The Law Offices of Robert F. Messinger represents local governments in municipal legal matters and municipal finance, including the Brown Act, the Political Reform Act, the Public Records Act, public contracting, police powers, business regulation, land use planning, general plan amendments, specific plans, conditional use permits and variances, zoning, assessments and assessment district formation, debt issuance, municipal taxation, fees and charges.

In our land use practice, we represent clients in all proceedings and transactions involving land development, land use and zoning matters, including:
•       Discretionary approvals, including General Plans, Specific Plans,   Zoning and Conditional Use Permits;
•       Development Agreements, vested rights and Vesting Tentative Maps;
•       Fees, Exactions, and Dedications;
•       Subdivisions;
•       Public Improvement and Reimbursement Agreements;
•       School Facilities Mitigation Agreements;
•       Mello-Roos Districts and other Financing Districts, including Proposition 218 compliance; and
•       Redevelopment, including the negotiation, preparation, and interpretation of Owner Participation Agreements and Disposition and Development Agreements.

We provide legal counsel throughout the entire development process beginning with initial project planning to obtaining and processing necessary approvals, entitlements and environmental clearances for residential and commercial developments. We appear before all administrative and judicial bodies dealing with land use and other related matters.  We deliver the highest quality legal services to our land use clients with professionalism, accessibility and efficiency to assist them in achieving their goals.

The firm represents and advises public agencies on a wide range of local government finance matters, including, but not limited to the following:

• General Taxes:
  • Property Tax,
  • Sales and Use Tax,
  • Business License Tax,
  • Utility User’s Tax, and
  • Transient Occupancy Tax;
• Special Taxes:
  • Mello-Roos Community Facilities Tax,
  • Special Tax for Library Services,
  • Parcel Tax, and
  • Police and Fire Services Special Tax;
• Special Benefit Assessments, Assessment District formation and administration,
• Mello-Roos Community Facilities District formation and proceedings,
• Business Improvement District formation and administration,
• Development Impact Fees,
• Franchise Fees, and
• Fees, Rates and Charges.

The Law Offices of Robert F. Messinger also serves as Bond Counsel, Special Counsel, Disclosure Counsel, Underwriter’s Counsel or Developer’s Counsel in connection with a wide variety of financings, including the following:

• Mello-Roos Bonds,
• Marks-Roos Pooled Financings,
• Tax Allocation Bonds,
• Special Assessment Bonds,
• Lease Revenue Bonds,
• Enterprise Revenue Bonds,
• Nonprofit Corporation Conduit Financings, and
• Certificates of Participation/Tax-exempt Leases.

The firm’s attorneys have participated in the issuance of in excess of $1 billion in municipal securities.

We deliver the highest quality legal services to our clients with professionalism, accessibility and efficiency to assist them in achieving their goals.