Katherine Miles Johnston

Katherine Johnston is an associate in Burke’s San Diego office, where she specializes in representing and advising public agencies Her experience includes handling sensitive employment and risk management litigation, advising on state housing legislation, and serving as advisory counsel to the San Diego Housing Commission and the City of Chino. Katherine brings more than a decade in experience in legislative affairs, municipal governance, public finance, and strategic policy to her legal practice. Prior to joining the legal profession, Katherine served as Interim Chief of Staff and Strategic Advisor to San Diego City Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee, helping shape and advance his policy agenda on land use, housing, and the City’s budget during his tenure as Chair of both the Land Use and Housing Committee and the Budget and Government Efficiency Committee. Previously, she also held senior roles at the City of San Diego, including Director of Infrastructure and Budget Policy in the City of San Diego Mayor’s Office, where she oversaw the City’s $3.3 billion annual budget development process, capital improvement planning, and housing and homelessness initiatives.

In addition to her public sector service, Katherine has advised numerous civic and nonprofit organizations on fundraising, grants management, and government relations, and was the first Executive Director of the San Diego Parks Foundation. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Public Library Foundation and has chaired several City of San Diego citizen advisory committees.