Finlev has spent career investigating and prosecuting violations of public integrity laws
SAN FRANCISCO (December 16, 2021) — City Attorney David Chiu announced today he has appointed Theis Finlev, an attorney with extensive experience in public integrity enforcement matters, to the San Francisco Ethics Commission. Finlev has spent over a decade advocating for good government reforms and investigating and prosecuting violations of ethics and public integrity laws.
He replaces Noreen Ambrose on the Ethics Commission, who resigned earlier this year. Chiu swore in Finlev today at San Francisco City Hall.
“Theis Finlev has extensive experience enforcing public integrity laws and working to make government more transparent,” said City Attorney Chiu. “The Ethics Commission serves a crucial function in our city, holding local government to the highest ethical standards. Theis is uniquely qualified to serve on this body and will do great work on behalf of the people of San Francisco.”
“I am honored to receive this appointment,” said Finlev. “I hope that my experience as an advocate, regulator, and prosecutor on good government and public integrity matters will help advance the good work of the Ethics Commission.”
Finlev currently serves as Counsel to a federal government agency. Prior to that, he was an Assistant District Attorney in White Collar Crime Unit at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, where he led investigations into violations of state and local public integrity laws. That work included assessing referrals from the San Francisco Ethics Commission.
Finlev previously worked at California Common Cause, a good government advocacy organization, and at the California Fair Political Practices Commission, the state agency that regulates and enforces California’s public integrity laws.
Finlev earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Master of Science degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University Law School.
The Ethics Commission is responsible for enforcing ethics laws and rules, including campaign finance and open government laws. The commission has five members. The Mayor, Board of Supervisors, City Attorney, District Attorney, and the Assessor-Recorder are each given one appointment to the Commission.
Finlev will complete the remainder of former Commissioner Ambrose’s term, which runs through February 1, 2026.
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