Oakland City Attorney's Office
Lesley Casto currently serves as Deputy City Attorney for Real Estate at the Oakland City Attorney's Office, a position held since March 2022. Prior to this role, Lesley worked at Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley, first as Director of Client Services and Legal Compliance and then as Director of Client Services from December 2012 to March 2022. Lesley's earlier experience includes serving as Counsel at Phelps Dunbar LLP from August 2000 to July 2012. Lesley holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from the University of Mississippi, earned between 1997 and 2000, and a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Economics, obtained from the University of Mississippi from 1993 to 1997.
Oakland City Attorney's Office
The Office of the City Attorney defends Oakland’s interests and resources in court and initiates legal action to secure justice and protect the rights of Oakland taxpayers and residents. We draft and review ordinances and resolutions and sponsor legislation along with members of the City Council. We aggressively and strategically negotiate major agreements, approve as to form and legality all contracts and help to shape Oakland’s policies. And we provide expert legal advice to City leaders and officials including the Mayor, City Council, City Auditor, City Administrator and City departments, boards and commissions.