Monica D. Castillo

Monica D. Castillo is a member of Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Municipal Law practice group. Monica advises public agency clients on day-to-day matters and special projects. Her approach is to work closely with staff and city management to comprehensively learn, understand and achieve client objectives. In her general counsel role, Monica is well-equipped to guide clients on a range of issues, from transactional needs and tenant rights to litigious matters.

Monica serves as city attorney for the City of Santa Paula and assistant city attorney for the City of Palos Verdes Estates. In these capacities, Monica advises elected and appointed officials at public meetings on the Brown Act and Political Reform Act. She provides legal services to city clients on a daily basis in such areas as community and economic development, public works contracts, government claims, and third-party subpoenas. Monica also has provided public entity clients with special counsel advice on the American with Disabilities Act.

Monica has extensive experience in ordinance drafting. She has shepherded a number of ordinances relevant to public agencies such as those relating to smoking restrictions, rent stabilization for mobile home parks and residential units, and urgency ordinances in response to local emergencies. Most recently, Monica has been overseeing a client’s comprehensive municipal code update.

Monica also has meaningful transactional experience. She has drafted and negotiated several contracts, including affordable housing agreements, software agreements and agreements for the sale or lease of real property involving multiple parties. With her experience in multi-party transactions, Monica is able to come up with creative solutions to satisfy differing goals while protecting her client’s best interests.

Before joining BBK, Monica was in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office’s Land Use Division of the Municipal Law Branch. During her more than 3 years with the Division, served in an advisory role and litigated cases. Monica advised the Department of Building and Safety and Department of City Planning. She served as deputy city attorney to the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners at public meetings. Monica also successfully represented the City in litigation and drafted several ordinances. She prevailed in defending approvals for projects ranging from single-family residences to large commercial developments. 

Monica launched her legal career at  the Los Angeles office of a global law firm, where for more than 3 years she represented Fortune 500 companies in complex commercial litigation. Monica is admitted to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Monica grew up in Orange, California. On many Sundays, Monica is a teacher’s assistant in the kindergartner and first grade classes at her church. She enjoys baking, attending concerts and comedy shows, reading classic dystopian literature and playing with her senior Terrier mutt.