Public Agencies
Advising Local and State Entities
Trusted Legal Counsel to Local and State Government Entities
Robert C. Pearman has decades of experience representing cities, counties, and public agencies across California in complex legal matters involving redevelopment, housing, infrastructure, construction, and public finance.
His clients have included the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), San Diego Housing Commission, City of Fresno, City of Inglewood, Centre City Development Corporation, and more.
Mr. Pearman’s public agency representation covers the full project lifecycle—from planning and property acquisition to design/build, construction, and long-term joint development. His legal work includes negotiation and drafting of purchase and sale agreements, development agreements, easements, interagency agreements, and complex joint venture structures.
He has advised agencies on CEQA compliance, Brown Act and Political Reform Act guidance, bonding, tax credit structures, and navigating regulatory constraints tied to public finance and redevelopment law.
As Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the California State Bar Public Law Section, Mr. Pearman has also contributed statewide leadership in shaping policy and advancing best practices in public law.
Case Study: Metro Gold Line – Joint Development Success
Mr. Pearman served as legal counsel to the Metro Gold Line Construction Authority, created to design and build the light rail system from Los Angeles to Pasadena. He helped the Authority develop a strategy for leveraging unused station-area land by structuring joint developments with private entities.
In one case, the agency sold a site to a private developer who built a multi-use parking structure with transit rider spaces and developed a medical/office/retail building on-site. Mr. Pearman prepared all required documents including:
Purchase and Sale Agreement
Interim Parking Licenses
Remediation and Environmental Agreements
Subordinated Deed of Trust
Grant Deeds and Escrow Instructions
This joint development enhanced the Authority’s budget while meeting transit and community development goals—without delaying project delivery.