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MUNICIPAL COUNSEL BRANCH
The Municipal Branch of
the Office of the City Attorney serves as
the general counsel to all City Departments,
offices, elected officials and Commissions
as well as to the Community Redevelopment
Agency and the Housing Authority. The attorneys
in this branch give written and oral advice,
draft ordinances, negotiate and draft transactional
documents and litigate matters within their
areas of expertise.
Retirement Benefits Divison
The Retirement Benefits Division provides legal advice and representation
to the City of Los Angeles' pension and retirement funds: the Fire
and Police Pension Plan, the Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement
System (LACERS), and the Water and Power Employees' Retirement Plan.
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General Counsel Division
The General Counsel Division is legal counsel to
the various City officers and departments, not specifically represented
by one of the other Municipal Counsel Divisions, including the Departments
of Aging, Convention Center, Cultural Affairs, Disability, Fire,
General Services (Purchasing Division), Information & Technology,
Library, Public Works, Recreation & Parks, Transportation,
the Los Angeles Zoo and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument
Authority. In addition to advising these departments and their commissions,
the Division attorneys also advise the Council committees having
subject matter jurisdiction over the work of those departments. The
Division also prepares and reviews contracts for other City departments,
including the LAPD, Building and Safety, Planning and Personnel,
and represents the City's interests in public utility matters regulated
by the California Public Utilities Commission.
In addition to providing legal advice, the attorneys
review, edit, draft, and negotiate contracts and other transactional
documents, draft ordinances, opinions and memorandum and handle some
litigation, primarily writs, law and motion, appellate and other
short cause matters in both federal and state court.
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General Counsel to the Department of Airports Division
The General Counsel to the Department of Airports
provides general legal counsel to the City of Los Angeles Department
of Airports and Board of Airport Commissioners. The City of Los Angeles
owns and operates four airports, collectively known as Los Angeles
World Airports: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which has
the third largest passenger volume in the world; Ontario International
Airport (ONT), which is a growing regional airport with some international
flights; Van Nuys Airport (VNY), which is the most active general
aviation airport in the United States; and Palmdale Airport (PMD),
which is currently the home of a major maintenance operation. Division
attorneys are assisting with the Master Plans for all four airports,
including the land use and environmental issues.
The General Counsel to the Department of Airports
Division provides legal advice on all matters related to the operation
and management of the four airports. This entails handling a wide
range of matters, including direct and inverse condemnation, nuisance,
bankruptcy, tenant disputes, exercise of First Amendment rights,
contracts, noise regulations, federal regulations, labor law, police
matters arising from the Airport Police Department, and environmental
law. The attorneys also represent the Department in lawsuits pending
in state and federal courts and before various administrative bodies
such as the Civil Services Commission, the California Public Utilities
Commission and the U.S. and California Departments of Transportation.
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General Counsel to the Harbor Department Division
The General Counsel to the Los Angeles Harbor
Department provides general legal counsel to the Port of Los Angeles
and the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority. The Harbor Division
attorneys draft and approve all Harbor Department leases and contracts,
specifications for Harbor Department projects, including construction
projects and all real property transactions, including all permits
issued by the Department. In addition, the attorneys advise the Department
and Commission on all property management, marketing, international
trade requirements, maritime commerce, fishing industry, environmental,
railroad operating and other matters related to maritime law. They
also represent the Department in litigation involving contract disputes,
environmental matters, police cases generated by the Port Police and
various maritime and shipping disputes.
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General Counsel to the Department of Water and
Power Division
The General Counsel to the Department of
Water and Power (LADWP) Division provides general legal counsel to
assist the LADWP in successfully operating the largest municipal utility
in the nation. The Division attorneys frequently appear before State
and Federal Courts, as well as the California Air Resources Board and
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. LADWP attorneys address a
broad range of legal issues, including groundwater pumping and water
rights, water and power rates, and the sale and purchase of generating
facilities.
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Government Counsel Division
The Government Counsel Division provides
general legal counsel and representation to the Mayor's Office, the
City Council, its members and committees, the Chief Legislative Analyst's
Office, the City Clerk, and the Ethics Commission. The attorneys in
this Division draft motions, ordinances, opinions and advice letters.
They work closely with our City's elected officials and offices and
provide legal guidance on all matters of municipal concern, including
ordinances, ethics, elections, open meetings laws and legislative procedures.
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Labor Relations Division
Labor Relations - It's an ART!
Advise, Represent, Train
The Labor Relations Division provides legal advice
and representation to the Mayor, City Council, City boards, commissions
and departments on all aspects of labor and employment law involving
the City of Los Angeles. The labor issues they address include: employment
discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, national origin, religion
and sexual harassment; labor negotiations; grievances; labor arbitration;
OSHA compliance; threat management; and civil service.
The mission of the Labor Relations Division is to
defend the City with integrity and professionalism, and to advise
management in all aspects of labor and employment matters. Labor
Relations attorneys strive to provide consistent and pragmatic advice
in order to provide City managers with the tools to make informed
choices in labor related matters. Division attorneys interpret and
apply a variety of federal and state laws, as well as the City's
labor and employment policies and directives.
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Neighborhood Council Advice Division
City Attorney Delgadillo created the Neighborhood
Council Advice Division to provide proactive legal advice and to
assist the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, its Commission,
and neighborhood councils in achieving their goals.
The Neighborhood Council Advice attorneys provide
legal advice and legal representation on matters such as the Brown
Act, conflict of interest laws, liability issues, contracts, City
Charter and relevant legislation. The Division attorneys work closely
with the Commission and members of the community to assist with the
certification of neighborhood councils and provide advice regarding
the formation of prospective councils. Many neighborhood councils
have been certified to date, and many more are in the planning and
development stages.
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Real Estate and Economic Development Practice Group
The Real Estate and Economic Development Practice
Group is dedicated to assisting in creating economic development
opportunities in the City. The Real Estate and Economic Development
Practice Group works toward this effort by combining the expertise
in four associated divisions:
- Public Finance Division:
expertise in bond and other public financing
in the
- Real Property and Environment Division: expertise
in all property transactions and environmental protection requirements
in the
- Land Use Division: expertise in land use
regulation in the
- Economic Development and Housing Division:
expertise in grant funded programs for activities such as affordable
housing, economic development, job training and development, child
care and legal services, gang prevention, community facilities
and homeless.
This Practice Group consolidation will
ensure that these various Divisions work
in a coordinated, efficient and helpful
manner to assist the City in the development
of the City's property as well as the economic
development of all parts of the City of
Los Angeles.
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Municipal Counsel Appellate Division
The Municipal Counsel Appellate Division oversees
all appeals and writs arising out of the Municipal Counsel Branch.
The Division represents the City as amicus curiae in cases concerned
with developing or problematic areas of law with potential impact
on the City. In addition, the Division conducts moot courts and
serves as a resource for other Municipal Counsel divisions of the
Office of the City Attorney.
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