Partner
Megan K. Garibaldi
Megan Garibaldi is a partner in BBK's Municipal Law and Special District practice groups. Her practice emphasizes all aspects of local governmental law, including the Brown Act, Public Records Act, and the Political Reform Act, as well as planning, zoning, housing, and environmental laws. Megan also has extensive experience representing cities and special districts on issues involving Proposition 218.
Megan currently serves as the City Attorney for the Cities of Laguna Beach, Goleta and Hawaiian Gardens, and interim General Counsel for the Laguna Beach County Water District. Megan works hard to ensure that the governing boards and councils she advises operate legally and smoothly to best serve their constituents. In politically dynamic atmospheres, Megan’s level head and calm influence helps guide councils and boards to find common ground. She presents regularly on issues of interest to local government officials, including ethics and the Brown Act.
Megan also serves as lead special litigation counsel for a number of cities and special districts throughout California on various issues, including specifically the Brown Act, Public Records Act, land use, housing, and Proposition 218. Megan leverages her litigation experience to successfully advise her general counsel clients. She is able to use the lens of litigation to anticipate where potential or unexpected risks or pitfalls may lie and to use that perspective to be agile and creative in her counsel.
Prior to joining BBK, Megan was a partner at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, in both the Governmental Law and Real Estate groups. During that time, Megan served as acting, assistant, and deputy city attorney to several Orange County cities. While in law school, Megan served as Senior Editor of the Southern California Law Review. She graduated from USC’s Gould School of Law at approximately the top 10% of her class. Megan is an Orange County native, and still lives there today. She is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
- Advised government agencies and private entities regarding governmental permitting and CEQA and RHNA compliance, as well as litigation risks and resolution associated with proposed developments
- Successfully pursued litigation relating to use of existing entitlements, including conditional use permit and inverse condemnation claims
- Successfully defended multiple CEQA challenges on behalf of governmental agencies relating to proposed housing and commercial developments
- Advised municipal governments on regulatory and environmental compliance relating to distributed energy resources technology and power generation and distribution facilities
- Prevailed in numerous cases raising constitutional challenges to complex municipal financing mechanisms employed by local government agency
- Negotiated and drafted various real estate transfer documents on behalf of private entities, including, but not limited to, purchase agreements, easements, leases and assignment agreements
- Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Legislative and Government Affairs, 2013-2022
- Orange County Bar Association
- Thomas House Family Shelter, Former Member, Board of Directors
Presentations
- "Representation in the City Attorney’s Office: The Changing Faces of Municipal Law," League of California Cities’ 2023 Municipal Law Institute Symposium, Center for Social Justice and Public Service, Santa Clara University School of Law, Feb. 3, 2023
- "Understanding Public Service Ethics Laws and Principles (AB 1234)," League of California Cities New Mayors and Council Members Academy, Feb. 2, 2023
- "What is a Housing Element and Why Is It Important?," Argent Communications Group California Land Use Law, Policy and Planning Virtual Annual Conference, Dec. 7, 2022
