We serve as Special Counsel to public entities in land use, planning, code enforcement, economic development and public finance; as needed, we also serve as Elections Official. We attend regular and special meetings, draft and review ordinances, resolutions, minutes of the governing board and meet with constituents in seeking to resolve issues related to land use, planning and code enforcement, where we issue citations and file criminal complaints on behalf of municipalities to enforce the applicable municipal code provisions. Also, we are certified trainers for public officials in all matters related to governance: Ethics, the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, and the Political Reform Act. As an expert in local government Elections Law matters, she serves as Elections Official, as needed, in recalls, referendum and initiatives. Ms. Sylva is a frequent speaker on local governance matters: The Brown Act and The Public Records Act (Lorman Continuing Education, Speaker Series); she is also a published author: Eminent Domain, A More Necessary Public Use (The Power of Kings).
In public finance, we serve as disclosure counsel, trustee’s counsel, and issuer’s counsel. We prepare and review all transactional, disclosure and related closing documents. As transactional attorneys we draft and negotiate complex documents such as trust agreements, leases, technology, employment, disposition and development and owner participation agreements.