At a Glance
HongDao is city attorney to the cities of Artesia and Stanton.
Working as a news reporter gave HongDao a unique opportunity to observe how cities work and interact with the communities they serve.
HongDao was named to the Lawyers of Color Western Region Hot List in 2014.
HongDao Nguyen assists public clients in transactional and litigation matters concerning municipal government, with a focus on land use and public records law. A partner in the Municipal Law practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP, she serves as city attorney to the cities of Artesia and Stanton, and assistant city attorney to the cities of Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest and Signal Hill. She also serves in BB&K’s ARC: Advanced Records Center, which provides comprehensive and cost-effective support for records-related matters, including California Public Records Act request processing.
Recognizing that every city has its own political and cultural landscape — whether it be an affluent city looking to develop hundreds of residences or one that must work around a number of properties with historical designations — HongDao works with her clients from the first stages of the permitting process to completion. In addition, she has extensive experience in planning and zoning law, the Subdivision Map Act and many other applicable laws.
With a reputation for being responsive and available to the city staff she works closely with, HongDao adeptly helps municipalities navigate through a variety of legal issues that typically arise in the course of running a public agency, such as the Brown Act and the California Public Records Act. With laws constantly changing to keep up with the issues like medical marijuana dispensaries, the sharing economy, development and blight, HongDao remains up to date on the latest local and state requirements to ensure her clients are in compliance.
As a San Jose Mercury News reporter before attending law school, HongDao earned valuable experience covering Bay Area city councils, elections and police issues. This role gave her a unique opportunity to observe how cities work and interact with the communities they serve. The research and writing skills she honed as a reporter are put to good use as an attorney, as fact-finding and communicating are key aspects of successfully advising her clients.
HongDao received her law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she was a note and comment editor for the International & Comparative Law Review and a member of the Byrne Trial Advocacy Team. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Biola University. She provides pro bono legal services to such organizations as the League of California Cities and the Public Law Center. HongDao is married with three children.
Education
-
Loyola Law School, J.D.
-
Biola University, B.A.
Admissions
- California
Awards/Honors
- Asian Leader Worth Watching, Profiles in Diversity Journal, 2021
- Lawyers of Color Western Region Hot List 2014
Legal Alerts Feb 24, 2023
In With the New – Part Six
BB&K’s New Law Guidance for a Well-Informed Start to 2023
Authored Articles & Publications Oct 11, 2021
City Clerk and Board Secretary Roadmap
PublicCEO Article on Navigating Developing Challenges Involving Public Records, Social Media and More
Authored Articles & Publications Feb 01, 2021
Frequently Asked Questions About New Social Media and Open Meeting Laws
BB&K’s HongDao Nguyen and Albert Maldonado Answer Public Officials’ Questions on AB 992 on the CSDA Blog
Authored Articles & Publications Oct 20, 2020
Public Officials' New Social Media Open Meeting Law
California's AB 992 Analyzed in PublicCEO by BB&K's HongDao Nguyen and Albert Maldonado
Legal Alerts Sep 21, 2020
AB 992: Open Meeting Laws and Social Media
New California Law Addresses Prohibition on Serial Meetings on Social Media
Authored Articles & Publications Jul 31, 2019
President’s Twitter Use a Cautionary Tale for Public Officials
BB&K’s Christine Wood and HongDao Nguyen Discuss Social Media and 1st Amendment in PublicCEO
Legal Alerts Jul 16, 2019
President Trump Can’t Block Twitter Users, U.S. Appellate Court Rules
The court concluded its opinion with an observation that at this time in history, “wide-open, robust debate” is the best assurance of good government
Legal Alerts Feb 20, 2019
Drones: A Legal and Regulatory Update
Operations Over People and at Night Among Issues Addressed in Latest FAA Proposed Rules
Authored Articles & Publications Aug 23, 2018
The Public Square has Gone Online
BB&K Attorneys Christine Wood and HongDao Nguyen Write About Public Officials’ Social Media Use in PublicCEO
Legal Alerts Jul 30, 2018
Public Agency Spared Attorneys’ Fees Award in Reverse PRA Action
California Appellate Court Decision National Conference of Black Mayors, et al. v. Chico Community Publishing Company
Legal Alerts Jun 12, 2018
How a Court’s Decision that the President Can’t Block Twitter Users Impacts Public Officials
First Amendment Issues and Social Media Accounts as Public Forums
Legal Alerts Apr 20, 2018
Private Attorney General Statute to Award Fees Used in a Reverse-PRA Dispute
Part III: Pasadena Police Officers Association v. City of Pasadena
Legal Alerts Apr 19, 2018
An Appellate Court’s Observation May Have Effect on Reverse-PRA Actions
Part II: Pasadena Police Officers Association v. City of Pasadena
Legal Alerts Apr 17, 2018
PRA Fee Award Narrowed to Cover the Issue of Scope of Redactions
Part I: Pasadena Police Officers Association v. City of Pasadena
Authored Articles & Publications Mar 27, 2017
San Jose PRA Decision: Q&A
By Gary W. Schons and HongDao Nguyen
- "Questions Emerge After High Court Public Records Decision," Daily Journal, Sept. 12, 2018
- “Appellate Court Public Records Act Decision Leaves Questions Unanswered,” BBKnowledge, May 19, 2014
