Jenny Lam

Jenny Lam joined the Office of the County Counsel in 2010.  As general counsel to the Public Health Department and Pharmacy Department, she advises on legal issues; assists in drafting and reviewing contracts, policies, ordinances, and other legal documents; supports compliance; and handles other legal matters for the Departments.  As a member of the Office’s Social Justice and Impact Litigation team, she helps to develop and implement internal and external policy initiatives, including County policies to promote workforce diversity and pay equity; ordinances limiting secondhand smoke exposure; and tobacco retailer regulations in Santa Clara County.  Jenny also works on affirmative litigation and was a member of the trial team that obtained a $1.15 billion judgment in the County’s landmark public nuisance action against former lead paint manufacturers to abate residential lead paint and prevent childhood lead poisoning. 

Jenny’s previous assignments include the County’s Race and Health Disparities Community Board, Emergency Medical Services Agency, Department of Tax and Collections (formerly, Department of Revenue), Juvenile Justice Commission, and Commission on the Status of Women; FIRST 5 Santa Clara County; the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District; and the South Santa Clara County Fire District.  She has also provided back-up support for the County’s hospitals and clinics and successfully handled employee disciplinary hearings before the Personnel Board and Pitchess motions and 8102 petitions for the Sheriff’s Office and Department of Correction. 

Jenny’s professional expertise includes local government law, health care law (including compliance and privacy issues), public health law, affirmative litigation, and policy development and implementation. 

Office practice areas

• ​​Health and Hospitals Team 
• Social Justice and Impact Litigation Team 
• Conflicts and Political Reform Act Team 

Education

• University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D., 2008 
• Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, M.P.P., 2008 
• University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 2002 

Prior experience