Representing public agencies has been a principal specialty of Hanson Bridgett for more than 50 years. We represent, as general counsel, transportation districts, cities, water districts, harbor districts, community service districts, fire districts, hospital districts, joint powers authorities, associations of local governmental agencies and sanitation districts. In addition, we serve public agencies on individual assignments (or as on-going counsel in specific areas of the law) on projects involving labor and employment law, municipal finance, litigation, environmental laws, rate setting, real estate and land use, government reorganization and complex procurements and contract negotiations.
Much of the work for public sector clients is performed by attorneys in the government group, composed of lawyers whose practices are devoted exclusively to representation of general and special purpose public agencies. Whenever necessary we are able to draw on the expertise of attorneys in other specialized practice areas.
Just like our clients, we are creative, resourceful and dedicated to providing the best service possible. We take pride in understanding the business of our public agency clients and in finding ways to implement their goals and objectives on a sound legal basis and in a cost-effective manner.
The firm has substantial (in some cases unsurpassed) experience with issues unique to agencies providing services in certain fields. These include transportation, water supply and solid waste management.
Areas of Expertise:
- Open Government Laws
- Conflicts of Interest
- Public Procurement
- Public Works and Infrastructure
- Labor and Employment
- Employee Benefits
- Litigation
- Appellate Advocacy
- Technology Procurements
- Privacy, Data Security and Information Control
- Environmental Law
- Financial and Rate Setting
- Taxes, Assessments and Fees
- Administrative Law
- Legislation
- Insurance Recovery
- Code Enforcement
- Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation
- LAFCO Issues
- Land Use
- Real Property Acquisition, Management and Disposition
- Elections
- Joint Powers Agreements
- Ordinances and Resolutions
- Public Private Partnerships
For a more in-depth overview of our capabilities and approach, please see the Brochures and Related Practices descriptions on this page.
Publications
- Ruling Affects Additional Insured Coverage for Public Entities
- The ABC's of PPP's: The Basics Regarding Public-Private Partnerships
- Water Law Alert: California Court of Appeal Reaffirms Traditional Common Law Formula For Determining Boundary Lines Between Littoral Land Owners
- Governor’s Pension Reform Bill and Constitutional Amendment Proposed February 2, 2012
- Proposed Determination of Governmental Plan Status
- Groundbreaking Development in Future of P3s in California
- SB 343 New Brown Act Requirement—Availability Of Public Records Distributed Before Meetings
- Transit Agency Not Liable for ADA Violations When It Complies with DOT ADA Regulations
- Which Comes First, the Compensation or the Fees?
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for Government Entities
- Joan Cassman Named 25 Top Municipal Lawyers of 2011
- New IRS Proposal on What Is a Government Agency and Government Retirement Plan
- California Supreme Court Clears Way for Class Challenges to Local Taxes and Fees: McWilliams v. City of Long Beach
- Land Use Alert: California Supreme Court Decides 30 Day Statute Of Limitations Applies To Determination That No Environmental Review Is Required Under CEQA
- Water Law Alert: Nevada Supreme Court Remands Water Applications That Were Pending Without Action For Longer Than The One Year Statuary Period
- Non-Capital Expenses May Not Qualify as a "Special Benefit" Under Prop 218
- Design-Build is Gaining Traction in the Public Sector
- The Court of Appeal Holds Groundwater Augmentation Charges Fees for Water Services Under Proposition 218 and Provides Much-Needed Guidance on Several Related Issues
- Appeals Court Clarifies Proposition 218 Requirements for Property Fees
- Upcoming State Water Diversion Measurement and Reporting Deadlines
- Ninth Circuit: Changes in Water Flows Benefiting Fish Don’t Require SWRCB Permission
- Recent Recusal Cases Reveal Pitfalls for Land Use Practitioners
- Courts Split On Pension Vested Rights Analysis
- DOL Finalizes Rules to Expand Access to Health Plans for Small Businesses
- Three Things about the Affordable Care Act Employers Need to Focus on Now
- The California Court of Appeal Issues Landmark Local Government Finance Decisions
- Newsom’s Executive Order on COVID-19 Loosens Teleconference Rules for Public Meetings under the Brown Act and Bagley-Keene Act
- California Supreme Court Case Alert: Public Records on Private Accounts
- SWRCB Issues Water Use Reporting Notice
- Amendment to the Brown Act Provides for New Website and Agenda Requirements
