Municipalities & Authorities

Members of Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. have extensive experience working with cities, townships, boroughs, and public authorities and understand the special issues you face. We pool our vast breadth of knowledge to produce favorable and cost-effective results for our clients.

Our attorneys keep current on various developments and trends affecting your interests and have practical, hands-on experience in the full range of relevant legal disciplines. We cover all of your legal needs in areas such as:

Governmental Practice

• Counsel on all matters of municipal liability and immunity
• Provide counsel on parliamentary procedures for public meetings
• Draft and resolve matters involving municipal procurement, including public bidding issues
• Counsel on housing and urban development issues
• Advise on general aviation legal matters and public utility law
• Counsel regarding eminent domain matters
• Provide general counsel to water and sewer authorities
• Advise on compliance with the Municipality Authorities Act, Sunshine Act, Public Official and Employees Ethics Act, and Right-To-Know Law
• Provide counsel on port-related matters

Public Finance & Bonds

• Serve as bond and underwriters' counsel
• Secure required approvals under the Local Government Unit Debt Act
• Document finance transaction for general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, tax and revenue anticipation notes, specialized facilities bonds, and industrial development bonds
• Provide opinions regarding the validity, security, tax-exempt, and tax credit status of bonds, notes, and leases
• Assist in reviewing official statements to enable compliance with federal securities disclosure laws
• Monitor arbitrage regulations
• Advise public bodies on federal tax compliance issues

Real Estate

• Act as solicitor for governing bodies and zoning hearing boards in connection with variance requests, subdivision applications, and rezoning petitions
• Represent public bodies in buying, selling, or developing potentially contaminated property
• Negotiate and prepare leases and other administrative contracts
• Eminent domain proceedings

Environmental Law

• Sewage facilities planning and permitting - Act 537 compliance
• Stormwater permitting
• Recycling
• Water supply

Labor & Employment

• Negotiate collective bargaining agreements
• Provide guidance on bargaining unit issues and all union-related issues
• Represent in grievance processing, labor arbitration, and all matters before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board
• Advise and counsel on all aspects of employment law
• Representation in EEOC and PHRC discrimination claims, unemployment compensation and OSHA matters, and before other administrative agencies
• Prepare employment-related documents and agreements
• Train and update management and supervisors on critical workplace issues

Workers' Compensation

• Defense of work injury claims
• Counsel on loss control and prevention

Litigation

• Defend liability, civil rights, discrimination, employee benefit, and whistle blower claims
• Defend and prosecute contract claims
• Provide representation in alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation
• Counsel on debarment of public contractors

Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights

• Obtaining relief from stay regarding outstanding taxes and debts
• Collect outstanding taxes and debts
• Consult on collection practices