Administrative and Public Proceedings
Federal and State Licenses (Merchant Mariner Documents, Real Estate, Medical, Contracting, Family Daycare, Real Estate, Insurance and Community Care Services Licenses)
Hearings (Variances, Nonconforming Uses, Building Permits, Right-to-Take Proceedings)
Dealing with public entities and agencies can be an exhausting, frustrating experience — especially for the sophisticated professional and the seasoned contractor used to solving complex problems without involving an attorney.
Many of our clients in this area come to us because they have received a “notice” that seems more contrived to satisfy some legal requirement rather than to explain anything of substance to them. Other clients have done extensive research on their own in order to obtain a license or other permit but have hit an immovable wall with a counter clerk or case analyst. And sometimes a client finds his or her ability to make a living threatened with a revocation or suspension procedure.
If you are having a problem applying for or retaining a license for yourself, if you have run into difficulty negotiating the administrative morass that often accompanies making improvements to real property, or if you have received a notice informing you that a hearing will be held regarding the public necessity of taking your land, we are prepared to help you cut through this “red tape.” We can make phone calls and write letters on your behalf, making sure that those communications are specifically targeted those with the authority to make decisions regarding your matter. Often we directly contact the legal departments of these entities to present your position to a mind trained to spot legal problems and litigation risk. And we appear frequently at administrative and public hearings on our clients’ behalf to present their views to an administrative judge or city council. We always try to achieve our goals at the lowest possible level, but understand the importance of laying the groundwork to preserve our clients’ claims should the need for litigation arise.
Sometimes it seems like the government holds all the cards. And, while the deck is often stacked against the private party, we know how the game is played.