Director of PRA Services and E-Discovery Counsel
Darren Ziegler
He/Him
Darren Ziegler is the Director of Public Records Act (PRA) Services and eDiscovery Counsel at Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK). He leads a team representing public agencies and assisting cities, special districts, school districts, community college districts, and counties in responding to Public Records Act (PRA) requests and subpoenas. He works closely with in-house city attorneys, city clerks, board secretaries, and other officials responsible for managing public records.
Darren provides comprehensive legal counsel, from policy development to litigation defense. Clients value Darren’s responsiveness, practical expertise, and deep understanding of public institutions. His approach blends strong legal knowledge with firsthand experience working in-house at government agencies, enabling him to anticipate obstacles and provide solutions that align with requirements and political realities.
With a career dedicated to public sector law, Darren most recently served as Deputy County Counsel for the Riverside County Office of County Counsel. In this role, he acted as general counsel to the Department of Animal Services and the Office of Economic Development, advising on the formation and administration of special tax districts and handling civil litigation, including code enforcement cases.
Previously, as Deputy City Attorney for the Moreno Valley Office of the City Attorney, Darren managed general litigation, advised city advisory boards, commissions, and committees, oversaw compliance with the California Public Records Act, and served as the city’s risk manager. He also acquired specialized experience in public records law as a staff attorney with BBK’s Advanced Records Center in Ontario, California.
Darren enjoys playing guitar across various genres, tackling challenging foreign languages, and spending time with his young family.
- Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists, Certified E-Discovery Specialist
- League of California Cities, Public Records Act Committee, Member
- California Lawyers Association, Public Law Section Executive Committee, Vice Chair
- League of California Cities, Municipal Law Institute, Former Committee Member
- California Lawyers Association, Education Committee, Chair
Publications
- “Challenges of Handling Requests for Police Personnel Records in an Evolving Landscape,” Daily Journal, May 3, 2024
- “Government Transparency Act Is A Shameful Abuse of the Initiative Process,” Daily Journal, Sept. 12, 2023
Presentations
- “Interplay Between E-Discovery and the California Public Records Act,” City Clerks Association of California Annual Conference, May 1, 2025
- “Overview of California Public Records Act,” Continuing Education of the Bar Webinar, March 18, 2025
- “California Public Records Act Update 2025,” California Special Districts Association Webinar, March 4, 2025
- “Transparency under the Public Records Act,” League of California Cities and the California Constitution Center Municipal Law Institute Symposium, Feb. 21, 2025
- “How to Collect Evidence From Smartphones, Smartwatches, and Other Smart Devices: Becoming a Digital Sleuth and Examining Electronic Evidence,” National Business Institute Webinar, Jan. 28, 2025
- “CPRA Compliance & Best Practices During an Election,” League of California Cities City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar, Dec. 11, 2024
- “Public Records Act Legal Updates,” California Lawyers Association's Open Meetings and Open Records Conference, Sept. 27, 2024
- “General Overview of Common Exceptions & Access to Police Records through the California Public Records Act,” City Clerks Association of California Education Workshop, Jun. 27, 2024
- “Advanced Training in the California Public Records Act,” California Special Districts Association Annual Conference, Sept. 10, 2024
- “California Public Records Act 2024,” California Special Districts Association Webinar, March 5, 2024
- “Ethics & Technology: The Next Frontier,” League of California Cities’ 2023 Municipal Law Institute Symposium, Center for Social Justice and Public Service, Santa Clara University School of Law, Feb. 3, 2023
