Herndon Appoints New Town Attorney

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Image: Lesa J. Yeatts

Release: Town of Herndon

The Town of Herndon has named Lesa J. Yeatts as town attorney. She replaces Richard B. Kaufman, who is retiring after more than 20 years in the town’s top legal position.

In her new post, Yeatts will serve as legal advisor to the Herndon Town Council, town manager, town departments, boards and commissions and other town officials. She will prepare ordinances, resolutions, statutes, charter amendments and other legal documents; render legal opinions; prepare the town’s legislative requests to the Virginia General Assembly; represent the town in courts, among administrative agencies and on inter-jurisdictional legal matters; and generally serve as the town’s chief counselor on all legal and legislative matters.

Yeatts will report directly to Mayor Lisa C. Merkel and the Herndon Town Council. The town attorney is one of two positions, along with the town manager, that reports directly to the council.

Yeatts comes to Herndon following a 20-plus year tenure with the city goverment of Hampton, Va. Previously, Yeatts had served in private legal practice, also in Hampton. She holds undergraduate and law degrees from Loyola University in New Orleans.

“Lesa Yeatts brings to the town a keen understanding of legal issues as they apply to Virginia municipalities,” Merkel said. “The experience she has gained during more than two decades of service with the City of Hampton is directly applicable to the complex, important legal matters she will be overseeing in Herndon. I speak for the entire Town Council in expressing my delight in her appointment.”

Yeatts begins her employment with the Town of Herndon on June 15. Effective on the 15th, she may be reached directly at lesa.yeatts@herndon-va.gov or 703-787-7370.