Municipal and Government Law
NK+M was founded by lawyers who met while in government service. Over the years we have successfully recruited lawyers with extensive government experience, either as prosecutors or as civil counsel. Members of the firm have represented municipalities, municipal officials and public entities in litigation and administrative proceedings from our offices in Manchester, New Hampshire and Boston, Massachusetts. The firm also uses its governmental experience to assist private entities in connection with government contracting, regulation and investigation. Over the years, this has included clients in the construction, health care, financial services and environmental sectors.
Statutory Compliance and Litigation
State and local agencies face a web of often complex statutory and regulatory compliance. NK+M has experience representing governmental entities in developing strategies for meeting statutory mandates, as well as in defense of matters brought to court when those strategies are challenged. NK+M’s attorneys have developed particularly strong knowledge regarding cost-effective and legally sufficient responses to Right-to-Know requests, and have defended government agencies’ practices before the New Hampshire Supreme Court. We also have a great deal of experience assistng government agencies in complying with employment and environmental law and regulations.
Governmental Compliance
Business and professional clients increasingly find they need counsel who can respond successfully when their business activities threaten to trigger government intervention. We have assisted clients facing investigation under FINRA and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. We have also assisted with Medicare/Medicaid fraud investigations, actions to bar government contractors from further bidding, and liquidation actions by State securities act regulators.
Police And Civil Rights Liability
We are experienced in defending police departments, police officers and other municipal departments and officials in both State and Federal Court against claims that they have violated individual civil rights. This has included defense against claims brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, as well as defamation, invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, and infliction of emotional distress.
Employment Counseling And Litigation
Government employers often face constitutional claims brought by current or former employees, as well as claims brought under anti-discrimination laws and other State and Federal statutes governing the treatment of employees. The obligations of Government employers differ from those of private employers under many applicable laws, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Our attorneys have extensive knowledge of the requirements governing employer-employee relations in the government context, and in working with governmental decision-making bodies, such as boards of selectmen, city councils, or county commissioners. We are able to provide counseling in order to ensure compliance with applicable laws, as well as a vigorous defense when litigation ensues.
Environmental and Land Use
Regulation of the environment and access to natural resources, and exposure to pollution and environmental conditions, command a prime place in the public eye. The lawyers in our Environmental and Toxic Tort Litigation Group have the knowledge and experience to guide municipal clients through their permitting requirements and statutory and regulatory obligations, and to defend government entities on claims involving environmental remediation, toxic exposures, and groundwater contamination, in addition to other environmental claims. Town planning and zoning regulations are often the basis of controversies which require Cities and Towns to seek legal advice. The lawyers in our group have extensive experience in assisting local zoning and planning boards in carrying out their responsibilities and in representing them in the legal process when their decisions are challenged .
Property Damage And Personal Defense
Government entities are often sued for causing property damage or personal injury. Property damage cases are often brought by owners of real estate who claim that municipalities have altered drainage patterns or failed to adequately maintain drainage systems, thus causing water and flood damage to their property. Personal injury claims can arise from any bodily injuries that occur on municipal property or alleged caused by the actions of a municipal employee in the course of his or her employment. Our attorneys are experienced in the defense of such litigation, as well as the various immunities that can protect or limit the exposure of our government clients.
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