Industries & Practices

Public Sector

Public Sector

    We help governments and schools serve their communities effectively and efficiently.

    Providing cutting-edge legal services to public entities has been a key component of our foundation for more than 70 years. We have established ourselves as a go-to law firm for public sector law and have dozens of attorneys who focus their practice exclusively on public law matters.

    As one of the largest public law firms in Ohio, Bricker represents more than 1,000 political subdivisions, including:

    • State agencies
    • Counties
    • Municipalities
    • Townships
    • School districts
    • Libraries
    • Colleges, universities and public hospitals
    • Port authorities
    • Special purpose districts

    Areas of Focus

    Public Finance

    Bricker & Eckler is recognized by the state and its various political subdivisions, as well as by the underwriting community, as a law firm with a national caliber bond counsel opinion. We excel in both routine and complex financial transactions, including bonds, notes, and certificates of indebtedness issued by government or on behalf of all types of nonprofits.

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    Education Law

    We have the largest group of attorneys in Ohio dedicated to the practice of education law. Our clients include more than 200 school districts throughout Ohio, along with educational service centers, information technology centers, colleges and universities, and other education-related entities. The breadth of our collective experience — complemented by our ability to call on attorneys in construction, public finance, government relations, and other practice groups — enables us to personalize our services to address the unique needs of each client in a cost-effective manner. 

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    Economic Development

    We partner with cities, counties, villages and more to find creative and realistic funding options. Our team helps governments acquire the resources they need to create and maintain jobs through special programs established by Ohio law, including tax increment financing (TIF) and joint economic development districts (JEDD). We also assist private property owners in obtaining PACE financing for energy efficiency and alternative energy improvements.

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    Construction

    We provide a full range of construction law services to public entities. Our attorneys, many with engineering and construction management backgrounds, counsel on all aspects of construction projects including schools, libraries, jails, public hospitals, recreation centers, and other public capital projects of all sizes and complexities.

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    Government Relations

    Our skilled lawyer-lobbyists assist political subdivisions, as well as public and private agencies, to navigate legislative, administrative and regulatory challenges. We use firsthand knowledge of complex election, ethics, lobbying and contracting law to build productive relationships with officials and advocate on behalf of clients’ public policy interests. 

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    Employment & Labor

    Whether supporting a small municipality or a regional public hospital system, our attorneys provide insightful employment advice and successful representation. By working together with our public sector clients, anticipating complications and assisting them in preventative measures, we are able to help them maintain a flexible employment operation.

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    Taxation

    Our attorneys help our public sector clients navigate the complexities of ever-changing tax laws. We represent clients in property tax valuation litigation, counsel them on property tax exemption laws and advise them on the tax implications of complex economic development projects. The breadth of our attorneys’ interdisciplinary experience allows us to uniquely address our public sector clients’ needs.    

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    Eminent Domain

    We work with entities, such as pipeline and public utility companies, in eminent domain proceedings. From counseling clients through the right-of-way acquisition process and negotiations to representing them in state and federal court appropriation cases, our attorneys combine significant eminent domain experience with the knowledge of our client’s business/project needs to achieve favorable outcomes.