San Francisco Bay Area
Eric Casher has been assisting public entities, private companies, and nonprofit organizations as a strategic advisor and legal counsel for more than 19 years. Eric specializes in helping clients achieve their strategic goals and objectives by efficiently and effectively navigating the complex regulatory requirements imposed by local, state and federal agencies with an emphasis on strategic advice for public-private partnerships and multi-agency public projects. Eric is a government relations and regulatory law expert with a litigation background that allows him to offer clients unique insights on risk management. Eric has unique experience and expertise dealing with the challenges that government agencies, cities, counties and special districts face as they implement their mandates and missions. He is a former Chair of the Municipal and Special District Law Practice Group, overseeing the work of Meyers Nave attorneys who serve as City Attorney for municipalities of all sizes and General Counsel for Special Districts of all types throughout California. Eric currently serves as City Attorney for the City of Pinole in the San Francisco Bay Area, and General Counsel of the East Bay Dischargers Authority, a joint powers agency consisting of five local agencies that manages wastewater treatment and disposal for a population of 900,000. Eric’s unique first-hand governmental and regulatory experience also includes being appointed by then Attorney General Kamala Harris to serve a four-year term as Commissioner on the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), which enforces political campaign, lobbying and conflict of interest laws. Eric’s FPPC experience contributes to the expertise he provides to clients in matters relating to governance, statutory powers, Ralph M. Brown Act, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act and other conflict of interest laws. Eric’s leadership experience includes serving 5 years as Chair of Meyers Nave’s Diversity Committee, President of the Board of Directors for both California ChangeLawyers and the Charles Houston Bar Association, and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the California Minority Counsel Program. The Black Law Students Association of the University of California Hastings College of the Law honored Eric with the Distinguished Alumni Award and Alumni of the Year Award. He also received the “President’s Award” from the Charles Houston Bar Association and “Unity Award” from the Minority Bar Coalition.
www.redwoodpubliclaw.com
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) was created by the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Act), a ballot initiative passed by California voters in 1974 as Proposition 9. To meet its responsibilities under the Act, the Commission adopts and amends regulations. It also develops required forms, prepares manuals and instructions, aids agencies and public officials with record keeping and reporting, and maintains a central file of statements of economic interests (SEI) for certain state and local officials. The Commission also investigates alleged violations of the Political Reform Act, imposes penalties when appropriate, and assists state and local agencies in the development and enforcement of conflict-of-interest codes. In an effort to reduce these violations, the FPPC educates the public and public officials on the requirements of the Act and provides written and oral advice to public agencies and officials and conducts seminars and training sessions. The FPPC regulates: •campaign financing and spending •financial conflicts of interest •lobbyist registration and reporting •post-governmental employment •mass mailings at public expense •gifts and honoraria given to public officials and candidates http://www.fppc.ca.gov/index.php?id=58