Michelle Hernandez
Senior Associate
Michelle Hernandez is an associate attorney practicing municipal law in the firm’s Oakland office. She works with several Northern California cities, including as Deputy City Attorney for Cupertino and Yuba City, advising on public contracts and real estate transactions with a particular focus on affordable housing and land use matters. Her experience includes development agreements, disposition and development agreements, purchase and sale agreements, leases, easements and environmental review under CEQA, including negative declarations and environmental impact reports. She regularly works with city staff to support day-to-day municipal operations and implement complex development and infrastructure projects.
A Bay Area native, Michelle earned her J.D. from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), where she received a CALI award in International Trade Law and Policy and recognition for outstanding achievement in Pro Bono work. She brings experience from both the public and private sectors, including positions with The Clorox Company’s International Legal Team in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the San Francisco City Attorney's Office – Energy and Telecommunications Team. Michelle has worked in Oakland for more than seven years and is an alumna of the Leadership Oakland program. She has been actively involved in community and pro bono initiatives supporting access to legal services, including serving as a director and officer of the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation.