Gary B. Bell is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Gary B. Bell of Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC!

Gary is speaking at our upcoming Writs of Administrative Mandamus 101: The Nuts and Bolts program on January 28th and 30th, 2025. He is co-teaching “Briefing and Brief Writing” (Gary is speaking on January 30th). You can sign up to attend live, order OnDemand Streaming, or get the recorded package here.

This program will guide you through the Writs of Administrative Mandamus process, from knowing when it is appropriate, to making your record, to filing and opposing a petition for writ of administrative mandamus. Faculty will also teach you how to draft a writ, and about other forms of judicial review mechanisms of California state and local agency actions. The faculty will provide strategies and practical tips throughout the program and we’ll have a breakout session at the end for attorneys who focus in one practice area to ask questions of the speakers, including Gary.

Gary recently spoke at our previous program Administrative Law Hearings: A Beginner’s Guide, earlier this year. He was very popular with our attendees when he taught “Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies” and co-presented during a mock hearing demonstration. You can still purchase the recorded package or OnDemand Streaming here.

Gary is a Shareholder of the firm and resident in the firm’s Sacramento office. He currently serves as City Attorney for the City of Novato, Town Attorney for the Town of Yountville, City Attorney for the City of Auburn, and Assistant City Attorney for the City of Weed, as well as General Counsel for the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Napa County, the Upper Valley Waste Management Agency, the Garden Valley Fire Protection District, the Pine Grove Community Services District, the River Pines Public Utility District, and the First 5 Yuba Commission.

His practice covers all aspects of municipal law and public law, including elections, land use, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), public works contracting, contracts, franchise agreements and franchise fees, joint powers agreements and agencies, solid waste and recycling, cannabis regulation and enforcement, municipal finance law, labor and employment law, constitutional law, code enforcement, conflicts of interest, open meetings and records laws, post-redevelopment issues, and matters involving Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs).

Gary’s current projects for clients include a comprehensive update to a municipal code and policies and procedures manual; negotiating and drafting solid waste franchise agreements; and advice regarding a major development at a municipal airport and several benefit assessments.

Before joining CH&W, Gary served as City Attorney for the City of Firebaugh and advised municipal clients throughout California on a wide range of issues, including counties, cities, school districts, and special districts.

Gary graduated with highest honors from UC Santa Cruz in 2008 with a B.A. in psychology. He received his J.D. in 2012 from the UC Davis School of Law, where he was staff editor of the UC Davis Business Law Journal and a research assistant in constitutional law. While at Davis, Gary worked as a law clerk in the Governor’s Office of Legal Affairs and as a legal extern at the Placer County Superior Court.

Before law school, Gary served as a Senate Fellow for the California State Senate in Sacramento, where he staffed the Senate Local Government Committee and worked on legislation of interest to California’s local governments.

We are so glad to have you back Gary!