Sara J. Ponzio

Sara J. Ponzio joined the Office of the County Counsel in 2009.  Sara is a member of the Finance, Government Operations, and Technology Team, and primarily works as commercial and transactional counsel for matters involving the County’s health system and other public contracting.  Sara advised the County team responsible for integrating the contract portfolios for O’Connor and St. Louise Hospitals into the County’s system.  Sara also advised the Department of Tax and Collections on various collection efforts across the County.  Sara previously advised the County Health System and Facilities and Fleet Department in the completion and opening of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s new 168 patient bed building and the County’s Tasman campus and served as primary counsel on issues of jail construction.   

Sara has successfully litigated a number of cases before the Sixth District Court of Appeal, and obtained published decisions in People v. Bankers Insurance Co. (2016) and People v. Lexington National Insurance Corporation (2016).  She was also the primary author of an amicus brief in County of Alameda v. WCAB (Knittel) (2013).  Sara has also served as counsel to fire districts and the Department of Child Support Services. Sara’s professional expertise includes complex transactional work related to public contracting and procurement, public works, and appellate litigation. 

Office practice areas

• Finance, Government Operations, and Technology Team 

​​Education

• University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D., 1999
• University of California, Riverside, B.A., 1995 

Prior experience