Taft’s long history of public engagement is reflected in the firm’s Public Law practice, which is comprised of current and former elected state and local officials, experienced public administrators and other lawyers who have worked closely with all types of public entities, including state agencies, municipalities, school districts, counties and special purpose public agencies. Together with the attorneys in the Public Finance practice and members of Taft affiliate Focused Capitol Solutions LLC, which offers governmental relations and public policy services, the attorneys in the Public Law practice offer both public and private sector clients a coordinated approach to problems that require legal, policy and/or legislative solutions.
Taft’s Public Law practice provides public and private clients a broad array of services involving local, state and federal governments. Attorneys in the Public Law practice collectively draw upon experience in virtually every area of governmental regulation. Members of the practice include the former chairman of the Ohio House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, a current Ohio state senator, a former chief of staff for a United States representative, a former senior senate majority fiscal analyst in the Indiana General Assembly, a former member of the Indiana General Assembly, a former press secretary for a United States representative, city council and school board members, the former city manager of Newport, Kentucky and county administrator of Boone County, the former manager of the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky, a former senior Air Force government contracts attorney, and law directors and special counsel for cities, counties and special districts throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
The core strength of Taft’s Public Law practice rests on joining the broad experience of its members with a collaborative approach to serving client needs. Attorneys in every office of the firm are part of the Public Law practice and bring to every client matter the local knowledge and networks typically required for representing or dealing with governmental entities, plus the collective experience of all of Taft’s offices gained through direct involvement in cutting-edge legal and policy issues.
Some of the work of the Public Law practice includes:
- Land use and zoning issues, including annexation, eminent domain proceedings and voter initiatives and referenda.
- Public bidding, bid award and contract issues, including public sector construction contracts and contract disputes.
- Litigation in federal and state courts of claims, as well as before the GAO and various boards of contract claims.
- Labor and employment issues, including union negotiations, employee grievance and disciplinary matters, leave and benefit issues, accommodations for disabilities and employee discrimination claims.
- Drafting employee policies and handbooks.
- Joint public-private partnerships, including development agreements with private developers regarding land use and development, urban redevelopment projects and tax incentives.
- Litigation in state courts regarding constitutionality of TIF statutes.
- Governmental contracts and relationships.
- Governmental finance.
- Taxation, including valuation, tax exemptions, tax abatements and tax increment financing (see Kentucky TIF Legislation and TIF Presentation for more information).
- Telecommunications, including the siting of telecommunication facilities, franchises and utilization of public rights of way.
- Counsel and advice on all types of public records and public meetings.
- Risk management, liability and insurance issues.
- Drafting and engaging in hearings on petitions for relief from government regulations.
Attorneys in the Public Law practice have been involved in several recent economic development projects, litigation matters and public negotiations, including:
- Museum, entertainment, and sports facilities.
- Kentucky TIF projects.
- Flats eminent domain case.
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District contract.
