Skip to Main Content
  • About Us
  • People
  • Capabilities
  • News & Insights
  • Events
  1. Practices
  2. Municipal Law

Municipal Law

stock image city street

Many of our lawyers have served as town attorney to numerous towns throughout Connecticut over the last twenty years. In that capacity, lawyers at the firm have provided a wide range of municipal law services including drafting and reviewing charter provisions, ordinances, land use regulations, and contracts. We have also handled freedom of information, parliamentary rules, ethics and general governance issues, as well as various types of litigation, including property tax foreclosures and land use appeals. In addition, we have advised towns on various election laws, including referendum, minority party representation and absentee ballot statuses.  For years, we have proudly provided pro-bono legal services as general counsel to the Connecticut Council of Small Towns.

 

We represent many governmental and quasi-public entities as general counsel or special counsel on a wide range of issues including:

  • drafting and interpreting legislation 
  • drafting and adopting agency policies and procedures 
  • advising on the status of agency employees under state legislation and civil service laws 

We have extensive experience in government procurement and contracting, including privatization initiatives, and the statutory and constitutional framework within which such governmental entities operate.

The work we have done for our governmental and quasi-governmental clients has included:

  • drafting legislation;
  • drafting and reviewing RFQs, RFIs, RFPs and other bid solicitations;
  • municipal finance including development of procedures relating to contracting, procurement, bonding, financial assistance programs and related matters;
  • labor and employment counsel and the development of personnel policies, employee handbooks, etc.;
  • Freedom of Information Act compliance, including public meeting requirements and public records requirements and proceedings before the Freedom of Information Commission;
  • Code of Ethics compliance, including requests for informal staff advisory opinions and formal ethics opinions;
  • advice regarding the applicability of, and compliance with, Executive Orders of the Governor and the State Contracting Requirements;
  • compliance with statutory reporting requirements;
  • consideration and advice concerning various Attorney General’s Opinions;
  • counsel regarding funding, purchasing and grant administration regulations;
  • advice on insurance matters;
  • corporate and business matters;
  • commercial real estate, finance and other transactional matters; and
  • environmental and land use matters, and advice pertaining to the Connecticut Transfer Act.

We represent many governmental and quasi-public entities as general counsel or special counsel on a wide range of issues including:

  • drafting and interpreting legislation 
  • drafting and adopting agency policies and procedures 
  • advising on the status of agency employees under state legislation and civil service laws 

We have extensive experience in government procurement and contracting, including privatization initiatives, and the statutory and constitutional framework within which such governmental entities operate.

The work we have done for our governmental and quasi-governmental clients has included:

  • drafting legislation;
  • drafting and reviewing RFQs, RFIs, RFPs and other bid solicitations;
  • municipal finance including development of procedures relating to contracting, procurement, bonding, financial assistance programs and related matters;
  • labor and employment counsel and the development of personnel policies, employee handbooks, etc.;
  • Freedom of Information Act compliance, including public meeting requirements and public records requirements and proceedings before the Freedom of Information Commission;
  • Code of Ethics compliance, including requests for informal staff advisory opinions and formal ethics opinions;
  • advice regarding the applicability of, and compliance with, Executive Orders of the Governor and the State Contracting Requirements;
  • compliance with statutory reporting requirements;
  • consideration and advice concerning various Attorney General’s Opinions;
  • counsel regarding funding, purchasing and grant administration regulations;
  • advice on insurance matters;
  • corporate and business matters;
  • commercial real estate, finance and other transactional matters; and
  • environmental and land use matters, and advice pertaining to the Connecticut Transfer Act.

Related Practices

  • Public Finance
  • Business and Corporate

Insights

Publications

June 24, 2024

Department of Justice Issues Final Rule on Web Accessibility and the ADA

→

April 26, 2024

EPA Sets Stringent Federal Drinking Water Limits for PFAS: Major Challenges and Costs to Follow for Drinking Water Suppliers, Big and Small

→
Load More +

News

November 7, 2024

Shipman Ranked Among "Best Law Firms®" for 2025

→

November 2, 2023

Shipman Ranked Among U.S. News' 2024 "Best Law Firms"

→
Load More +

Events

May 1, 2025

Labor and Employment Spring Seminar: 2025 Public Sector Legal Update

→

October 9, 2024

ConnPELRA: Collective Bargaining Workshop for Municipal Labor Relations Professionals

→
Load More +

Primary Contacts

Matt Ritter bio photo
Matthew D. Ritter

Partner

860.251.5092

mritter@goodwin.com
See All Related Professionals

Keep in Touch

Stay current with our latest insights

Manage Subscriptions
  • Lawyers
  • Capabilities
  • Events
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Pro Bono and Community
  • Blogs and Resource Centers
  • Insights
  • Podcasts
  • Dobbs Decision Resource Center
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility Statement

© Shipman & Goodwin LLP™ 2025. All Rights Reserved