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• o • Our firm also represents our public clients extensively in the area of construction law. We assist clients in preparing construction and consultant contracts so they protect our clients' interests. We also have great experience in construction disputes, both in arbitration and the district courts. MUNICIPAL FINANCING Our firm routinely drafts and reviews municipal contracts, fields questions about the bidding process, reviews bid specifications, represents municipalities on bidding disputes, and provides general counsel on purchasing and selling. The firm regularly advises clients about their financing alternatives in funding public projects or acquisitions. We are familiar with and advise our clients in the areas of Chapter 475 indebtedness, special assessments, lease purchasing, development funding (tax increment financing, etc.) and the like. Through our experience, we understand the TIF laws and the complexities in applying them to development within the City. POLICE ISSUES Aside from dealing with these issues as general counsel for Red Wing, Roseville, Hanover, Cass Lake and Corcoran, we have represented many other municipalities on police- related issues, including the defense of departments on allegations of excessive force, sexual harassment, discrimination and infra- departmental employment matters. This includes representation before the Department of Human Rights and in state and federal court. We also counsel clients on evolving issues such as police access to data concerning maltreatment of minors. LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW As public employers, cities are governed by a large number of laws that do not apply to private employers. Principally, cities are impacted by Minn. Stat. § 179A, the Public Employers Labor Relations Act. Other laws and constitutional provisions apply uniquely to the public sector. Our firm is proud of our extensive experience representing public clients in the municipal labor and employment law areas. Collectively, John Roszak, Patricia Maloney, Kevin Rupp, Terry Foy and Margaret Skelton have negotiated and administered hundreds of municipal collective bargaining agreements. We currently represent the Cities of Mendota Heights and Eagan in labor matters. We represent a number of counties in labor matters including Pine County. We have also done work for the Cities of Prior Lake and Savage. We represent clients in all areas of public sector labor and employment law, including but not limited to negotiation, arbitration, mediation, unit clarifications, veteran's preference hearings, discipline and termination, discrimination, unemployment compensation hearings, civil service matters and the like. We have litigated many public labor cases, and have established positive precedent. For example, in Jereczek v. Intermediate District 287, 1991, 6