BART Board names new General Counsel

Matthew Burrows takes over as District's top attorney

The BART Board of Directors voted unanimously to select Matthew Burrows as the District's General Counsel. Burrows succeeds Sherwood Wakeman, who retired in July. The General Counsel is responsible for leading BART's Office of the General Counsel, which consists of 13 attorneys and a staff of eight.

"I think the unanimous vote shows the level of trust we have in Matt," said BART Board President Gail Murray. "Since Matt began filling in as Acting General Counsel, we've seen him continue the strong leadership of his predecessor."

Burrows joined the District in February 1997 as an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel. In 2007 he was promoted to Associate General Counsel. Mr. Burrows received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

"I appreciate the confidence the Board has shown in me," Burrows said. "I look forward to working with each of you individually and for the Board as a whole and serving the legal needs of the District."

The General Counsel is one of four Board Officers, reporting directly to the Board of Directors. The other positions are: General Manager, Controller/Treasurer and District Secretary.