Annual Conference and Expo

October 16-18, 2024

Long Beach Convention Center

300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA

The 2024 League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center, Oct. 16-18, features general sessions, workshops, and networking events. The conference attracts hundreds of leaders from all sections of city government, including mayors, council members, city managers, city clerks, city attorneys, fiscal officers, and other city staff. 

This year’s conference will offer educational and innovative leadership sessions across a variety of formats, with a roster of more than 100 speakers. Change is constant in our cities, and these sessions will support city leaders by equipping them with the latest knowledge, resources, and tools to advance their communities and assist officials in their daily roles and operations within their city.   

For questions about registration, please contact our registrar, Megan Dunn. For questions about becoming an exhibitor, please contact Amy Wade. For all other questions, please contact Education and Events Manager, Christina George

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Please review our event and meeting policies.

Conference Information

Explore Previous Conferences

Click here to view the 2023 Annual Conference and Expo program.

Previous Session Materials
2023 Session Materials

MCLE Session Materials

Access the MCLE sessions agenda here.

Access the MCLE Evaluation form here.

Read speaker bios here.

Artificial Intelligence and the Practice of Law (MCLE Specialty Credit for Technology in the Practice of Law)

Speakers: Peter Lee, Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law, Director, Center for Innovation, Law, and Society, UC Davis School of Law
Matthew Slentz, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Paper |  PowerPoint

General Municipal Litigation Update

Speakers: Pamela K. Graham, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Meghan Wharton, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Paper | PowerPoint

Meeting Disruptions, Workplace Violence Restraining Orders, and the Bane Act

Speakers: Jon R. di Cristina, Senior Counsel, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Ryan Richardson, Chief Assistant City Attorney, Oakland
Paper | PowerPoint

Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update

Speaker: John Luebberke, Of Counsel, Herum Crabtree Suntag
Paper | PowerPoint

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing – State and Federal Law

Speakers: Celeste Stahl Brady, Shareholder, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth
Yolanda M. Summerhill, Assistant City Attorney, Newport Beach
Paper |  PowerPoint

Case Study: A Capital City’s Approach to Unsheltered Community

Speakers: Emilio Camacho, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Aaron M. Israel, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Beau Parkhurst, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Paper |  PowerPoint

Labor and Employment Litigation Update

Speakers: Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Paper |  PowerPoint

CalPERS Legal Update, Emerging Issues, and Common Compliance Problems

Speakers: Steve M. Berliner, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Michael D. Youril, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Paper |  PowerPoint

Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update

Speakers: Jeremiah Johnson, Partner, ColeHuber
Neil Okazaki, Senior Deputy City Attorney / Constitutional Policing Advisor, Corona
Paper |  PowerPoint

Pay to Play No More? Levine Act (SB1439)

Speakers: Robert Fabela, City Attorney, Anaheim
Amanda B. Freeman, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Fresno
Rebecca L. Moon, Senior Assistant City Attorney, Sunnyvale
Paper|   PowerPoint

Practicing Ethics (MCLE Specialty Credit for Legal Ethics)

Speaker: Valerie Silverman Massey, Chief Deputy City Attorney, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, San Diego
Paper | PowerPoint

2022 Session Materials

MCLE Session Materials

Access the MCLE sessions agenda here.

Read speaker bios here.

Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update

Speaker: William Ihrke, City Attorney, Cerritos and La Quinta, Partner, Rutan & Tucker

Affordable Housing Covenants: Ensuring Continued Affordability

Speakers: Barbara Kautz, Partner, Goldfarb & Lipman

Gabrielle Janssens, Attorney, Goldfarb & Lipman
Paper | PowerPoint


The People’s Business: California Public Records Act Update

Speakers: Donald A. Larkin, City Attorney, Morgan Hill
Kelly Trujillo, Assistant City Attorney, Napa

Practical Tips for Reviewing Public Works Contracts

Speakers: Gary Bell, City Attorney, Auburn, Town Attorney, Yountville, Assistant City Attorney, Novato, Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley
Matthew Summers, City Attorney, Barstow, Calabasas and Ojai, Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley

Transferring and Financing Risk in Public Works Contracts

Speaker: Deirdre Joan Cox, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen

Lawyers’ Responses to Audit Letters: Law, Practice, and A Few Tips

Speaker: Peter M. Thorson, City Attorney, Temecula, Jurupa Valley, Shareholder, Richards Watson Gershon

