Tamara Zakim
Deputy County Counsel
Overview
Tamara Zakim joined the Office of the County Counsel in 2023 and is a member of the Environment and Land Use, Community Protection, and Legislative Affairs Teams. Previously, Tamara was a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice, where she advised and represented California’s natural resources agencies in state and federal courts on a wide range of environmental, administrative, and other public law issues. Tamara also previously practiced impact litigation with Earthjustice, an environmental law nonprofit, in its San Francisco office, and was a litigation associate for an international law firm in its Manhattan and San Francisco offices.
In addition to possessing trial and appellate environmental litigation expertise, Tamara’s experience includes representing clients in permit and rulemaking proceedings, advising on proposed rulemakings and legislation, and providing counsel regarding compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations.
Prior to attending law school, Tamara played professional basketball in Denmark and worked on wildlife advocacy campaigns for Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C.
Office practice areas
- Community Protection Team
- Environment and Land Use Team
- Legislative Affairs Team
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 2010
- Pomona College, B.A., 2003
Professional associations
- Board Member and Co-Chair, Pride Law Fund (2012-2016)
Prior experience
- Deputy Attorney General at California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General (2016-2023)
- Associate Attorney at Earthjustice (2014-2016)
- Associate Attorney at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP (2011-2014)