Overview

Jerome (Jerry) M. Behrens is a Partner who serves clients throughout the state of California. He is one of the founding Partners of Lozano Smith.

For more than 40 years Mr. Behrens has represented a variety of public agencies throughout California. He specializes in public agency law, with an emphasis on representing public boards as general counsel, transactional and public finance law, real property and public agency defense litigation. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Behrens served as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Attorney General's office in San Francisco, as a senior Deputy District Attorney with the Fresno District Attorney and as a senior Deputy County Counsel with the Fresno County Counsel.

Additional Experience

Mr. Behrens has litigated claims in administrative proceedings, the trial courts and the appellate courts of the state of California, and the federal court system. Mr. Behrens advises clients in the funding and acquisition of capital facilities, and is nationally recognized as municipal bond counsel in the Bond Buyer's Municipal Marketplace guide, commonly referred to as "The Red Book."

Education

Mr. Behrens joined the California Bar in 1974 after earning his Juris Doctor degree from Hastings College of Law. He also holds a Master of Laws in Taxation and is a real estate broker. Mr. Behrens earned his B.A. degree in 1967 from the University of California at Berkeley.

How to Address COVID-19 with Your Governing Board: Brown Act Reminders

By: Mary Lerner, Anne Collins, Jerome Behrens- 03/27/2020

*** UPDATED AS OF 3/27/20 *****This Client News Brief (CNB) supersedes and replaces the prior CNB on this topic based on the new Executive Orders and public health officer directives.March 2020Number 13BackgroundWith growing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many public agencies are closely monitoring guidance and updates from health and science officials. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...

A Local Funding Source In Troubled Fiscal Times: The Potential Of Parcel Taxes

By: Jerome Behrens, Harold Freiman, Trevin Sims, Daniel Maruccia- 05/26/2012

May 2012 Number 25 With the ongoing uncertainty of state funding, school districts are forced to continue exploring local funding options to address funding shortfalls. A parcel tax is an attractive option because a school district can use parcel taxes for any purpose identified in the ballot measure, including operating expenses. As a result, a parcel tax can be a significant source of unrestricted general fund dollars to support any district programs and needs. In 2011, 18 of 27 (67%...