Heather practices employment, education, construction and business law, representing both public and private sector clients in litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and transactional matters.
Heather has more than a decade of experience in construction law, helping clients develop efficient and smooth running construction projects. She has represented public agency project owners as well as general and sub-contractors on public works projects - with a special emphasis on educational facilities. She has extensive experience litigating and advising school districts and other public agency project owners on payment and performance issues (including delay, disruption, acceleration, and change order disputes), surety issues (including payment, performance and license bonds), bidding, prequalification, stop notices, and warranty issues.
Heather has experience drafting bid documents and a variety of construction contracts (including surety takeover agreements and professional services agreements) and investigating projects during and after construction. She is adept at identifying and minimizing risk in construction contracts because of her familiarity with the construction process and successful litigation record.
In addition to handling the full spectrum of construction issues, Heather has experience representing school districts, community college districts and independent schools in matters related to, policies and procedures, grade change appeals, parent/student handbooks, employee handbooks, and employment issues.
Heather's employment experience includes handling issues relating to hiring, terminations, layoffs, discrimination and harassment.
Heather also has experience advising community colleges on compliance with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and redistricting issues. She provides analysis and interpretation of the requirements of the CVRA, evaluation of client options to comply with CVRA, review of consulting agreements, and advice on procedures for changing from an at-large election system to a by-trustee area election method. Heather also has experience advising on the Federal Voting Rights and general redistricting requirements.
Heather advises clients on compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and related healthcare laws.