Local & Municipal
Our firm’s location in Pennsylvania’s state capital, coupled with the prior experience of many of our attorneys, makes us an ideal partner in Pennsylvania local municipal practice. HMS attorneys act as solicitor and special counsel for large and small municipalities and municipal authorities, especially those encountering complex water, wastewater, land development, and energy issues. We also advise Pennsylvania municipalities with respect to the regulation, licensing, and operation of electric distribution systems and generation projects.
In our capacity as solicitor and special counsel, we advise our municipal clients in areas such as:
- Development and amendment of ordinances
- Public procurement
- Zoning and land use and development matters
- Environmental issues such as water/wastewater regulatory compliance
- Negotiating and drafting of intermunicipal agreements
- Eminent domain issues
- Grant administration and agreements
- Local share funding and other aspects of the host relationship for landfill and casino host municipalities
- Jurisdictional issues related to the delivery of utility services by municipal authorities
- Disputes between authorities and their incorporating municipalities
- Creation and dissolution of municipal authorities
- Litigation involving all aspects of water, wastewater, land development and energy issues
