CD LAW
Custodio & Dubey LLP — Editorial Staging
MARISSA ROY
CANDIDATE FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY 2026
On Sidebar Sessions, Marissa Roy spoke with Miguel and Vineet about the professional experiences that shaped her legal career, her work in public service and why she is running for Los Angeles City Attorney.
The conversation then turned to the responsibilities of the office and several legal issues affecting Angelenos.
During the interview, Roy discussed the professional experiences that shaped her legal career.
Her background includes a legal education focused on public interest, followed by work in public-interest litigation and government law.
Roy shared details about her time working for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and her experience at the California Department of Justice, where she worked on consumer-protection matters.
The conversation highlighted how her public-service experience informs her candidacy for Los Angeles City Attorney.
The episode explored how workers may hesitate to come forward because of concerns about retaliation, job security, immigration consequences or the cost and complexity of legal action.
Roy described how government enforcement can sometimes address broader unlawful business practices while reducing some of the burdens placed on individual workers. She noted that government agencies are sometimes able to pursue matters that individual workers may have difficulty bringing themselves.
California has extensive laws governing rental housing, but legal protections can mean little to a tenant if serious violations go unaddressed.
During the interview, Roy argued that public enforcement can play an important role alongside private attorneys who represent tenants directly. Roy's broader point was that tenant protections can be limited in practice when violations are difficult to enforce.
Miguel and Vineet spoke with Roy about the challenges tenants can face when poor conditions persist, particularly when renters are afraid to complain or unsure where to turn.
The conversation highlighted an important point: protecting renters often requires both strong laws and meaningful enforcement.
CD LAW represents tenants in private civil cases. Government agencies and private law firms play different roles.
Roy discussed how California unfair-competition laws may reach a broad range of unlawful, unfair or deceptive business practices.
According to Roy, possible examples discussed in the episode include worker exploitation, tenant-related misconduct, deceptive business practices and corporate misconduct.
Miguel and Vineet asked Roy about public safety as another responsibility connected to the City Attorney’s Office. She detailed her perspective on neighborhood-based legal work and preventative problem solving, addressing neighborhood legal issues, schools, nuisance concerns, local problem solving, city services, and preventative enforcement.
Roy described a model in which deputy city attorneys work more closely with individual Los Angeles communities to identify recurring neighborhood problems and coordinate potential solutions. Roy said she would like to restore and expand that approach.
During the interview, Roy also discussed the cost of outside legal counsel and how the city handles civil claims.
Roy argued that Los Angeles should rely on outside law firms more selectively and invest more heavily in evaluating claims earlier. She said earlier evaluation could help the city resolve appropriate cases before litigation costs grow.
Roy stated that one of her priorities would be improving the claims process so that the city can identify legitimate cases earlier, resolve appropriate disputes and address underlying problems before they happen again.
ABOUT SIDEBAR SESSIONS
Sidebar Sessions by CD LAW features conversations with attorneys, public officials, advocates and other guests about law, public policy and issues affecting communities throughout Southern California.
CD LAW represents people throughout Southern California in personal injury and serious housing-condition matters. If you are dealing with unsafe rental conditions or have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, our team can help you understand your legal options.
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