Phillips Lytle has a long history of expertise in all aspects of law relating to the powers, procedures and operations of state and local governments, public authorities and governing bodies and boards. Our practice includes representing a wide range of clients for whom we have successfully challenged and defended the governance of state and local governments. Our Government Operations Practice is multi-disciplinary with expertise in Municipal, Land Use, Environmental and Tax Law.
Our areas of experience include:
- Drafting and reviewing of statutes, ordinances and resolutions for municipal clients
- Advising and assisting planning boards, zoning boards, water boards and other public entities
- Challenging the constitutionality of federal, state and local laws on behalf of class actions and private sector entities
- Representing state and local governments and governing boards in all aspects of litigation, in all judicial forums
- Reviewing and advising boards on issues pertaining to the governance and fiduciary responsibilities of its body
Phillips Lytle has counseled and represented an extensive list of clients in a variety of matters, including:
- Election law
- Land use regulation
- Municipal bond transactions
- Public bidding and contracts
- Licensing issues
- Collective bargaining agreements
- Government procurement issues
- Telecommunications
- Environmental
- Internal investigations
- Campaign finance
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
- Land acquisition and development
- Condemnation
- Compliance
- Tort defense
- Cellular tower issues
- Police professional liability
- School boards
- Eminent domain
- Public finance
- Government ethics
- State public records law
- Government personnel matters
Phillips Lytle has an extensive track record of success in assisting and challenging state and local governmental agencies. Some representative matters Phillips Lytle has been involved with include:
- Representing the State Board of Elections in a constitutional challenge regarding campaign spending and election law requirements
- Challenging a municipality’s actions in collecting gross receipt sales tax
- Serving as lead counsel in an action against a municipality concerning the State Real Property Tax
- Representing a public utility in challenging a foreign State Utility Commission
- Representing the Catholic Health System against the New York State Department of Health and the recommendations of the Berger Commission
- Representing three utilities against a state public authority
- Challenging the right of the government to review franchise fees