The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors announced today the appointment of veteran government lawyer and former Los Gatos town attorney Orry Korb to serve as county counsel.

Korb, 57, who has been assistant county counsel since 2010, will take over the position, which pays $245,000 a year, from Acting County Counsel Lori E. Pegg.

"Orry is the right choice at the right time," Board President Ken Yeager said in a prepared statement. "He offers stability and expertise for the Office of County Counsel."

Lately, Korb, who lives with his wife Jennifer Castillo in Santa Cruz County, has been supervising Santa Clara County attorneys assigned to the general government, health and hospital, social justice and impact teams and the county assessor's office.

Korb has overseen litigation related to redevelopment and has been working with cities in the county on the state-ordered dissolution of redevelopment agencies.

As the county's representative in federal court in Philadelphia, he successfully blocked the dismissal of a complaint of alleged false and misleading advertising against the maker of a diabetes drug in California, county officials said.

He has provided legal advice to the county Personnel Board and Health and Hospital Committee and has advised the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors on land use policy.

Korb served as town attorney in Los Gatos from 1997 to 2010 and began his career as deputy county counsel in Los Angeles, serving there from 1984 to 1988.

He enjoys outdoor activities such as sailing, swimming, surfing and cycling, county officials said.

— Bay City News Service

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