Malathy Subramanian represents a diverse set of public agencies throughout Northern California as a partner in the Municipal Law practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Walnut Creek office. Mala serves as city attorney for Albany, Clayton and Lafayette. She also serves as general counsel to Marin LAFCO, Merced LAFCO, Santa Clara LAFCO and various joint powers authorities and special districts.
 
Land Use
Mala guides clients through the various questions and hurdles that arise with development projects, including the Subdivision Map Act, the Housing Accountability Act and others.
 
Brown Act, Public Records Act and Conflict of Interest
In addition to regularly representing her clients at their public meetings, she frequently trains them on the Public Records Act, the Brown Act, conflicts of interest and AB 1234 ethics compliance.
 
Transportation
Transportation projects involve many different agencies and legal hurdles. Mala enjoys working on complex projects and collaborating with other BB&K attorneys on finance, the California Environmental Quality Act, public contracts and election law. She served as general counsel to Contra Costa Transportation Authority and assisted the Authority in its effort to place a half-cent sales tax on the March 2020 ballot.
 
She has served as president of the Contra Costa County City Attorney Association and as president of the Bay Area City Attorney Association.
 
Education

• UC College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly Hastings), J.D.
• University of California, San Diego, B.A.

Admissions

• California

Honors/Awards

• Land Use and Zoning Law Lawyer of the Year in Oakland, Best Lawyers®, 2023
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Land Use and Zoning Law & Municipal Law, 2020–2023