Section 1090 Update: Davis v. Fresno, FPPC Opinions and Other Developments

Speaker: Sean SeLegue, Partner, Arnold & Porter

Wireless Update: Shot Clocks, Deemed Granted Remedies and Fee Challenges

Speakers: Gail Karish, Partner, Best Best & Krieger
Lutfi Kharuf, Partner, Best Best & Krieger
Christopher Diaz, City Attorney, Colma and Hillsborough, Partner, Best Best & Krieger

Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update

Speaker: Timothy T. Coates, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland

Getting It Right: Best Practices in Responding to Government Claims

Speakers: Alana Rotter, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland
Nadia Sarkis, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland

Labor and Employment Litigation Update

Speakers: Geoffrey S. Sheldon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Elizabeth Tom Arce, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Paper | PowerPoint

Microaggresions vs. Dog Whistle: How to Differentiate and Investigate

Speakers: Danielle Drossel, Attorney Investigator, Oppenheimer Investigations Group
Vida Thomas, Partner, Oppenheimer Investigations Group

General Municipal Litigation Update

Speaker: Pamela K. Graham, Senior Counsel, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley

Public Safety and Individual Rights in the Age of Firearms

Speakers: Kyle Brochard, Shareholder, Richards Watson & Gershon
T. Peter Pierce, Shareholder, Richards Watson & Gershon

So, You Say You Have Diversity?! Now What? (Specialty MCLE – Elimination of Bias)

Speakers: Glen Googins, City Attorney, Chula Vista
Robert Lennox, Assistant City Manager, Carson
Sunny Soltani, City Attorney, Carson, Partner, Aleshire & Wynder
2021 Session Materials
MCLE Resources

2021 Annual Conference City Attorneys Programming Agenda

Speaker Bios

Legal Issues:  Social Media; Cannabis
Social Media, First Amendment and Government: New Rules of Engagement 
Speaker: David Mehretu, Meyers Nave

Overview of Cannabis Regulation Guide
Speakers: Lisa Vidra, City Attorney, Culver City
Emilio Camacho, Senior Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento

Report from the Ad Hoc Emergency Response Committee
Speaker: Gregory G. Diaz, Ad Hoc Emergency Response Committee Chair, City Attorney, San Buenaventura


Policy and Legal Considerations in Serving the Unsheltered 
Speakers: Elizabeth L. Atkins, Deputy City Attorney, San Diego
Bridgette Dean, Director, Office of Community Response
Aaron M. Israel, Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento
Andrea M. Velasquez, Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento


Legal Issues: Land Use, CEQA and Surplus Land Act 
Land Use and CEQA Litigation Update
Speaker: William Ihrke, City Attorney, La Quinta, Partner, Rutan & Tucker

Impact of Recent Changes to the Surplus Land Act
Speakers: Erin Lapeyrolerie, Attorney, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP
Karen Tiedemann, Attorney, Goldfarb & Lipman LLP


Legal Issues: Design Immunity and Tort and Civil Rights Litigation
The Basics of Design Immunity:  Creating a Paper Trail
Speaker: Robert Ceccon, Shareholder, Richards, Watson & Gershon

Municipal Tort and Civil Rights Litigation Update
Speaker: Timothy T. Coates, Partner, Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland


Legal Issues:  Labor and Employment Law
Labor and Employment Litigation Update
Speaker: Brian P. Walter, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore

Impacts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts on Employment Litigation
Speaker: Suzanne Solomon, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 


Legal Issues:  Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Specialty MCLE)
(MCLE Specialty Credit – Recognition and Elimination of Bia in the Legal Profession and  Society)
Report on the Cal Cities Advancing Equity Advisory Committee
Speaker: Eric S. Casher, City Attorney, Pinole, Meyers Nave

Early Lessons on Setting up a DEI Committee
Speakers: Elena Gerli, Partner, Aleshire & Wynder
Sunny Soltani, Equity Partner, Aleshire & Wynder

Implementing DEI in your City
Speaker: Jason R. Alcala, City Attorney, Livermore

Legal Issues:  Municipal Litigation Update
General Municipal Litigation Update
Speaker: Holly O. Whatley, Assistant City Attorney, South Pasadena, Ojai, Sierra Madre, Shareholder, Colantuono Highsmith Whatley, PC

2020 Session Materials