Carroll Burdick & McDonough LLP is pleased to announce Public Sector Labor Partner Gregg Adam has been selected for inclusion in the Daily Journal’s Top 20 Municipal Lawyers. The Daily Journal describes this select group of California lawyers as “unsung legal heroes” in a wide range of practice areas. Gregg was the only union-side lawyer selected amongst this year's group. The Daily Journal featured Adam in the following article in its November 6, 2013 supplement:

Adam's clients often have to contend with life and death on a daily basis. That's what he loves about his job. Over the course of his 14 years at Carroll Burdick in San Francisco, Adam has advocated for policemen, firefighters and correctional officers, all for whom he has a deep respect.

"It's a real privilege to represent people working in public employment, which has been taking a hit in the last few years," he said.

Adam said his practice is made up of three key elements: disciplinary cases for public employees accused of wrongdoing, litigation and negotiations.

His current work includes representing the San Jose Police Officers' Association in a battle over a pension reform measure proposed by San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. Measure B dramatically decreases retirement benefits for police officers represented by the association, he said, and would force them into plans with reduced benefits. San Jose Police Officers' Association v. City of San Jose, 113CV245503 (Santa Clara County Super. Ct., filed April 29, 2013).

"Pensions are a big deal for public employees," he said. "That kind of action creates litigation."

In June, Adam successfully argued before the state Supreme Court on behalf of the Engineers and Architects Association. Los Angeles argued it had grounds to unilaterally furlough employees and that an arbitrator lacked jurisdiction to determine whether that action violated a collective bargaining agreement. City of Los Angeles v. Engineers & Architects Association, BS126192 (L.A. County Super. Ct., filed June 20, 2013).

In a 7-0 decision, the court ruled in favor of protecting the right to labor arbitration for alleged violations of collective bargaining agreement, even when the charter city had declared a fiscal emergency.

"That is one of the fun things about this practice," Adam said. "You get to work on some high level cases with drama."

- ALEXANDRA SCHWAPPACH