Legal Guidance In Many Areas Of Public Law

My primary areas of practice include the following: 

City Attorney And General Counsel Services

I have served as City Attorney and General Counsel for numerous cities and agencies in California. I worked in-house for the City of Fresno for 20 years, 10 of them as its in-house City Attorney.

Currently, I serve as City Attorney for three Fresno County cities and as general counsel for three special districts. The extent of the services I provide depends on the needs of each client. I endeavor to educate during my representation so that my clients may become more self-sufficient. Explaining the “why” of various laws helps my clients understand their legal duties and responsibilities. I ensure that my clients keep abreast of all the latest trends and developments in public agency law.

Special Counsel

Special counsel services are often needed by cities and public agencies for discreet, quick turnaround, politically sensitive and high-profile matters, and in matters where general counsel has a conflict of interest. When a city or other public agency needs advice on an ad hoc basis, we discuss what is needed, when it is needed and decide how I can best provide my services.

I also explain what my clients can expect. My special counsel is varied, and I use my extensive public sector experience to assist my clients with issues such as:

  • The Brown Act and transparency
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Dissolution law
  • Election laws including initiatives and recalls
  • Employment and labor
  • Environmental laws
  • Governance
  • Land use: Zoning, general plans, CEQA
  • Legal advisor to personnel boards and commissions
  • Ordinance drafting
  • Public contracting
  • Public Records Act
  • Transactional matters
  • Workplace investigations

I consider it my duty to help public agencies create efficiencies to govern in a transparent manner and avoid potential liabilities.