DOWNEY - Downey city attorney Edward W. Lee has had over 30 years of continuous experience dealing with redevelopment and municipal law issues (planning, land use, zoning, eminent domain), and it shows.

At Council meetings, he sits on the mayor’s right, and answers matters referred to him in a firm, clear voice. He exudes an air of confidence, indicative of a man in total grasp of his subject.

Destiny led him to Downey, at a critical juncture in its history when an aggressive redevelopment program downtown, and strategic revitalization efforts in general, are pretty much the order of the day.

Lee’s very first job after getting a BA in psychology from UC-Davis in 1977 was with the Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency. Never leaving the redevelopment area, he found himself a few years later employed as a project manager for the city of Glendale. By this time convinced of the wealth of opportunities the field offered, and actually enjoying the challenges his job brought, Lee did the next logical thing to advance his career—enroll at Southwestern University School of Law. Attending evening classes, he got his Juris Doctorate degree in 1985.

Born in San Antonio, Tex. but raised in Pasadena, Lee says his parents, who immigrated from Canton, China, had always stressed the value of education to the children (he has two older brothers), as second only to the twin virtues of integrity and honesty. The injunction, ‘Do the right thing’, still resonates in his mind. His mother, he recalls, was the rock of the family and exerted the most influence on him.

For 12 years, he worked in a staff capacity. Then, as a full-fledged lawyer, he gradually solidified his niche in his chosen area as member of the law firm of Oliver, Sandifer, Murphy & Lee.

Two years ago, he replaced Charles Vose as city attorney of Downey, after serving as Vose’s primary backup for a number of years (in total, he had been involved with Downey affairs to this point for 12 years). He had also meanwhile joined the prestigious Los Angeles firm of Best Best & Krieger, where he is a partner in its municipal law practice group. The firm boasts 200 lawyers, representing expertise in all areas of the law.

Today, in addition to serving the city of Downey, Lee concurrently serves as city attorney of the cities of Bell, Covina and Gardena (his practice group has a portfolio of 24 municipalities in all). He also acts as special or general counsel for various redevelopment agencies.

Over the years, he served as assistant city attorney of Covina from 1987-2005 and of the city of Hermosa Beach from 1989-1994, as well as assistant special counsel for the Riverside Redevelopment Agency and assistant general counsel for Compton Redevelopment Agency.

Thus his heavy grounding in the areas that at the moment presses on Downey most. As well, he is an expert on the Brown Act, labor and employment law, and environmental and natural resources law. His involvement with the problems of other cities moreover equips him with a ready insight and a framework with which to approach similar concerns here. In this regard, he estimates he devotes roughly 60 percent of his time to planning and land use, 30 percent to public works contracts, and 10 percent to administrative law issues (the boil water order, building permits, general police matters, etc.)

Where he lacks expertise in a certain legal area, he can always count on back-up knowledge from his colleagues. In sum, as a partner at Best Best & Krieger, Lee can draw on a shared “common fund of knowledge.”

As a result therefore of right decisions made, seriousness of purpose, and a solid educational base, you can tell he thoroughly enjoys what he’s doing. After all, when you talk about the law, Lee says, you’re talking about the ‘total life experience’. And “it is always changing, as well as its interpretation. Thus we have to keep up with developments in the field all the time.”

A physical fitness devotee, he has progressed from gym rat to running (“a little”) to bicycling. At any rate, he says he stays active. Prior to leaving for UC-Davis, he studied for a year at UCLA. Thus he roots for the Bruins as well as the Lakers. Reading detective novels, science fiction, and such, relaxes him. Visiting Canton is a goal. He says he and his wife almost went last year to Beijing for the Olympics, but they felt there might be too many people there for comfort, so they settled for Hong Kong instead. Their past travels nevertheless have included trips to Canada, Mexico, Europe (Italy, France, Spain, England), and the Baltic (Norway, Sweden, St. Petersburg, etc.).

Married for 33 years and a resident of San Dimas, Lee has two adult sons. His advice to youth: “There are some new intriguing areas that promise legal opportunities, if one is so inclined, including environmental and intellectual property law, but in the end, if you can be passionate about something, that’s the work you should put your effort in.”

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Published: December 26, 2008 - Volume 7 - Issue 36