Practice Areas
The Office of the City Attorney practices law in the following areas:
Litigation and Appeals
The attorneys assigned to this practice area defend the City and its various agencies, departments, officers, agents, employees and elected officials in lawsuits filed in federal and state courts. The bulk of litigation cases involve Civil Rights, Tort, Commercial, and Risk Management. This practice area also pursues affirmative litigation matters which seek to recover money from breach of contract, damages to City property, injunctions to prevent nuisances and violations of City Codes, and collection of various debts and financial obligations owed to the City.
Attorneys in this practice area:
General Government and Land Development
This practice area oversees regulatory compliance in the areas of Elections, Emergency Preparedness, Ethics, Police, Civil Forfeitures, Land Use, Sustainable/Green Initiatives, Procurement, Grants, Capital Improvements, and State/Federal Legislative Agenda, code enforcement, nuisance abatement, unsafe structurers, public records. Attorneys assigned to this practice area collaborate as a team by providing support and assistance to the litigators handling related lawsuits.
Attorneys in this practice area:
Labor and Employment
All legal matters related to the City's role as the employer of approximately 4,500 union and non-union workers is handled by this practice area. This includes all litigation in state and federal court in connection with workers' compensation, discipline, discharge, collective bargaining, and promotions. Attorneys in this practice area also advise management on labor relations issues, and compliance with state and federal labor laws.
Attorneys in this practice area:
Real Estate and Transactions
This practice area includes all contracts, procurement, real estate, financial matters, grants, budgetary matters, capital improvements, community and economic development, and the like for all City Departments, Elected Officials, and City boards and agencies. Attorneys assigned to this practice area collaborate as a team by providing support and assistance to the litigators handling related lawsuits, and also serve as legal advisors to various City boards and agencies.
Attorneys in this practice area: