Oscar A. Verdugo

Oscar A. Verdugo is an associate and member of Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Municipal Practice Group. He advises cities and special districts across the Coachella Valley on a wide range of municipal law matters, providing practical counsel to help public agencies address operational issues, manage risk, and advance agency priorities in compliance with California law.

Oscar’s practice includes substantial public agency contracting and transactional work. He regularly drafts and negotiates a broad range of agreements, including professional services agreements, SaaS and other technology agreements, interagency agreements, and reimbursement agreements, with an emphasis on clear and enforceable terms and public-sector protections relating to risk allocation, insurance, indemnity, and performance.

Oscar also advises public agencies on governance and compliance matters, including the Brown Act, and provides legal research and analysis on complex municipal issues. He frequently prepares and reviews ordinances, resolutions, staff reports, and related findings to ensure agency actions are well-documented, legally defensible, and consistent with applicable procedural requirements.

Oscar serves as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Palm Desert and also supports various cities and special districts throughout the Coachella Valley. He regularly staffs Planning Commission and Administrative Board meetings, assisting clients through the public process and helping ensure meetings and actions are properly noticed, procedurally sound, and consistent with governing law.

Oscar’s public service and legal experience includes work with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the Superior Court of California, a judicial externship with Justice Brian M. Hoffstadt at the California Court of Appeal, and advising small businesses through the Notre Dame Clinical Law Center. He also served as a Restorative Justice Group leader at Indio Juvenile Hall, supporting programming focused on successful community reentry for justice-involved youth.

Oscar earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School. In his free time, Oscar enjoys traveling, cooking, attending concerts, and spending time with his wife and two sons.