Joe Guardarrama joined Kaufman Legal Group as an associate attorney in 2011, bringing a unique blend of private practice experience and service as a public official to the firm’s Governmental Ethics, Campaign Finance, and Election Law practices. At Kaufman Legal Group, Mr. Guardarrama advises candidates, officeholders, political action committees, independent expenditure committees, major donors, lobbyists, and corporations regarding all legal aspects of their involvement with the political process at the state and local levels.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Guardarrama served as a Planning Commissioner in the City of West Hollywood for over seven years. During his tenure on the Commission, he presided over its meetings as both Chair and Vice Chair, and dealt with complicated land use policy matters such as the creation of a new General Plan, the Red Building expansion of the Pacific Design Center, and multiple affordable housing developments. He has extensive experience with the land use, zoning, and planning process, as well as with the California Environmental Quality Act. Mr. Guardarrama also served as a Business License Commissioner and on the City’s Campaign Finance Reform Committee.

Mr. Guardarrama previously practiced political law for almost five years in the Santa Monica office of Bell, McAndrews and Hiltachk. He also served as General Counsel for over seven years to a building supply and retail company, overseeing all aspects of the company’s corporate and business operations.

Mr. Guardarrama recently served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of Equality California, and routinely volunteers his time to social justice causes.

Mr. Guardarrama earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science, cum laude, from the University of California, Irvine in 1996, and his law degree, cum laude, from Loyola Law School in 1999. During law school, he served as an extern for United States Magistrate Judge Rosalyn Chapman and the American Civil Liberties Union.