Municipal Law/Public Sector

The attorneys at Kendricks Bordeau, P.C. advise and represent municipalities and other public-sector clients in a wide range of matters. We draw on our many years of experience in municipal law and our extensive understanding of the policies and practices of local governments and public entities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Over more than 100 years, our firm has built a stellar reputation for delivering the same quality of legal services as a big firm combined with a level of personal service that is possible only in a small firm with an established local presence.

Legal Services for Municipalities and Public Entities

Clients in our municipal law practice at Kendricks Bordeau include some of the largest cities in the Upper Peninsula, as well as townships, villages, counties, utilities, and other public-sector entities. Our services cover a diverse range of subjects across all aspects of our clients’ authority and operations.

Many members of our firm’s team have spent their lives in the Upper Peninsula. Many serve the community through leadership in local organizations. These deep roots, combined with our many years of experience, provide us with an exceptional level of local knowledge that significantly enhances our ability to serve the needs and goals of municipalities and public entities in the Upper Peninsula.

We provide legal guidance to help clients navigate issues arising under various federal, state, and local laws and regulations and also represent our clients in administrative and judicial proceedings at the state and federal level. In both transactions and litigation, our municipal law experience and knowledge span the full gamut of substantive areas that our clients encounter. The following concerns illustrate the types of matters encompassed by our municipal law practice:

Federal and State Laws and Regulations

We regularly help clients navigate the requirements of federal and state statutes and regulations that apply to local government operations, such as:

• The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
• The Open Meetings Act (OMA)
• State laws authorizing and governing public bodies, such as libraries, tourism councils, public housing, and recreational authorities
• Election laws
• Municipal utility laws
• Property acquisition (including eminent domain and condemnation)
• Public Employment Relations Act (PERA)
• Tax laws and regulations

Contracts and Agreements

Drafting, reviewing, and interpreting contracts and agreements are an important part of the services we provide to our municipal law clients. Protecting the clients legal rights to the maximum extent possible and minimizing potential liability are always critical goals in creating or implementing contracts and agreements.

Ordinance Drafting, Review and Interpretation

Our municipal law practice routinely includes preparation, review, and interpretation of ordinances.

Zoning and Land Use Planning

We work with municipal clients on a broad range of matters relating to zoning and land use planning.

Real Estate

Our real estate services extend to purchases, sales, leases, and other transactions involving real property, such as rural development grant title opinions.

Labor and Employment

Municipal and public-sector clients count on our labor and employment lawyers for advice and representation on matters touching on all aspects of employment law. We have decades of experience handling public-sector labor relations, including negotiations, grievances, and arbitrations.

Civil and Criminal Enforcement Actions

Our attorneys advise public-sector clients on code enforcement actions, including zoning and building code enforcement.

Litigation and Administrative Proceedings

We represent public entities before federal and state courts and administrative agencies in litigation and administrative proceedings spanning a wide range of subjects, including civil rights and constitutional claims, governmental liability and immunity, and negligence.

Other Municipal Law and Public-Sector Services

The municipal law practice at Kendricks Bordeau covers an extensive range of subjects, including many beyond the areas listed here. For municipal and public-sector clients, our attorneys often serve in a general or special counsel capacity, providing advice and representation on issues of first impression that arise in the course of the client’s operations.