Law Firm News

Well-known Sacramento City Attorney Joins Lozano Smith

Fresno, CA (September 12, 2017) - Lozano Smith, LLP, a leading California education and public agency law firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Jim Sanchez to the firm's expanding Local Government Practice Group. Sanchez, former City Attorney for the cities of Sacramento, Fresno and Salinas, will practice out of the firm's Fresno and Monterey offices. He joins Lozano Smith on October 1, 2017.

Over his 33 years of experience, Jim has successfully served as lead counsel on countless high-profile and nuanced issues, including:

  • major project development (Golden One Center in Sacramento)

  • environmental liabilities

  • housing needs

  • water and sewer financing and development

  • quality of life enforcement

"Jim's professional experience and legal service with three remarkable cities adds incredible value for our clients and firm," said Karen Rezendes, Managing Partner of Lozano Smith. "His distinguished experience uniquely provides our clients with another counselor-at-law who understands the importance, expectations and responsibilities of serving all of our California communities in city attorney and public agency attorney roles."

Jim has been responsible for ensuring the comprehensive legal service needs of cities ranging in population from 150,000 to 500,000. Throughout this time, he has been instrumental in aiding cities to build stronger community relationships following major law enforcement use of force incidents. He also has skillfully managed matters such as risk management, public work contracts, personnel investigations and labor negotiations.

"My mission and passion is to serve local communities and their officials in resolving complex social and economic challenges," said Jim Sanchez. "I am grateful for the opportunities and successes achieved in my years as a city attorney, and now I have the distinct privilege of joining the Lozano Smith attorneys who carry out that same mission on a daily basis."

In addition to serving as an attorney, Jim has been active in several organizations and committees including: Rotary Club; La Raza Lawyers; Monterey Bay representative to League of California Cities statewide Legal Advocacy Committee; South San Joaquin Valley Division representative of the League's Legal Advocacy Committee; and National League of Cities. He has served as a board member for several community oriented nonprofit organizations, and is a past president of the Fresno La Raza Lawyers Association. He received his Bachelors of Arts from Pepperdine University, and his Juris Doctor from the University of California Hastings College of Law.

Get to Know Lozano Smith


Lozano Smith is a public agency and education law firm serving hundreds of California cities, counties, special districts, and K-12 and community college districts. The firm's expertise includes, but is not limited to, open meeting laws, conflicts of interest and ethics, personnel matters, collective bargaining, public financing, construction, land use, public safety, police, fire, code enforcement and litigation in all areas of representation. Lozano Smith has offices in 8 California locations: Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Mission Viejo, Monterey, Sacramento, San Diego and Walnut Creek. For more information about Lozano Smith or to see full attorney bios, visit www.LozanoSmith.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also download the Lozano Smith App.