Preeminence in Public Agency Law
We have unique experience representing public and quasi-public agencies and instrumentalities in a broad range of statutory compliance and implementation, legislative, transactional, litigation and employment matters.
Breadth of Experience
Our public clients rely on our expertise in the areas that matter most to them: interpreting intricate statutory and regulatory requirements and closing complex transactions. Our knowledge and appreciation of the constraints and opportunities inherent in our public clients’ statutory frameworks allows us to better serve these clients in drafting contracts, leases and other third-party agreements.
Outside Counsel Expertise
Our attorneys serve as outside counsel to several Massachusetts agencies and instrumentalities, including those engaged in the following:
- Affordable housing construction and financing
- Construction of college dormitories and school building
- Human services
- Health care
We assist these public clients in all areas of statutory compliance and implementation of program initiatives as well as drafting legislation for new projects. Examples include:
- Board advice regarding compliance with statutory requirements including membership, conflicts of interest, ethics, and open meeting law.
- Drafting proposed legislation and regulations, and advice regarding implementation.
- Assistance at Board meetings and drafting votes and other related documents.
- Representation before other governmental agencies.
Quasi-Publics
Our extensive experience on behalf of quasi-publics includes drafting and interpreting authorizing legislation, negotiating and closing transactions, creating separate non-profits to help fulfill the quasis’ statutory missions, and assisting their boards in establishing best corporate practices.
Transactional Expertise
A large portion of our work for public and quasi-public instrumentalities is in negotiating and closing real estate, bond financing and other transactions. Examples of transactional work on behalf of public and quasi-public agencies and instrumentalities include:
- Site acquisition for a large public convention center
- Development and implementation of loan programs for a quasi-public and closing hundreds of loans in these programs
- Leasing and acquisition of land for construction of residential and student life facilities for several state universities on behalf of a state instrumentality
- Development and implementation of subordinate lending program for a state agency engaged in financing affordable housing.
- Representation of an urban housing authority in private redevelopment and finance of former public developments
Labor and Employment Expertise
Much of our work on behalf of public agencies involves personnel matters. We assist our public clients in minimizing issues by designing personnel handbooks and codes of conduct and presenting training sessions on sexual harassment prevention for managers and employees. Our extensive case work has involved allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of age, disability, race, national origin and sexual orientation.
Litigation Expertise
Our litigators have a long record of resolving disputes in a practical, cost-effective manner which permits our public clients to focus on their statutory missions. Where applicable and available, we have also worked with our clients’ insurers to assure maximum coverage.
