Steven D. Miller

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Steven D. Miller

Steven has a varied practice representing both public and private clients in the public arena. He is General Counsel to the San Mateo County Harbor District. He also assists public agencies throughout California operating bus, rail, and ferry service. His general areas of expertise include public contracts and procurements, regulatory compliance, intergovernmental agreements, constitutional issues, election law, and government ethics. He has particular depth of expertise in all issues relative to transit agencies and the complex statutory and regulatory framework under which they operate. Steven is the evaluator for the City of San Jose Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices (formerly Ethics Commission), advising that entity regarding alleged violations of the San Jose Municipal Code in the area of election and ethics rules.

Steven has extensive experience in public sector contracting issues, including representing both public and private entities in the area of public works contracts, contract negotiations of all types, and bid protests relating to complex state and local procurements. He regularly advises private and public entities on compliance with federal Buy America requirements.

Steven also assists clients, both public and private, on a wide range of issues relating to political and election law. His constitutional law focus has led to his involvement in recent efforts to address structural reform in California, including drafting initiatives for Statewide ballots.

Steven's expertise includes advising local government, as well as manufacturers and users, regarding the developing legal landscape, and the increasing opportunities for commercial use, of unmanned aircraft systems (i.e. drones). In addition, Steven teaches legal writing and research at University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Steven has a particular enthusiasm for, and expertise in, the developing legal landscape, and the increasing opportunities for commercial use, of unmanned aircraft systems (i.e. drones). He blogs on the topic at www.Hoverlaw.com.

Beyond the practice of law, Steven is a Grammy-award winning violinist and served for many years on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has issued more than 20 CDs and has appeared on both NPR and PBS.

Representative Work

Guides transit agencies through a number of complex procurements and resulting implementation of high-technology systems, including Positive Train Control, Computer Assisted Dispatch, and electronic toll collection systems.

Leads the legal team for a number of transit agencies in procurements of ferries, buses, railcars, and locomotives.

Advises public agencies on disputes arising under the California Subletting and Subcontracting Fair Practices Act.

Helps resolve and mitigate organizational conflicts of interest arising under federal regulations.

Serves as an evaluator for the San Jose Elections Commission.

Advises companies on Buy America compliance relative to agreements with various state and local agencies.

Frequently represents large, private entities in bid protests of government contracts.

Publications

"California Supreme Court Case Alert: Public Records on Private Accounts," co-author, Government Law Alert (March 2017)

"The Wild West of Commercial Drones—Why 2015 Could Be a Pivotal Year in California," co-author, Public Law Journal (May 2015)

"Regulating the 'Initiative Industrial Complex:' Is SB 168's proposed prohibition of per-signature payment an unconstitutional restriction on core political speech?" Public Law Journal (Spring 2011)

"Getting to a Citizens’ Constitutional Convention: Legal Questions (Without Answers) Concerning the People’s Ability to Reform California’s Government Through a Constitutional Convention," Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review (Winter 2011)

"Local Regulation of Commercial Drones: The Next Frontier," author, Public Agency Law Alert (April 2014)

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