News & Publications
Judge Affirms Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Local Special Taxes, Strikes Down Oakland’s Measure AA
On October 15, an Alameda County Superior Court judge affirmed the two-thirds vote requirements in Propositions 13 and 218 apply to voter-circulated measures.
California Supreme Court Hires Retired Justice Scotland and Nielsen Merksamer to Investigate State Bar’s Disclosure of Subjects on the July Bar Exam
On August 28, the Supreme Court announced it has hired retired Justice Scotland and Nielsen Merksamer to conduct an independent investigation
Steve Merksamer Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020
Nielsen Merksamer is pleased to announce that the publication The Best Lawyers in America© selected Steve Merksamer for inclusion in the 26th edition of The Best Lawyers in America, to be published in 2020, an honor he has received every year since 2007. Merksamer was chosen through an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluated their professional peers.
Nielsen Merksamer Attorneys Recognized As 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers/Rising Stars
Steve Merksamer and Chris Skinnell have been named Northern California Super Lawyers, and Elli Abdoli was named a Northern California Rising Star for 2019
Nielsen Merksamer Partner, Kurt Oneto, featured in Public Law Journal discussing the City of Upland case.
CLA members can read the article here.
Nielsen Merksamer Helps West Hollywood Voters Approve Arts Club Project
On March 5, 2019, voters in West Hollywood rejected a referendum aimed at rescinding the City Council’s approval of a multi-use development project on Sunset Boulevard. According to the latest report by the Los Angeles County Registrar, 60.3% of West Hollywood voters voted in favor of the development. Nielsen Merksamer served as Treasurer and counsel to the campaign, which brought together numerous community and elected leaders, as well as an overwhelming majority of West Hollywood residents, in support of the project.
State Ethics & Elections Ballot Measures: National Recap
Government ethics remained a hot topic for voters around the United States in the mid-term 2018 elections. Citizens of at least 12 states had the opportunity on Election Day to vote on ballot measures that covered gifts, campaign contributions, elections, public officials’ conduct, and lobbyist activity. With few exceptions, these measures generally increase ethics oversight and restrictions.
The American Inns of Court Presents Prestigious National Award to Art Scotland at the United States Supreme Court
Nielsen Merksamer is pleased to announce that Art Scotland received the prestigious A. Sherman Christensen Award from the American Inns of Court
Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Elects Steve Merksamer Chair of Its Board of Directors
Nielsen Merksamer is pleased to announce that the board of directors of the Public Policy Institute of California
(PPIC) elected Steve Merksamer to serve as its chair.
California Supreme Court Expands Zoning Referendum Power
On August 23, 2018, the California Supreme Court issued a decision in City of Morgan Hill v. Bushey (No. S243042), holding that “the people of a county or city can challenge . . . a zoning ordinance by referendum, at least where the local government has other means available to make the zoning ordinance and general plan consistent.”