Foster Swift has a reputation as one of the premier municipal law firms in Michigan. Our lawyers regularly represent townships, cities, villages, counties and libraries in many different roles. We are actively involved in the Michigan Townships Association and the Michigan Municipal League, and our lawyers have been deeply involved in municipal issues for decades. Some of our municipal practice specialties include:
- Ordinance drafting and enforcement
- Land use, zoning and land division
- Election law issues, millage elections, and ballot language
- Annexation defense and detachment representation
- Property taxes and Tax Tribunal proceedings
- Development and extension of municipal sewer and water systems
- Municipal finance, special assessments, installment purchases, and bond issuer's counsel
- First Amendment questions and privacy issues
- Municipal litigation
- Appeals
- Labor relations and employment law
- Condemnation
- Environmental regulation and compliance
- Utility franchises and telecommunications
- Contracts, licensing issues and operating policies
- Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act issues
- Creation and representation of municipal authorities
Our firm is on the cutting edge of municipal law. Our monthly publications keep our clients up-to-date on new developments in municipal law. Several of our lawyers are acknowledged municipal law experts that are frequently called upon to teach at education programs for municipal officials and other municipal lawyers.
Publications & Alerts
- An Exception to an Exemption: Michigan’s Lessee-User Tax, August 2018 Municipal Law News, August 16, 2018
- The Dos and Don’ts of Leasing Property Owned by a Municipality, August 2018 Municipal Law News, August 15, 2018
- Recent Court Decisions Make Clear that Municipalities Must Identify Specific Litigation to be Discussed During Closed Meeting, August 2018 Municipal Law News, August 14, 2018
- Can Your Community Get Connected to Broadband?, April 2018 Municipal Law News, April 24, 2018
- Going Through the Motions, April 2018 Municipal Law News, April 24, 2018
- Maintaining Attorney-Client Privilege in Public Meetings, April 2018 Municipal Law News, April 24, 2018
News
- 31 Foster Swift Attorneys Selected to 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers and “Rising Stars” Lists, September 10, 2018
- Mark Koerner Joins Foster Swift, August 1, 2018
- Hamameh Elected to SBM Board of Commissioners, July 3, 2018
- Law Firm Elects Practice Group Leaders, February 22, 2018
- 21 Foster Swift Attorneys named to 2015 Michigan Super Lawyers and Michigan Rising Stars, September 8, 2015
- 44 Foster Swift Attorneys Named to 2016 Best Lawyers in America® Roster, August 21, 2015
- Upcoming Webinar: What Every Municipal Treasurer Should Know About Bankruptcy, Foster Swift Municipal Law News, June 30, 2015
Events
- Zoning and land uses: Regulation of small houses, Airbnb rentals, vacation rentals, backyard chickens and drones, MTA-UP North Summit, July 31, 2018
- 2018 MTA Annual Conference, MTA, April 23, 2018
- WEBINAR: Property Tax Exemptions: What Every Assessor Needs to Know Webinar, September 20, 2017
- Social Networking and Human Resources Hot Topics, Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association, April 27, 2017
- Medical Marijuana: What’s Legal, What’s Not, and What Can We Do?, March 6, 2017
- Legal Essentials for Municipal Officials, January 18, 2017
- WEBINAR | Millage Proposals and Campaign Finance Issues, March 29, 2016