Chandler has new city attorney on board

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Chandler has a new city attorney in Deryck R. Lavelle.

By unanimously approving its Aug. 13 consent agenda, the City Council appointed Lavelle as city attorney. He started in his new role this week, on Aug. 31.

Lavelle will be paid an annual rate of $282,500, though his first contract with the city is only for 10 months, ending June 30, lined up with other Council-appointed officials’ contracts for their annual review. He’ll make $17,500 less than previous Chandler attorney Kelly Schwab, who retired at the end of June, made in the last of her almost 10 years with the city.

Lavelle left his position as chief assistant city attorney with Phoenix, having been with that municipality’s legal department for the past 12 years. A news release about his hire said he helped oversee one of Arizona’s largest municipal law departments and advised city leadership on matters involving a long list of everyday and occasional matters involving several realms of law.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke only acknowledged Lavelle’s hire briefly at the Aug. 13 meeting, though the mayor added more in the news release.

“Deryck brings a deep understanding of municipal operations, a strong public-service background and a practical approach to solving complex issues,” Hartke stated. “His experience working across large, diverse organizations as well as his prior work in private practice and international law will be tremendous assets.”

Lavelle was hired over at least three finalists, all of whom were set to be interviewed by Council in a July 15 executive session, along with Lavelle. The other candidates listed for that interview session were former Peoria senior assistant city attorney and chief litigator Amanda Sheridan, Chandler assistant city attorney Jenny Winkler and Pima County Attorney’s Office lawyer Jay Calhoun Zenzen.

Lavelle’s hire ends the short interim tenure of Tawn Kao as acting city attorney, who returns to the deputy city attorney role she’d held before Schwab’s retirement.

The city attorney is, in Chandler, one of the four positions appointed by council, along with presiding magistrate, city manager and city clerk. The city attorney, on a daily basis, is the lead of the city’s Law Department and serves as legal advisor to the City Council and the entire municipal government.

The Law Department’s long list of responsibilities ranges from drafting city ordinances and resolutions to providing written and verbal legal opinions to the Council, city manager, city departments, boards and commissions. It supports the city on many types of legal matters like contracts and leases, development and zoning, public bidding and personnel.

Attorneys from the Law Department also represent the city in misdemeanor prosecution and for risk management claims.
At Council meetings and work sessions, Chandler’s city attorney has been called on regularly for procedural questions, often about the meeting that’s in progress.

Lavelle has more than 24 years of legal experience spanning municipal and county government, private practice and international law, the news release states.

“I look forward to working with the city council, city manager and Law Department to provide sound legal guidance and support the city’s continued success,” Lavelle said in the release. “This community is recognized for innovation and commitment to strong city services.”

Before joining Phoenix, Lavelle handled civil litigation for the firm Fennemore Craig, representing clients in complex commercial and civil matters. He also worked as a deputy county attorney in the Civil Division of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Earlier in his career, the release states, Lavelle supported international offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Lavelle earned his U.S. law degree from California Western School of Law in 2002. He also received a master’s degree with distinction from the University of Hull in England in 1998, and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1993.

Jason W. Brooks can be reached at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.