For Immediate Release: November 12, 2009
Media Contact:  Lisa Kovach • (619) 546-4348 • lkovach@tw2marketing.com

San Diego, Calif. - Best Best & Krieger is proud to announce that one of its attorneys, Ricardo Soto, has been appointed by President Obama as the deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Soto, who joined BB&K’s San Diego office in 2007 as of counsel in the law firm’s school law and special education practice group, will be supporting Assistant Secretary of Education Russlynn Ali in overseeing the work conducted by the department’s civil rights office. Soto will be relocating to Washington D.C.

During his time at BB&K, Soto represented school districts, offices of education and other education institutions as general and special counsel in state and federal courts and before state and federal administrative agencies.

“We are very proud of Ricardo and although we will miss him, his appointment is well-deserved and the DOE has gained a fine attorney and a rising star," said Eric Garner, BB&K managing partner.

Soto has practiced school law, with an emphasis on school accountability, charter schools, employment issues, special education and student issues, for more than ten years. He has also been involved in legal issues concerning higher education, the Fair Political Practices Act, the Brown Act and redistricting election districts.

Prior to joining BB&K, Soto was appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger in August 2005 and served as assistant secretary of education and legal counsel in the Office of the Secretary of Education through February 2007. He advised the Governor’s Office and the Office of the Secretary of Education on policy and legal issues involving legislative and regulatory proposals concerning schools.

BB&K has one of the largest school law practices in California. The firm represents clients as general and special counsel, which school districts find valuable when assessing the legal consequences of their decisions. Specific areas of expertise include charter schools, collective bargaining and labor relations, governance, personnel administration, school facilities and finance matters, education, student rights and discipline.

Statewide, BB&K represents nearly 30 school districts including Anaheim Union High School District, Chino Unified School District, Elk Grove Unified School District, Imperial County SELPA, Merced City Elementary School District, Riverside Unified School District and Vista Unified School District.