Municipal Law

Municipal law issues can be extraordinarily complex. Resolving them often requires creative, sophisticated solutions, which Garvey Schubert Barer can provide.

Our lawyers represent governmental bodies (such as cities, counties and special districts) as well as a wide variety of individuals and businesses that interact with local government.

We serve as general counsel for three Oregon cities: Oregon City, Rivergrove and Island City. We also act as special counsel for other governmental bodies, including the State of Oregon. We advise these municipal clients on eminent domain and land use issues, as well as on the following:

• Legislative drafting and interpretation
• Municipal elections
• Conflicts of interest
• Property tax assessment and enforcement
• Real estate acquisitions and sales
• Contract preparation, administration (such as responding to questions on day-to-day matters about the contract) and interpretation
• Public records requests
• Labor and employment issues
• Public liability claims
• Actions by and against municipalities, including trials and appeals
• Preparations for and appearances at hearings

Our legal work for private sector clients involves many of these same areas. It also involves other municipal law areas, such as

• Contribution of infrastructure projects
• Structure of public-private partnerships
• Property tax assessment appeals

When you hire Garvey Schubert Barer for a municipal law problem, you also are hiring a full-service firm, with lawyers practicing in virtually every legal area in which you may need assistance. If you have a problem outside the municipal law area, you have immediate access to an attorney who can help resolve the problem.