capacity, he provides input on CEQA documents ranging in scope from initial studies to complete Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs). In addition, he has drafted statutory development agreements with developers and conducted land use law and CEQA implementation trainings for agency staff.