Public Law 101 Conference

Careers in the public sector are as diverse in legal practice area as they are in the work environment. Public sector lawyers work in traditional public law firms, such as county counsel and city attorney offices, as well as in private practice firms that either primarily represent public agencies or that contain public entity practice areas within a larger, full-service firm environment.  In this session you will learn more about public sector career pathways and gain insight from practitioners across the spectrum of public agency law.  

Moderator: Lorena Mora, Deputy City Attorney, Los Angeles City Attorney, Airport Division 

Speakers:

• Raymond Rolland, Assistant General Counsel, State Bar of California 
• Maribel Lopez, Associate Renne, Public Law Group
• Marcelo Quinones, General Counsel, Alameda County Office of Education 
• Nia Franklin, Partner, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost, LLP (F3 Law) 

Writing is a foundational skill for public lawyers and especially valuable for new public lawyers. In this session, participants will learn about and develop strong legal writing fundamentals that will prove valuable in the various contexts and disciplines in which public lawyers practice.

Moderator: Katie Romo, Advanced Records Center Staff Attorney, Best, Best & Krieger

Speaker:

• Ederlina Co, Associate Professor of Law, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law 

Network with fellow attendees and experienced public law practitioners. A valuable opportunity to build relationships, find mentors, and grow your professional community.

This informative and practical session covers the foundational statutes that promote transparency in California government: the Ralph M. Brown Act , Bagley-Keene Act, and the California Public Records Act. Attorneys advising public agencies must understand the legal standards and practical challenges surrounding open meetings and public access to records. This session will provide an overview of these laws and explore common issues that arise when advising government clients.

Moderator: Megan McClurg, Assistant City Attorney, City of Oceanside

Speakers:

• Kathryn Romo, Advanced Records Center Staff Attorney, Best, Best & Krieger
• Amy Ackerman, Partner/Lead Government Attorney, Renne Public Law Group
• Priscilla Tomescu, Deputy City Attorney Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney, Airport Division

This panel will provide an overview of conflict of interest laws for public officials, public employees, and candidates for public office.  Topics include the Political Reform Act, the Levine Act, Government Code Section 1090, and the role of the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Moderator: Kate Stanford, Marin County Counsel

Speaker:

• Andrew Shen, Partner Renne, Public Law Group

Moderator: Christopher Whitman, Senior of Counsel, Meyers Nave

Speaker: David Chiu, City Attorney, City of San Francisco

Public agencies engage in the procurement and purchase of a variety of goods, materials, and services to assist them in meeting their public agency goals.  Federal, state, and local laws and regulations provide a framework for public contracting that is intended to protect public funds, ensure fairness, and eliminate favoritism, fraud, and corruption.  This session will provide an overview of the laws and principles relating to public contracting and highlight the public agency attorney’s role in ensuring compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory frameworks. 

Moderator: Nicolle Falcis, Partner Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo

Speaker:

• Jeff Frey, Of Counsel, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo

Public entities face a complex legal environment in both administrative proceedings and the court room.  This panel brings together experienced attorneys to provide practical insights on managing risk, defending agency actions/decisions, and complying with procedural requirements that are unique to public entities in administrative proceedings and litigation.  Topics will include administrative records, pleadings, discovery, brief and motion practice, settlement, and trial and post-trial practice.  Attendees will leave this panel with a better understanding of how to strategically advocate for their public law clients in these venues. 

Moderator: Michael McDonnell, Assistant General Counsel, San Diego County Water Authority 

Speakers:

• Gideon Kracov, Mediator, ADR Services, Inc.
• Howard Fulfrost, Partner, F3 Law
• J. Kayleigh Chevrier, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo