Diana Cortes, a longtime trial lawyer and former Philadelphia city solicitor/general counsel, represents clients in crisis and complex litigation matters, including class actions and large group litigation. With experience as a former prosecutor, Diana also handles criminal investigations and has conducted internal investigations and counseled clients responding to federal criminal investigations, ethics inquiries, and high-profile media/press inquiries.
Diana was appointed Philadelphia city solicitor in December 2020—the first Latina to serve in the role. As Philadelphia’s chief legal officer, she was a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet and managed one of the largest municipal law practices in the United States, covering litigation, corporate, real estate, tax, regulatory, legislative, and privacy matters. She directed the legal strategy for the mayor, city council, and all city departments and agencies responsible for public safety, utilities, public property, airports, information security, sustainability, and municipal finance. She also led the legal and client strategy to initiate all affirmative litigation to advance the city’s policy and financial interests, including those related to opioid recovery, gun violence, and environmental justice.
Serving as Philadelphia’s chief legal officer during the pandemic, Diana provided legal and crisis management counsel amid critical public emergencies and was among the core group of city leaders managing short- and long-term COVID-19 response, vaccine rollout, mandatory vaccination work policies, and public safety and health measures. She also served as an assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where she tried felony jury trials.
Diana previously served as a litigator in private practice, representing municipalities, school districts, and police officers in civil rights litigation involving excessive force, wrongful arrest, due process violations, and malicious prosecution. She has particular experience before the judiciaries in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She has taught trial advocacy at Temple University Beasley School of Law and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. Fluent in Spanish, Diana is a member of Philadelphia’s Hispanic Bar Association and the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group.
As Philadelphia City Solicitor/General Counsel
At Morgan Lewis
Recognized, Law Power 100, City & State Pennsylvania (2022, 2023)
Recognized, Latino Power Players, Metro Philadelphia (2023)
Honoree, Award for Public Service, Villanova Law Alumni Association (2023)
Recognized, Philly Power 100, City & State Pennsylvania (2022)
Honoree and Keynote Speaker, Hispanic Bar Association Legal Education Fund (2021)
Recognized, Top 40 Under 40, AL DIA (2020)
Member, Pennsylvania Editorial Advisory Board, Law360 (2024)
Member, Third Circuit Lawyers Advisory Committee (2024–2027)
Member, Forum of Executive Women
Member, Hispanic Bar Association of Philadelphia
Member, Philadelphia Diversity Law Group
Member, Philadelphia Bar Association
Past Member, Philadelphia Board of Pensions & Retirement
Past Member, International Municipal Lawyers Association
Past Member, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
Past Member, Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation
Past Member, Subcommittee of City Administrative Services for Transition Team of Mayor Cherelle Parker
Past Member, Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention, Philadelphia Bar Association