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Shayna Mittler van Hoften

Shayna Mittler van Hoften

Partner
(415) 995-5880

Intro

Shayna chairs our Public Transit & Transportation Practice Group. An engaged, knowledgeable legal advisor, she provides strategic, practical counsel to government agencies in sensitive legal and political environments.  

Shayna helps clients identify and mitigate government ethics and governance challenges. She works with them to adopt and implement local revenue enhancements, negotiate intergovernmental agreements, and undertake major programs and projects. Clients rely on Shayna to ensure they comply with disability access and other civil rights laws, and to develop and abide by public agency administrative, financial and risk management best practices. Shayna also drafts all forms of legislation and regulation, and pens written and oral comments on state and federal statutory and regulatory proposals. 

Shayna serves as general counsel for the five retirement boards for employees and retirees of the Sacramento Regional Transit District. She also is the primary deputy to the general counsel of the San Mateo County Transit District and San Mateo County Transportation Authority. Shayna relished her almost 10 years as general counsel for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, culminating in its successful proactive annexation into the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

Shayna provides frequent training on compliance with the Brown Act, Public Records Act, and conflict of interest laws and regulations, including for compliance with AB 1234. 

Shayna has been licensed to practice law in the State of California since 2004. During law school, she clerked in the San Francisco city attorney’s office and for Disability Rights Advocates. Prior to attending graduate and law school, Shayna worked in state and federal government affairs in Washington, D.C.

Education

J.D. University of California, Berkeley School of Law ( 2004 )
M.P.P. University of California, Berkeley ( 2003 )
B.A. Pomona College ( 1997 )

Admissions and Courts

California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Role

Public Transit & Transportation Practice Leader

Civil Rights in Public Transit. Regularly assists public transit providers comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including working together to analyze fare and service changes with potentially discriminatory effects on minority and low-income populations, and to develop Limited English Proficiency Language Assistance Plans.

State Initiative Measure. Co-drafted Proposition 86, which sought to fund health insurance coverage for uninsured children in California by raising the state tax on tobacco products.

Local Sales Tax Measures. Drafted San Mateo County Transit District Measure W and Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board Measure RR, approved by voters in 2018 and 2020, respectively.  

San Mateo County US 101 Express Lanes. Counseled project co-sponsor through funding, planning, design and construction of 22 miles of toll lanes on Highway 101, including drafting and negotiating a joint powers agreement to form a new agency to own, operate and govern the toll facility and resulting revenues.

East Bay Leadership Council, Board of Directors, present

Junior State of America Foundation, Board of Directors, Board President, present

League of California Cities, City Attorneys Department, Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Committee (2011–2013)

Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC), Women’s Leadership Summit and Annual Conference Planning Committees (2009–2017)

California Political Attorneys Association, Regulatory Committee (2012–2015)

"3 Issues Buttigieg's DOT Will Tackle In The Biden Years, " Law360 (February 2021)

"Biden Mask Mandate Fills Gap, But Enforcement Still Murky," Law360 (February 2021)

"New Year, Renewed Board," CA Special District Volume 12, Issue 1 (January–February 2017)

MMANC Service Award (2011–2013)

MMANC Booster Award (2010)