- Supreme Court Clarifies Application of Proposition 218 Requirements to Franchise Fees
- AB 626 Creates New Procedural Requirements for Public Works Claims
- AB 626 Creates New Procedural Requirements for Public Works Claims
- Supreme Court Clarifies Application of Procedural Requirements of Proposition 218 to Revenue Measures Adopted by Initiative
- State Water Board Proposes Water Conservation Regulation
- FPPC Extends Deadline for Form 700 Filings to June 1, 2020
- Governor's Executive Order N-42-20 Restricts the Ability of Water Service Providers to Shut Off Water Service
- New Orders from 6 Bay Area Counties Require Face Coverings to be Worn During Work in Most Circumstances
- Public Works Projects in the Bay Area May Proceed Under COVID-19 Orders
- A Role for Water Treatment Systems in Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Applying for a Business License in 2020? You May Need to Consider Your Water Quality Impacts
- Local Regulation of Commercial Drones: The Next Frontier
- Fighting for Our Transit Clients—Darensburg et al. v. MTC
- California Water Action Plan Finalized Amidst Historic Drought Conditions
- VIDEO: California Enacts Privacy Law for Local Agencies: SB 272, Disclosure of Enterprise Systems
- California Attorney General Provides Brown Act Guidance on Tours of Facilities
- New Public Works Requirements for Contractors and Public Agencies Pursuant to SB 854
- Declaring a State of Emergency: What You Need to Know
- New Case Confirms Competitive Bidding Exception for Lease-Leaseback Projects Award by School Districts
- Public Entities Risk Losing Design Immunity Where They Fail to Present Evidence Of Discretionary Approval Of A Design
- Infographic: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
- New Authority for Public Transportation Agencies to Curb Passenger Misconduct
- Legislative Update From The World Of Drones
- Ninth Circuit Rules No Arranger Liability for Smelter's Air Pollutants under CERCLA
- DWR Provides Notice Of Proposed Emergency Regulatory Action for GSPs Under SGMA
- Executive Compensation and Brown Act Requirements
- VIDEO: Conflict of Interest Regulations
- Upcoming Election - What can a public agency do?
- California Court of Appeal Decision Reminds CalPERS Employers to Ensure All Employee Base Salaries are Reported on a "Publicly Available Pay Schedule"
- Requirements of Proposition 218 for Retail Water Agencies
- Brown Act Teleconference Requirements
- Public Records Act: Use of Personal Smart Phones and Computers
- IRS Town Hall Meeting on Definition of Government Agencies and Government Retirement Plans
- Court of Appeal Allows Reverse California Public Records Act Lawsuit
- Procedural Requirements for Declaring Water Shortage Emergency and Adopting Water Use Restrictions
- New Brown Act Reporting Requirements
- VIDEO: 2015 SWRCB Emergency Regulations for Urban Water Conservation
- County's Exclusion Of Anti-Israel Bus Advertisement Did Not Violate 1st Amendment
- New Gift Rules Effective January 1, 2012
- New Emergency Regulation for Water Conservation - The Mandatory Actions by Suppliers
- Leasing Issues to Consider with Communications Companies
- California Supreme Court Upholds Pre-condemnation Entry and Testing Law with Addition of Jury Option
- Sour Grapes: A Potential Prelude to Water Rights Curtailment
- New Legislation That Will Impact Groundwater Management
- Court Finds SWRCB has Jurisdiction over Pre-1914 Water Rights and Defines Forfeiture Standard
- Court of Appeal Clarifies Rules for Retaining Emails That are Included in CEQA Records
- COVID-19 Resource Center
- Governor Newsom’s 'Stay at Home' Order Allows Construction to Continue, but Many Cities and Counties are Banning Most Construction
- Hanson Bridgett Requests IRS Open Determination Letter Program in 2019 for Governmental Plans
- Executive Order Relaxes Brown Act Requirements Further
Brochures
- Municipal and Public Agency
- Public Transit and Transportation
- Government Contracting
- Government Ethics
- Infrastructure
- Technology
- Water Law
- Public Sector Litigation
Video
- An Update on Drone Law
- California District Attorney Environmental Investigations
- California Enacts Privacy Law for Local Agencies: SB 272, Disclosure of Enterprise Systems
- California Supreme Court Case: Public Records on Private Accounts
- Can Board & Council Members Be Reimbursed For Internet Expenses?
- Conflict of Interest Regulations
- Counting Votes When There Is an Abstention
- How Do Tiered Water Rates Help Californians Save Water?
- In the Loop with the Hanson Bridgett Government Group - Video Series
- Legislative Update From The World Of Drones
- Northern California Railroad Practices
- Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
- The Benefits of Design-Build
- The Brown Act
- Top 10 Tips for Virtual Brown Act Meetings
- Water Rights for California Land Owners
- What Public Agencies Need to Know About GDPR