Government
law affects every aspect of the policy-making and operations of
local governments, from how legislative bodies conduct their meetings,
to the ethics laws that govern the conduct of public officials
and employees, to very constitutional principles that form the
basis of our governmental system. The ability of local governments
to act effectively in the public interest depends on receiving
precise and practical advice on the wide array of government law
issues, and receiving expert representation when policy decisions
are judicially challenged.
Government
Law Counseling
Our government
law practice model emphasizes providing accurate and timely
advice that takes into account the practical realities faced
by local government decision-makers and administrators. Our
aim is to provide local officials with the confidence that they
are making decisions and conducting their business in a manner
that complies with all federal and state laws so that they may
focus on the critical policy issues they are charged with addressing.
Our lawyers
have extensive experience advising local officials on a broad
range of government law issues. Our firm includes an attorney
who served as the elected San Francisco City Attorney, and who
was responsible for advising elected and appointed officials
on matters ranging from resolving complex constitutional issues,
to drafting and interpreting city charter provisions and ordinances,
to government sunshine laws governing public meetings and public
records. Our firm also includes a former chief deputy city attorney,
and the former chief of the government litigation section of
a city attorney's office.
We offer
a wide range of government law counseling and litigation representation.
The types of matters on which we advise and represent local
election officials include:
- Drafting
charter amendments and ordinances.
- Resolution
of complex and sensitive constitutional issues, including
First Amendment issues.
- Advising
public agencies on sunshine legislation and other laws governing
the local government decision-making and operations.
Government
Litigation
Our firm's
attorneys have represented local agencies and officials in federal
and state court challenges to their decisions and policies.
We have successfully defended local governments against constitutional
challenges to a wide range of ordinances and policies, as well
as challenges to decisions by administrative agencies. In addition,
we have defeated claims alleging violations of the state's open
meetings and public records laws. Our approach is to zealously
defend the ability of public officials to make the difficult
decisions they are charged with making, and seek early termination
of such challenges so that policies in the public interest may
be fully implemented at the earliest possible time.
Ethics
Advice and Training
RSHS attorneys
also have extensive experience in guiding public officials through
the labyrinth of ethics laws that govern their conduct. We offer
ethics advice and training programs for public officials and
employees. Our knowledgeable attorneys provide training on a
wide range of ethics issues including the following:
- Laws
requiring public officials with conflicts of interest to refrain
from participating in governmental decisions
- Reporting
economic interests under the Political Reform Act.
- Restrictions
on gifts and other perquisites to public officials
- Compliance
with open government laws, including the Brown Act open meeting
law and the Public Records Act
