Palo Alto Appoints Environmental Lawyer as New City Attorney

Chris Jensen, with deep Bay Area municipal experience and a science background, expected to navigate city's complex legal issues.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:06am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a city hall building or law office, with warm sunlight streaming through the windows and deep shadows cast across the facade, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and civic responsibility.Palo Alto's new city attorney is expected to bring an environmental focus to the city's complex legal landscape.Palo Alto Today

Palo Alto has appointed environmental law expert Chris Jensen as its new city attorney, unanimously approved by the City Council. Jensen, with extensive Bay Area municipal experience and a science background, is expected to lead the city's nine-attorney legal team and maintain continuity with the highly regarded office built by former City Attorney Molly Stump.

Why it matters

As Palo Alto faces complex legal issues around development, environmental policies, and other local matters, Jensen's expertise in environmental law and science background are seen as valuable assets to help guide the city's policies and decision-making.

The details

Jensen, who previously worked for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, will start in his new role on March 30. He is expected to build on the work of former City Attorney Molly Stump, who was highly regarded for her leadership of the city's legal team. Jensen's appointment comes as Palo Alto has rejected a proposed crackdown on billionaire 'megacompounds' like Mark Zuckerberg's real estate holdings, opting instead to review broader rules on construction, vacancies, security, and 'ghost homes'.

  • Jensen will start as Palo Alto's new city attorney on March 30, 2026.
  • The Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved Jensen's appointment in a vote on March 15, 2026.

The players

Chris Jensen

An environmental law expert who was appointed as the new city attorney for Palo Alto, bringing deep Bay Area municipal experience and a science background to the role.

Molly Stump

The former city attorney of Palo Alto, who built a highly regarded legal team and is credited with providing strong leadership for the city.

Mark Zuckerberg

The billionaire co-founder of Facebook, who has amassed an 11-home 'megacompound' in Palo Alto's Crescent Park neighborhood, prompting the city to consider a crackdown on such large-scale real estate holdings.

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What they’re saying

“We must ensure Palo Alto's legal team continues to provide the city with the highest level of expertise and guidance, especially on complex issues like development and the environment.”

— Palo Alto City Council Member

What’s next

The Palo Alto City Council is expected to review broader rules on construction, vacancies, security, and 'ghost homes' in the coming months, which could impact large-scale real estate holdings like Mark Zuckerberg's 'megacompound'.

The takeaway

Palo Alto's appointment of an environmental law expert as its new city attorney signals the city's focus on navigating complex legal issues around development, environmental policies, and other local matters with a science-based approach.