The Office of the City Attorney represents the City as a municipal corporation. The City Attorney is responsible for representational advice to the City Council, the Successor Agency to the Duarte Redevelopment Agency, Boards, Commission and all City officer and staff in all matters of law pertaining to the City.

These responsibilities include, but are not limited to: attending City Council, Planning Commission and other board meetings as needed; handling other assignments involving necessary legal work; and weekly agenda preparation and review of items that come before City Council. In addition, the City Attorney handles civil litigation in which the City or Agency is involved.

Thai V. Phan, City Attorney

In March 2022, the City Council renewed its contract with the law firm of Rutan & Tucker, to serve as the contract City Attorney. Rutan is a full service law firm with over 160 attorneys practicing. Thai V. Phan serves as our City Attorney. Phan is an attorney at Rutan & Tucker, LLP where she joins us from the firm's Government & Regulatory Law Section. Phan has been with Rutan & Tucker since graduating from USC's Gould School of Law in 2015. 

In addition to her duties in Duarte, Phan serves as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Menifee and has previously served as interim Assistant City Attorney in the City of Irvine. She previously served as Duarte's Assistant City Attorney.