Public Agency

Worden Williams provides general counsel and special counsel services to public agencies throughout San Diego County. General counsel work covers the full range of day-to-day public agency law, from Brown Act compliance and conflict-of-interest analysis through public contracts, personnel matters, and policy development. Special counsel engagements typically involve litigation of contract, tort, and land use matters, or focused work on land use and environmental issues where outside expertise is needed.

General and Special Counsel Services

The firm advises public agencies on the legal frameworks unique to government work: open meetings, records, and ethics requirements; budgetary and taxation compliance; personnel and employment matters; public contracting; and the regulatory work of cities, counties, special districts, and joint powers authorities. We assist agency boards and staff with code drafting and interpretation, permit processing, and code enforcement; with public records and Brown Act compliance; and with the day-to-day legal questions that arise in agency governance.

Land Use, Environmental, and Litigation Support

Many public agency engagements involve land use and environmental issues. The firm has practiced in both areas since 1975. We assist agencies with CEQA compliance and environmental review, with land acquisitions, condemnation and relocation matters, open space and conservation transactions, and project entitlement. When disputes arise, the firm represents agencies in administrative proceedings and civil litigation, and provides appellate support where appropriate.

Engagements

The firm has served as General Counsel to the San Dieguito River Valley Joint Powers Authority and the Leucadia Wastewater District, and as Special Counsel to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) for environmental review of the Mid-Coast trolley extension project.

The firm has also provided general and special counsel services to the San Diego Convention Center Corporation; the North San Diego County Transit Development Board (NCTD); the San Diego County Water Authority; the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority; and the Cities of Chula Vista, Coronado, Escondido, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, San Marcos, La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, and Del Mar.

Representative Areas of Practice

Open Government and Compliance

  • Open Meeting Law (Brown Act)
  • Public Records Act
  • Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure
  • Initiative and Referendum

Regulatory and Code

  • Code Enforcement
  • Code Interpretation
  • Permit Processing
  • Business Regulation
  • Non-Conforming Use Issues
  • Administrative Law and Procedures

Public Contracts and Operations

  • Public Contracts and Bids
  • Joint Powers Authorities
  • Personnel and Employment Matters
  • Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance
  • Compliance with Budgetary and Taxation Requirements

Land Use, Property, and Environmental

  • Open Space and Property Acquisitions
  • Condemnation and Relocation
  • Solid Waste and Recycling
  • Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation
  • CEQA and Environmental Compliance