Brown White & Osborn’s attorneys have considerable experience in municipal, campaign and election law. We have represented and advised elected officials, municipal employees, municipalities, corporations, private individuals, and political action committees at all levels of government. Our attorneys not only advise such clients, but represent them both in administrative proceedings, criminal investigations and prosecutions, and civil litigation and achieve positive results. Our practice involves counseling elected and appointed officials on a wide variety of issues. Our practice areas include:
- Government tort claims
- Federal, state and local campaign law
- Ethical issues
- Enforcement defense
- Election law
- Conflict of interest
- Election-related litigation
- Political Reform Act
- Ralph M. Brown (“Brown Act”) Act
Brown White & Osborn provides public officials with the following advice and counseling:
- Advice to public officials regarding conflicts of interest laws, including Political Reform Act (Gov. Code, § 81000 et seq.), Self-Interested Contracts (Gov. Code, § 1090), Campaign Contribution Conflicts (Gov. Code, § 84308), and Incompatibility of Public Offices.
- Advice regarding the interpretation and application of the Ralph M. Brown Act (“Open Meeting Law”) to our public entity clients involving avoiding violations and penalties.
- Advice regarding city agencies, authorities and departments; assist clients with redevelopment agencies, housing authorities, and planning commissions.
Significant Representations:
- Successfully represented executive of one of the world’s largest shipping companies in connection with political contributions investigation.
- Successfully represented international engineering and construction firm in political contributions investigation.
- Successfully defended national title company in campaign contribution and finance investigation conducted on local and state levels.
- Defended major contributor of national political party during congressional investigation of presidential campaign contributions.
- Represented elected state and municipal officials, individuals, companies and PACs before the California Fair Political Practices Commission, Federal Election Commission, Los Angeles Ethics Commission, and Congress.
- Represented and advised municipalities and elected officials on various governance issues, provided ethics opinions, tort claims, contract claims and strategic planning.
- Provided AB 1234 training to elected officials.
- Successfully represented city official in conflict of interest investigation.
- Successfully represented local politicians in investigations of violations of Brown Act.