Jessica Michelle picture

Jessica Michelle Santiago

Associate

Orange County

t: (949) 223-1170

d: (949) 250-5431

e: jsantiago@awattorneys.com

VCard

Bio

Jessica Michelle Santiago is an associate with Aleshire & Wynder and a member of the firm’s Public Finance, Public Law, and Elections Law practice groups. She serves as Assistant City Attorney to the City of Glendora and Deputy City Attorney to the Cities of Bell, Carson, and Perris. Jessica advises public agencies on elections, ethics, land use, contracts, open government, and public finance, including local revenue measures, conflicts of interest, Brown Act compliance, Public Records Act issues, Political Reform Act and FPPC compliance, and implementation of state and local laws. She has also provided AB 1234 ethics training to public officials.

Jessica represents clients as bond counsel and disclosure counsel in public finance transactions involving cities, counties, joint powers agencies, school districts, water districts, housing authorities, and special districts. Her financing experience includes general obligation bonds, lease revenue bonds, certificates of participation, revenue bonds, and land secured financings.

Jessica has substantial experience assisting cities and public agencies with election law matters, including ballot measures, charter amendments, local tax measures, candidate and council election issues, and implementation of voter approved measures. Her work has included advising cities on transactions and use tax measures, business license and warehouse tax measures, utility users tax measures, charter amendment elections, initiative related issues, term limits, write in candidacy questions, election complaints, and coordination with county elections officials.

Jessica’s commitment to public service and civic leadership began before her legal practice. As an undergraduate, she served as Social Sciences Senator, representing student interests and working on issues affecting the student community. During law school, she served as a Staff Editor for the UC Irvine Law Review, Co Chair of the Latinx Law Student Association, and Co Chair of First Generation Professionals. She also competed in Moot Court and participated in pro bono projects. 

 

  • Assistant City Attorney, City of Glendora

  • Deputy City Attorney, City of Perris

  • Deputy City Attorney, City of Bell

  • Deputy City Attorney, City of Carson

  • Assistant General Counsel, Santa Clara County Housing Authority

  • State Bar of California

  • Latino Excellence and Achievement Award, UC Irvine

  • Vision in Action Scholar, Hispanic National Bar Association

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholar, American Immigration Lawyers Association

  • Saturday Academy of Law, University of California, Irvine School of Law

  • Public Law Center

  • Human Rights First

  • League of California Cities, City Attorney's Department, Municipal Finance Committee, 2026-2028
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers
  • Vice Chair, Mexican American Bar Association (2022)

  • Young Lawyers Committee, Latina Lawyers Bar Association (2022)

  • The Role of the City Attorney in Financings, Co-presenter to Orange County City Attorneys Association (January 2025)

  • “The Ins and Outs of Municipal Bonds- What Every Leader Should Know,” Independent Cities Association (July 2025)
  •  “AB1234 Ethics and Public Service Training,” Independent Cities Association (July 2025)

 

  • Spanish

  • University of CA, Irvine, School of Law, JD, 2022, Pro Bono Honors

  • University of CA, Irvine,2019, BA, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Chi Alpha Epsilon, Pi Sigma Alpha, Order of Merit, Chancellor's Award of Distinction