Daily Journal Recognizes Four Meyers Nave Principals as “Top 25 Municipal Lawyers” in California for 2011
OAKLAND, CA – The Daily Journal named Meyers Nave Principals Ruthann G. Ziegler, James Casso, Steven Mattas and Arthur Hartinger to its esteemed list of California’s “Top 25 Municipal Lawyers.” The list honors lawyers who have excelled in the practice of municipal and public law in the State of California.
“These four attorneys are leaders in the field of municipal and public law,” said David Skinner, the firm’s Managing Principal. “We are proud that four out of the top 25 municipal lawyers on this list are from Meyers Nave. This further evidences the firm’s expertise in advising public agencies on the day to day and complex legal issues facing public agencies today.”
Ruthann G. Ziegler is a founding Principal of the firm’s Sacramento office and has over 25 years of experience in public law, representing municipalities and special districts. Ms. Ziegler is the Chair of the firm’s Municipal and Special District Law Practice Group, overseeing the work of more than 30 attorneys who collectively serve as city attorneys and general counsel to more than 25 municipalities. Ms. Ziegler is also a member of the firm’s Public Contracts and Construction Practice Group. Ms. Ziegler represents clients in a variety of matters that impact local governance and decision-making, from day-to-day operations to long-term policy issues. Currently, she serves as city attorney and general counsel for several cities and special districts in Northern California. Ms. Ziegler’s other clients include public utility districts, power agencies, community services districts, fire districts, water districts, and joint powers agencies. Ms. Ziegler speaks regularly before attorneys, associations of special districts, municipal law organizations and others on the Brown Act, AB 1234, the California Public Records Act and land use issues. Ms. Ziegler was a recipient of the Top Women Lawyers award from the Daily Journal in 2011. Ms. Ziegler received her BA from Yale University and her JD from University of California Davis, King Hall School of Law.
James (Jamie) Casso has represented many public and private entities before federal, state and local elected officials and agencies. Mr. Casso’s practice focuses on providing in-depth knowledge of public law and redevelopment law to cities and other public agencies throughout Southern California. In August 2010, Mr. Casso was hired by the City of Bell to serve as its Interim City Attorney to deal with the myriad of issues facing the City and to assist in the corruption investigation of the practices of Bell’s former administration. Through his efforts, the City of Bell implemented open and transparent practices. Mr. Casso serves as Interim City Attorney for the City of La Puente and as General Counsel to the Community Development Commission of the City of South El Monte and the La Puente Community Development Commission. He is Special Counsel to the City of Inglewood Redevelopment Agency, the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Guadalupe, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Pismo Beach and the Community Development Agency of King City. Mr. Casso received his BA from University of California at San Diego and his JD from Georgetown University Law Center.
Steven (Steve) Mattas focuses his practice on municipal law, land use, environmental law, and public agency elections. Mr. Mattas serves as City Attorney of Los Altos Hills and South San Francisco and special counsel to several public agencies and private developers, providing advice and representation on CEQA/NEPA, land use entitlements and litigation. Recognized statewide for his land use work, he is the Co-Managing Editor and author of many chapters of Continuing Education of the Bar’s important reference book, California Land Use Practice. Mr. Mattas frequently authors articles, served as an expert witness, and gives presentations on land use law, redevelopment law, public agency compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, density bonus regulations, the regulation and amortization of adult businesses, regulation of liquor stores, nightclubs and bars and other topics in his realm of experience. He previously served as the City Attorney Department representative to the League of California Cities’ Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee and Environmental Quality Committee. Mr. Mattas received his BA from University of California, Irvine, his MA from University of California at Los Angeles, and his JD from University of California at Davis, King Hall School of Law.
Arthur (Art) Hartinger is the Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice group and one of California’s leading labor and employment attorneys. Mr. Hartinger is also the recipient of the “Top Employment Lawyer” by the Daily Journal in 2010. He has over 25 years of extensive experience representing public and private clients in complex state and federal litigation on all types of labor and employment issues, including class actions, writs and jury trials. Mr. Hartinger is also experienced in labor relations and negotiations as a lead negotiator in collective bargaining representing deputy sheriffs, police and fire personnel, managers, service employees, attorneys, and other professional and service employees. His litigation practice also includes administrative and binding arbitration hearings before personnel boards, arbitrators and administrative law judges. He has also advised various personnel boards, and currently serves as general counsel to the El Dorado County Civil Service Commission. Mr. Hartinger received his BA from University of California at Berkeley and his JD from the University of San Francisco.
About Meyers Nave: Founded in 1986, the law firm of Meyers Nave is recognized for its work with all types of public entities in California. The firm provides the full scope of legal services to cities, counties, redevelopment agencies and special districts statewide. Meyers Nave’s areas of practice include labor and employment, torts, redevelopment, city attorney and general counsel representations, eminent domain, litigation, writs and appeals, public contracts and land use, municipal debt restructuring and bankruptcy, public finance, crisis management, and environmental law.