Press Releases

John Brown will serve as town attorney; Haviva Shane as assistant town attorney

The Apple Valley Town Council announced last week that it has selected the law firm of Best Best & Krieger LLP (BB&K) to serve as town attorney, effective July 15, 2008, replacing longtime town attorney Neal Singer who recently retired from full time practice.  John E. Brown, a partner with the firm’s Ontario office, will act as town attorney.  Haviva Shane, an associate in the firm’s Ontario office, will act as assistant town attorney.

Recently, the Apple Valley Town Council directed staff to solicit proposals to provide town attorney legal services.  A request for proposals was sent to local and interested law firms, and the Town received approximately twelve responses.  The Town Council evaluated the proposals and invited five of the law firms to interview with the Council.

At the conclusion of the interviews and after evaluating the merits of each law firm, the Town Council decided that BB&K best fit the needs of the Town.  According to Mayor Tim Jasper, “After reviewing all of the firms, it was apparent that the needs of the Town would be well served by BB&K, and especially by John Brown.”

As town attorney, BB&K will provide legal services at Town Council and other meetings as deemed necessary by the Town Council and Manager. General legal services will also include Town ordinances, resolutions, agreements, deeds, and other legal documents, and legal advice on Town business to the Town Council and Manager.   

"The Town has been able to negotiate a contract with BB&K that will allow the Town to more closely budget it's legal costs in advance, which allows the Town greater control over it's financial well-being in the future," added Council Member Peter Allan.

With the addition of Apple Valley, BB&K now represents 32 towns/cities throughout California as contract town/city attorney.  The firm’s 82 municipal attorneys practice from eight California offices -- more statewide offices than any other California municipal law firm.

John E. Brown chairs BB&K’s municipal and redevelopment law practice group.  He is a public lawyer specializing in municipal, redevelopment and school law.  He currently serves as city attorney of the City of Ontario.  He also previously served as city attorney of Desert Hot Springs (1976-1987), Perris (1981-1993), San Jacinto (1996-1998 and 1999-2005), and Lafayette (2002-2004).

“Best Best & Krieger is excited to join newly appointed town manager Frank Robinson as part of the Town’s administrative team,” says Brown.  “We are looking forward to assisting the Town in dealing with challenging issues of growth and development in the years to come.”

For more information about the Town of Apple Valley, visit www.AppleValley.org.