News Release: City Council to Appoint Chris Jensen as City Attorney

News Release: City Council to Appoint Chris Jensen as City Attorney

Published on March 05, 2026

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

City Council to Appoint Chris Jensen as City Attorney

21-Year Bay Area Legal Veteran Comes to Palo Alto from Berkeley and Cupertino

PALO ALTO, CALIF.- The City of Palo Alto announced today the appointment of Chris Jensen as City Attorney. The City Council will formally consider Jensen's appointment on March 16, 2026, following a competitive nationwide recruitment. Jensen comes to Palo Alto from the City of Berkeley, where he served as assistant city attorney. Jensen previously served as Cupertino's city attorney and has 14 years of experience in private practice.

"I am thrilled that Council is advancing the appointment of Chris Jensen as Palo Alto's next City Attorney. Chris is an outstanding attorney who brings a breadth and depth of legal experience serving public agencies, including as City Attorney," said Vicki Veenker, Palo Alto's mayor. "Thank you to my Council colleagues for working through a rigorous process reviewing an exceptional applicant pool to select an attorney with a demonstrated track record of resolving complex, high stakes matters that will serve Palo Alto well."

Jensen will serve as the City's chief legal counsel, advising the City Council, the City Manager, and City departments on a wide range of matters including governance and ethics, the Brown Act, the California Public Records Act, land use and environmental law, public contracting, litigation and risk management, utilities and infrastructure, and labor and employment issues.

"I appreciate the confidence the City Council has shown in me in considering me for the City Attorney position," said Jensen. "I am looking forward to being part of a vibrant community and strong city government in Palo Alto, and I anticipate a productive partnership with the City Council and the City Manager."

In Cupertino, Jensen led resolution of a long-standing dispute with a local developer that resulted in projected payments of approximately $40 million and negotiated a settlement with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, avoiding an estimated $75 million in liability. While at the City of Berkeley, Jensen worked on land issue issues and major policy projects, including environmental matters serving as the lead attorney advising the City regarding restrictions on natural gas in new construction and successfully defending it in federal district court.

Jensen graduated from Stanford Law School and holds a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego.

The City Attorney is one of four Council appointed positions, including the City Auditor, City Clerk and City Manager. The City Attorney is appointed by the City Council to provide highest-quality legal services to the Council, City Manager and City staff. The City Attorney's duties are established by the City Charter and Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) section 2.08.120. The City Attorney manages a budget of approximately $5 million and oversees the work of 13 employees.

The City Council selected the firm Teri Black & Company to conduct the City Attorney recruitment following the retirement of City Attorney Molly Stump in January 2026. Jensen's salary will be $380,000 and he will start with Palo Alto on March 30.

To learn more about the City Attorney's Office, go to https://www.paloalto.gov/cityattorney

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Sent By:

Meghan Horrigan-Taylor

Chief Communications Officer

City Manager's Office

Office Phone: (650) 329-2607

Email: [email protected]

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