Local Government

The Local and State Government Practice Group counsels and advises public officials, administrators and employees on the complex and frequently changing laws pertaining to open meeting requirements (the Brown Act), records requests (the Public Records Act), election and political issues, municipal and district reorganizations, ethics and conflicts of interest, and intergovernmental relations. Attorneys in this Practice Group also serve as general and special counsel to the firm's non-school district public agency clients. In this Practice Group, you will find attorneys specializing in virtually all aspects of public agency practice (from adult business regulations to zoning). To best serve our clients, the Local and State Government Practice Group provides support to, and receives support from, the other Practice Groups.

The attorneys in this Practice Group built a foundation for this practice by serving as City Attorney, County Counsel, urban school district General Counsel, Deputy District Attorney, Deputy California Attorney General, and legal staff to the California Appellate Courts. Since 1989, the firm has served as City Attorney and General Counsel to the City of Fowler and its redevelopment agency and since 1992 served in that same capacity for the City of Clovis. Lozano Smith attorneys also currently serve as city attorney for the cities of Reedley, Firebaugh, Coalinga, Parlier and Lemoore. The firm has provided special counsel services in a wide variety of areas for many other cities, county governments, hospital districts, a flood control district, park and recreation districts, a regional air pollution control district, community service districts, LAFCOs, individual elected local officials, and departments of the State of California.