Public Agency Law Group
Group Principals Marc L. Charney William H. Hair

PUBLIC AGENCY LAW GROUP

Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton LLP
1000 Town Center Drive
Sixth Floor
Oxnard, California 93036

[T] (805) 485-1000
[F] (805) 988-8387

Overview

Ranging in size from the smallest special district to the largest city, local public agencies must comply with increasingly complex laws and regulations. Public agencies face such disparate issues as the manner in which their governing bodies meet and make decisions; their acquisition and use of real property; the agency's relationship with its employees; the awarding and supervision of construction and operating contracts; the imposition of fees and assessments; and compliance with environmental regulations. Public agencies often become the targets of litigation, or conversely must resort to litigation when other options are not available.

Our growing Public Agency Law Group is entering its fifth decade of service to our public clients. We provide general counsel, special counsel and litigation services to special districts, school districts and cities. We consult, often on a daily basis, with general managers, superintendents and administrative personnel concerning legal issues affecting public agencies. We provide a full range of services to our public agency clients, including the following:

Services Offered

Governing Board

  • Ralph M. Brown Act compliance
  • Conflicts of interest and disclosure statements
  • Public Records Act and privacy issues
  • Governing Board regulations and policies
  • Legislative issues

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Real Property

  • Acquisition, development and disposition of real property
  • CEQA and zoning issues
  • Purchase and sale agreements, leasing and easement issues
  • Eminent domain litigation

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Labor and Employment

  • Development and implementation of personnel policies
  • Employment agreements
  • Labor relations and collective bargaining issues
  • Employee discipline and litigation

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Public Contracts

  • Negotiation and drafting of contracts for public improvements, professional services, and other operating requirements
  • Compliance with competitive bidding laws
  • Contract disputes and construction claims, including arbitration, litigation and alternative dispute resolution

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Business and Financial Issues

  • Imposition of fees, assessments and taxes
  • General counsel representation on financing mechanisms, including bonds and certificates of participation

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Environmental Regulations

  • Counseling and litigation services in a wide array of environmental issues, including water quality, wastewater discharge, air quality, toxics, and CEQA

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Water Law

  • Actively engaged in the practice of  public water law  for over 50 years
  • Formation and reorganization of Municipal Water Districts, County Water Districts, Public Service Districts and Sanitary Districts
  • Negotiation of long-term water supply contracts with state and local agencies as well as with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
  • General counsel to public agencies
  • Litigation of numerous water rights issues in both state and federal courts
  • Advising clients in connection with issues arising under the Federal Endangered Species Act

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