LINDA BERG GANDARA NAMED CHIEF COUNSEL AT CDFA

SACRAMENTO, August 2, 2007 – CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura has appointed attorney Linda Berg Gandara as chief counsel. She will replace John Dyer, who is retiring after 34 years in government service.

Gandara comes to CDFA with a significant background in agriculture.  She is departing from the California Department of Justice, where she was primarily responsible for representing CDFA in a wide variety of litigation, including California’s amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in what became the seminal commodity board mandatory assessment/first amendment case—involving the Livestock Marketing Association—and Hillside Dairy Inc. v. Lyons, in which she was part of a team that prepared the case for a hearing at the U.S. Supreme Court.  Prior to that, she was an attorney in private practice with the firm Baker, Manock and Jensen; a Fresno firm specializing in complex agricultural cases. 

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Linda Gandara to CDFA,” said Secretary Kawamura. “She brings a wealth of experience in agriculture in both the government and private sectors. We will welcome her contributions and counsel as we embrace the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to work with Secretary Kawamura and CDFA,” said Gandara. “My base of knowledge and background enable me to begin the job with a fundamental understanding of agriculture. I look forward to assisting the agency and the people of California.”  

Gandara received her law degree from U.C. Davis, where she served on Law Review and was also recognized in the Order of the Coif, which is bestowed upon those in the top 10 percent of their class. Gandara will start at CDFA on August 27. 

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