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Laura Ratcliffe

Laura E. Ratcliffe

Senior Counsel
(213) 395-7647

Intro

As part of the firm’s Government Section, Laura represents a variety of public and private entities in real estate, environmental, water, and municipal law matters. She handles all aspects of real property acquisition and management, including purchase and sale agreements, leasing, easements/ rights of way, construction, financing, and license agreements. She also drafts and negotiates agreements for cell towers and other communication facilities, temporary and permanent well sites, rights of entry, and other short- and long-term property rights.

Laura has extensive experience in public agency and municipal matters. For public agency clients, she handles issues relating to public finance, including Proposition 218 and 26 matters, ordinance drafting and enforcement, open meeting and open records laws, the California Government Claims Act, Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) matters, and administrative hearing and enforcement processes. She assists clients with Joint Powers Act (JPA) agreement formation and negotiation, and other forms of intergovernmental agreements.

Education

J.D. University of Southern California Gould School of Law ( 2011 )
B.A. Haverford College ( 2006 )

Admissions and Courts

California
Colorado

Colorado Special District Association Leadership Academy, Fellow

Los Angeles County Bar Association, Real Property Section

Colorado Women's Bar Association

Denver Bar Association, Real Property Section

"Hanson Bridgett Adds Attorneys," Los Angeles Business Journal (February 2020)

"Claire Collins Leads Five-Attorney Team from Lewis Brisbois to Hanson Bridgett," Daily Journal (February 2020)

"On the Move: Tracking the Ins and Outs of California Lawyers," The Recorder (January 2020)

Best Lawyers (2023-2024); Best Lawyers: One to Watch (2025)

California Lawyers Association, Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Legal Services Award (2021)