Michael N. Conneran, Partner
Practice Areas/Industries
Public Agency; Government Relations; Government Ethics
Based in our San Francisco Office
415-995-5042 Direct Phone
415-541-9366 Fax
mconneran@hansonbridgett.com
vCard | PDF bio
Michael N. Conneran specializes in the representation of public agencies in a variety of matters involving real estate, transportation, and environmental law. He has played an active role in several acquisitions of railroad rights-of-way on behalf of public transportation agencies, including the purchase of the San Francisco to San Jose commuter rail line on behalf of the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board and the purchase of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad right-of-way between Napa and Mendocino counties by a consortium of agencies. He has counseled public agencies with regard to transit-oriented development projects and has negotiated long-term ground leases and other types of public-private partnerships. He has also negotiated numerous contracts for the use of public property by telecommunications companies. Michael has counseled public transit agencies with regard to property management, construction and environmental issues as well as compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In addition to serving as General Counsel to the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, he has served as the principal assistant to the City Attorney of a Bay Area municipality, handling zoning and environmental compliance issues as well as code enforcement and telecommunications regulations. He has extensive experience in laws that particularly apply to public agencies, including statutes governing public access to public records, conflict of interest regulations and open meeting laws.
Publications
- "Partnering with the Private Sector to Fill the Infrastructure Gap," Progressive Fix (May 2010)
- "The Local Regulation of Interstate Railroads," City Attorneys Annual Conference, League of California Cities (May 2008)
- Creative Approaches to Land Acquisition, with Brian Fitzpatrick and David Miller, California Transit Magazine (Jan/Feb 2008)
- "Governor Vetoes Bill Limiting Staff Briefings of Public Officials," Public Agency Advisory (Nov. 2007)
- "Public Agencies Face New Restrictions in Contracting with Design Professionals," Public Agency Advisory (Mar. 2007)
- "The Troubled Public Construction Project: When is it Time to Call in the Surety?," League Of California Cities Annual Conference (Oct. 2005)
Presentations
- The ABC’s of PPP’s: The Basics Regarding Public-Private Partnerships, International Right of Way Association's Annual Education Conference (June 28, 2010)
- Addressing Railroad Noise via Quiet Zones, League of California Cities /CEAC Public Works Officers Institute (March 25, 2009)
- Do You Hear My Train A Comin' — Railroad Crossings & Quiet Zones, Contra Costa City Attorney's Association (March 14, 2007)
- Transit Oriented Development (TOD): Best Practices and Funding, California Transit Association (November 14, 2007)
Broadcasts
- "High Speed Rail" — Peninsula Forward Project (Local Cable Television)
Professional Affiliations
Bar Association of San Francisco (Environmental and Water Law Section)
State Bar of California (State and Local Governmental Law Section)
Industry Affiliations
Bay Area Council Transportation Committee
Education
J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1988)
A.B., Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (1976)
Admissions and Courts
State of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit