Economic Development Council Lunch

Join us for an opportunity to hear from Mayor Lester Friedman, as he provides an update on the City’s economic direction, and his Mayoral initiatives including public safety, emergency preparedness, and the upcoming 2028 Olympics Task Force, among other topics for discussion. An opportunity for Q & A will be held at the end of the session.

If you would like to register, please email Brittany at Ganson@beverlyhillschamber.com


 

Mayor Lester Friedman was elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in 2017 and 2022 and previously served as Mayor in 2020. He is currently serving his second Mayoral term (2024-2025).

Previously, he served on the Beverly Hills Traffic and Parking Commission from 2011 through 2017 and served as its Chair in 2015. He was also Chair of the Beverly Hills Taxi Review Committee and served on the Blue Ribbon Commission for Santa Monica Blvd Reconstruction. He is a 2009 graduate of Team Beverly Hills.

Professionally, Mayor Friedman is an attorney. He also serves as a mediator and Judge Pro-tem. He is a past Chairperson of the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization and served on that commission from 2009 through 2014. He serves as a Director of the California Applicant's Attorneys Association.

Since 2009, he has been selected as a 'Super Lawyer' and was named in the 'Top 100 Super Lawyers of Southern California' for 2024. He has also been selected as a 'Best Lawyer' from 2005 through 2024 and is the recipient of the 2024 Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Award, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. He is a graduate of UCLA and earned his law degree at Southwestern University School of Law.

Mayor Friedman was a staff member of the Coach John Wooden’s UCLA Basketball teams from 1968 through 1973 during which time they won five straight NCAA National Basketball Championships. He has served as the Official Scorer for UCLA Men's Basketball at Pauley Pavilion since 1995. He also is the Official Scorer for the PAC-12 Conference Basketball Tournament held each March in Las Vegas as well as serving as Official Scorer for the NCAA West Regional.

Mayor Friedman has lived in Beverly Hills since 1984 having grown up in the Beverly/La Cienega area of Los Angeles. He is married to Simone Friedman, who previously served as Chair and as a Commissioner of the Recreation and Parks Commission and served as chairperson and president of the Beverly Hills Education Foundation. They have four children, Joshua, Allana, Adam, and Jeremy and six grandchildren.