News & Publications

First District Court of Appeal Unanimously Rules the Ellis Act Preempts San Francisco’s 10-Year Ban on Residential Unit Mergers

The First District Court of Appeal issued a unanimous ruling on September 19, striking down a San Francisco ordinance that sought to ban the merger of residential units (i.e., merging two smaller units into one larger one, or merging part of one unit into another unit) for 10 years after an owner exercises rights under the Ellis Act to remove the units from the rental market.

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California Treasurer Restricts Bond Financers from Participating in Bond Election Campaigns

California State Treasurer John Chiang announced a new policy on July 27, prohibiting bond finance firms, bond counsel, underwriters, and financial advisers from engaging in state-issued bond sales unless they stay out of bond election campaigns in California.

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Nielsen Merksamer Attorneys Recognized As 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers/Rising Stars

Nielsen Merksamer is pleased to announce that Steve Merksamer has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer and Chris Skinnell and Elli Abdoli were named Northern California Rising Stars for 2016.  The lists recognize leading attorneys in the State.  This is Merksamer’s sixth time being selected as a Super Lawyer, having been chosen previously in 2009-2012 and 2015; it is Skinnell’s fourth time being selected as Rising Star, having been previously selected in 2013, 2014 and 2015; and it is Ms. Abdoli’s first time being selected as a Rising Star.

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Jim Gross Talks Health Care Reform Following the 2016 Election

On June 3, 2016, Nielsen Merksamer partner Jim Gross joined State of Reform to discuss what a Republican President in 2017 could mean for California’s health care reform.

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Chip Nielsen Recognized as Leading Political Law Practitioner by Chambers and Partners

Nielsen Merksamer is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has ranked Chip Nielsen as one of the leading practitioners in the nation in Political Law in 2016. Chambers ranks law firms and individual lawyers in bands from 1-6, with 1 being the best. Mr. Nielsen was ranked in Band 1.

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California Senate Suspends Contribution Blackout Period

On May 12, 2016, the California Senate voted to suspend its self-imposed “blackout period” on Senators soliciting or accepting contributions from lobbyist employers.  With the first blackout period set to begin upon the impending release of the Governor’s “May Revise” budget, the Senate suspended Rule 56 to allow Senators to continue fundraising into the budget negotiation season and during the last month of the legislative session.

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Essential Ethics: Nielsen Merksamer Attorneys Provide Political and Election Law Briefing

On February 10, 2016, Nielsen Merksamer attorneys hosted their annual “Essential Ethics” event for more than 100 government affairs representatives, general counsels, and political compliance officers. Essential Ethics is a complimentary briefing on the top political compliance issues to watch and election priorities to track for 2016.

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Essential Ethics: Political and Election Law Briefing in Sacramento on February 10, 2016

Government affairs representatives, general counsels, and political compliance officers, will be invited to join Nielsen Merksamer on February 10, 2016 for a complimentary briefing on the top political compliance issues to watch and election priorities to track for 2016

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Nielsen Merksamer Prevails in Lawsuit Declaring Illegal Land Use Referendum Ineligible for the Ballot

On December 4, 2015, Superior Court Judge Leslie Nichols ruled that a referendum seeking to block land use approvals for mining operations in Amador County was invalid and ineligible for the ballot. The Judge concluded that the referendum petition was beyond the power of the people to propose because it sought to refer a non-legislative (i.e., administrative) act.

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Kaune, Skelton, and Lim To Lead Campaign Finance, Enforcement Discussions at Major Ethics Conference

Nielsen Merksamer political law partners Jason Kaune, Jennie Skelton, and Darrin Lim will discuss the latest developments in campaign finance regulation and political law enforcements at a major governmental ethics conference on December 6 – 9 in Boston, MA.

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