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Michelle provides legal representation for cities, redevelopment agencies and other public agencies as city attorney and special counsel. Her areas of specialty include land use and planning law, environmental law, redevelopment, eminent domain, rent control, land use litigation and appellate advocacy. She is experienced in both state and federal trial and appellate courts, including written appearances in the U.S. Supreme Court. She has served as lead attorney in several successful published decisions in litigation involving CEQA, inverse condemnation, election law, police powers, civil rights and rent control.
Michelle currently serves at Town Attorney for the Town of Moraga, City Attorney for the Cities of Rohnert Park and Calistoga, Special Counsel to the cities of Berkeley, Burlingame, Pacifica, San Mateo and Yountville, General Counsel for the Livermore-Amador Valley Water Management Agency, and District Counsel for the Ross Valley Sanitary District. She previously has served as City Attorney for the Cities of Lincoln and Pacifica, Interim City Attorney for the cities of Danville, Pacifica, Pleasant Hill, San Bruno, Daly City, and General Counsel for the Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority. Her practice includes advising city councils and staff in municipal law issues such as annexation procedures, bidding and claims procedures, CEQA, code enforcement, conflict of interest laws, contract review, elections, Government Tort Claims Act, initiatives, referenda, land use and planning, municipal finance, open meeting laws, personnel, and redevelopment.
Michelle assisted in establishing and is currently the Shareholder-in-Charge of the firm’s Oakland office which specializes in public and municipal law. Her management duties include office administration, marketing, budgeting, recruitment and case management. | 