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Partner and Director of Municipal Code Enforcement

Denise M. Hansen

Denise Hansen represents municipal and public sector clients in litigation in state court. As a partner and director of municipal code enforcement of Best Best & Krieger’s Code Enforcement & Receiverships team, Denise’s practice includes criminal, civil and administrative municipal code enforcement, public entity defense, Pitchess motions, gun confiscation matters and gun violence restraining orders and Health & Safety Code abatements.
 
Prior to joining BBK, Denise was a senior trial attorney with the Law Office of Michael L. Fell, where she represented defendants in non-violent criminal cases and victims in criminal cases pursuant to Marsy’s Law. She previously served as a deputy district attorney in Orange and Ventura counties and as a deputy county counsel in Santa Barbara County. During her career, she has tried more than 65 jury trials and handled dozens of court trials and hearings. As a deputy district attorney, she prosecuted many types of cases, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies and served as vice president of the Association of Orange County Deputy District Attorneys. She worked as the Orange County Hate Crimes deputy, filing and prosecuting hate crimes and also prosecuting cases involving public officials and police officers. As a deputy county counsel in Santa Barbara, she handled enforcement issues, civil litigation defending the County and advised county agencies on employment law.
 
While earning her law degree from Loyola Law School, Denise served as a staff writer for the Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review. She also worked as an intern for the Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime Division, and the Los Angeles and Orange County district attorney’s offices.

Thought Leadership

Presentations

  • "Essential Hour: Code Enforcement 101," League of California Cities Attorney Development and Succession Committee Webinar, Nov. 15, 2024
  • "The Vital Importance of Compliance in the Cannabis Industry," League of California Cities City Leaders Summit, April 18, 2024
  • Panelist "Water, Guns & More: New Liabilities Facing Cities," Independent Cities Association Winter Seminar, Feb. 4, 2023
  • "Clearing the Haze: Demystifying Cannabis Code Enforcement," BB&K Webinar, Sept. 8, 2020
  • "The Code Enforcement Toolbox: Keeping Cities Safe & Habitable," BB&K Webinar, May 19, 2020
  • "So You Want to Regulate Cannabis In Your Community," Ontario Police Department and Community Improvement Department, Oct. 4, 2018
  • Criminal Law Society Lecture: Whittier School of Law
  • Marsy’s Law Training: Orange County MADD
  • Criminal Law 101 Training: OCBA Mommy Esquire/Immigration Law Section
  • Juvenile Justice and Marsy’s Law Training: The Guidance Center
  • The Criminal Justice System: MCLE Training for Civil Attorneys 

Education & Admissions

Education
Loyola Law School
J.D.
University of California, Irvine
B.A., social ecology
Bar Admissions
California

Languages

English

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