Miller & Owen assists a range of government entities, including districts, cities, counties, transportation commissions, and redevelopment agencies in a number of areas, including:
General Counsel Representation
Our attorneys serve as general counsel for numerous public entities, including transportation agencies, joint powers authorities, and Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) clients. In this capacity, we assist clients with a wide variety of issues, including contract negotiation and drafting, employment matters, legislative and regulatory matters, financing and funding, setting community priorities, as well as in any litigation that might arise.
Real Property Transactions and Financing
The firm’s experience in real property transactions includes sales and acquisitions as well as secured financing. Our attorneys negotiate and document real property transactions for public and private clients, with a particular emphasis on acquisition of railroad rights of way and related property. We have also handled large-scale building development transactions, the purchase and sale of sports arenas, and the contractual and financing arrangements of numerous other projects involving real property.
Special Districts
Attorneys at Miller & Owen frequently act as special counsel to the general counsel of several special districts, including representing public utility districts against third party challenges, assisting with employment and contractual matters, drafting numerous types of contracts, and representing districts against the United States government.
Eminent Domain
Our attorneys have extensive trial and appellate experience handling eminent domain and inverse condemnation matters. In particular, we have represented numerous public agencies in all phases of property acquisition for a wide range of projects, including rights of way for transportation facilities and utilities, water rights, title issues, and commercial property acquisition.
Inverse Condemnation and Nuisance
The firm has defended numerous physical and regulatory claims of inverse condemnation and project-related nuisance actions filed against city and county governments by residents and commercial landowners. Our experience extends to the trial and appellate levels, including pursuing and defending nuisance actions.
Environmental Matters
The firm has extensive experience handling matters involving the interpretation of, and compliance with, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Our attorneys have defended CEQA lawsuits against city and county governments at the trial and appellate levels, and frequently review environmental documents and prepare findings and opinions for our clients at the administrative level.
Finances and Construction
While acting as general counsel to government entities, our attorneys have been intimately involved in capital improvement financing, bidding, and construction document drafting, in addition to handling construction disputes. The firm has acted as issuer counsel for several agencies’ bonds sales, and has assisted agencies with handling financial transactions, tax increment financing, private secured transactions, facility improvement financing, and numerous other sources of private and public financing.
Real Property Litigation
Our attorneys represent city and county governments and public agencies in a wide variety of disputes involving real property. Our expertise encompasses lawsuits brought by cable and telecommunications providers, permitting disputes, contract disputes, illegal construction matters, and pursuing environmental claims against private entities and the federal government.
Other Public Agency Matters
In addition to the above areas, the firm’s broad and diverse experience gives our attorneys the ability to skillfully handle nearly any transactional or litigation matter with which our clients need assistance. This extends to redevelopment projects, low-income housing matters, general government issues, regulatory compliance, and serving in a special counsel capacity.
Non-Profit and Quasi-Public Agency Clients
Our attorneys represent several non-profit and quasi-public agency clients in a wide variety of legal matters, including drafting contracts, landlord-tenant and real estate matters, advice regarding government matters, and serving in a general counsel capacity.