City Attorney's Office
Lachelle H. Pulliam
City Attorney
433-1985
LachellePulliam@FayettevilleNC.gov
Biography
The Fayetteville City Mayor announced the Interim City Attorney will serve as the City Attorney. Mayor Mitch Colvin made the announcement during the April 8, 2024 Regular Council Meeting held in Fayetteville’s City Council Chambers.
Lachelle H. Pulliam served as an Assistant City Attorney for Fayetteville since February 2020 and was appointed as the City’s Interim City Attorney on September 18, 2023.
Her previous experience includes serving as the Judicial Affairs Coordinator at Johnson C. Smith University, managing her own law practice where she negotiated complex business contracts, handled civil transactions and litigation, as well as represented indigent individuals in contempt and juvenile cases. She also briefly served as an Assistant Solicitor for the City of Atlanta.
Pulliam grew up in Fayetteville and is a graduate of E. E. Smith High School. She is a member of the North Carolina Association of Municipal Attorneys and licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and Georgia.
Mission
The mission of the City Attorney's Office is to provide high quality legal support services to the City Council and City departments in a timely and efficient manner.
Services
Legal Reviews, Advice and Opinions
The City Attorney’s Office provides legal review, advice and opinions to the City Council, City Manager's Office, City departments and boards and commissions. These services may take the of contract review and approvals; enforcement of ordinance violations; drafting and approval of legal documents; ordinance, resolution and legislative drafting and review; and any other review that may be required. The services are provided in a timely and effective manner and form the basis for many City initiatives and actions. The City Council, City Manager's Office, City departments and boards and commissions depend upon the legal review, advice and opinions provided by the City Attorney’s Office.
Litigation
The City Attorney’s Office provides litigation services in State and Federal courts for suits initiated by or against the City. These suits are typically initiated in the areas of contracts, code enforcement, zoning, and personal injury. The Office also provides litigation services for claims against the Fayetteville Police Department, employment claims initiated by present and past employees and environmental court cases for code violations. The program provides high quality professional representation, typically resulting in favorable results. The avoidance of litigation through the negotiation of claims and disputes is often as successful and important to the City as is litigation. Litigation is handled by in-house counsel and outside counsel as the need arises.