COSTA MESA, Calif., January 00, 2011 – Rutan & Tucker LLP, one of California’s one of California’s oldest and largest full-service law firms, has launched a Government Relations and Political Law Practice Group to advise clients that must participate in the public policy, regulatory and political arena. The new practice group formalizes the firm’s excellent reputation and considerable experience as a trusted advisor in government and regulatory law, land use and environmental law, and litigation.
Highly qualified attorneys in the firm’s Orange County and Palo Alto offices provide practical, real world advice and solutions to the many complex public policy, legal, political, and regulatory issues facing today’s corporations, government agencies, associations, nonprofits, and individuals. Services include representing clients before state and local regulatory agencies and elected bodies, providing them with strategic lobbying and related government relations services, such as coalition building and drafting legislation, and, if appropriate, public policy litigation services.
The group’s legal expertise and experience includes structuring and responding to public agency procurement opportunities, including developing creative public private partnerships, and advising on all aspects of their clients’ political activities, including complex political campaign reporting rules, political action committees (PACs), ethics policies, and appearing before ethics agencies and related election law services.
Co-chairing the group are Rutan partners Ash Pirayou and A. Patrick Muñoz. Other founding members of the practice include firm partners Hans Van Ligtnen, John A. Ramirez, Dan Slater, and Michael R. W. Houston.
Based in Palo Alto, Pirayou is member of the firm’s Government & Regulatory Law Section. He is a veteran government law expert and a veteran campaign finance law specialist, having worked with political action committees and corporations on all aspects of campaign finance laws. Located in the firm’s Orange County office, Muñoz is a member of the firm’s Government & Regulatory Law Section, where he has been practicing since joining Rutan in 1989. He serves as a city attorney for the cities of Dana Point and Twentynine Palms, and also as general counsel for several medium-sized and small businesses, advising them on all aspects of regulatory and public policy matters.
“For more than a century, Rutan has had a hand in shaping many of California’s earliest public agencies and has a comprehensive understanding of the issues facing both public agencies and private entities,” said Ski Harrison, the firm’s managing partner. “Though the practice group is new, the attorneys involved have represented entities in some of our state’s most complex and challenging public policy issues, such as renewable energy, redevelopment, affordable housing, fees and taxes, healthcare, solid waste and recycling, transportation, education and water.”
About Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Rutan & Tucker is California's largest full-service law firm headquartered in Orange County, California with offices in Costa Mesa and Palo Alto. Primary practice areas include corporate and securities law, business and real estate litigation, labor and employment law, intellectual property, real estate, government and regulatory law, land use law, bankruptcy, condemnation and property valuation, environmental law, and taxation and estate planning. Detailed information about the firm is available at www.rutan.com.