Municipal Law

The Firm has been providing advice to clients for years regarding public records and confidential information contained therein. The Firm is very comfortable providing advice concerning Open Meeting laws and has done so for many years. In fact, members of the Firm routinely provide board training and training for industry groups on Open Meetings. The Firm has also provided training seminars for the Carolinas’ Council of Housing Redevelopment and Code Officials on these and other issues. In addition, a standard feature of our retainer relationship with certain clients is the training of their directors and/or commissioners with respect to the following issues: conflicts of interest, open meetings and closed sessions, public records, fiduciary duty, corporate organization, and commissioner liability.

An essential component of our representation of state actors is to make certain that the policies and practices of clients are in compliance with federal, state and local law. Therefore, it is the practice of the Firm to consistently review and monitor laws, regulations and ordinances affecting our PHA clients and to advise clients accordingly and timely.

In addition to reacting to legislative changes, the Firm has assisted clients in examining and rewriting their procurement policies consistent with 24 C.F.R. Part 85 and other relevant procurement regulations and HUD Guidelines. The Firm has represented clients in litigation matters related to the procurement of developers, construction contractors, demolition contractors, and others. The Firm has also defended lawsuits and potential lawsuits against clients alleging discrimination and reverse discrimination.

Federal law has a substantial impact on the formation of personnel policies and the handling of litigation that flows from personnel issues. The federal statutes encountered most often in this regard are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. The Firm routinely defends clients from EEOC complaints alleging violations of these federal statutes.

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