Overview

Crystal M. Pizano is a Partner in Lozano Smith's Fresno office. Her practice is focused on representing local municipalities, providing legal advice to agency staff, and negotiating municipal contracts.

Experience

Ms. Pizano frequently assists clients with governance issues, ethics and conflicts of interest, Public Records Act, government liability, contract negotiations, Brown Act issues and compliance. She is skilled in drafting policies, regulatory ordinances, and agreements, with a specialty in technology/software-based agreements. Additionally, Ms. Pizano serves as general counsel for the Tranquillity Public Utilities District and the Madera County Children and Families Commission.

Ms. Pizano has extensive experience in handling Public Records Act matters for municipal clients. She also presents workshops and trainings on various issues relating to the Public Records Act, the Brown Act and other areas of state and federal law. She also has experience in all aspects of labor and employment law, including wage and hour complaints in court, mediation, and arbitration. She has represented employers against administrative complaints and citations before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Cal/OSHA, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Agricultural Labor Relations Board, Public Employment Relations Board, and National Labor Relations Board.

Education

Ms. Pizano earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she received an Employment Law Certificate, and was a recipient of the Kenneth Lloyd Scholarship. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) in Political Science from California State University, Fresno.

California Court of Appeal Addresses Disruptions of Public Meetings Under the Brown Act

By: Harold Freiman, Crystal Pizano- 11/05/2025

California Court of Appeal Reinforces Public’s Right to Peace Officer Personnel Records Under the California Public Records Act

By: Anne Collins, Crystal Pizano- 12/20/2024

Legislation Roundup: New Holidays, Extended Statute of Limitations for Mandatory Reporter Violations, and Health Benefits for Striking Employees

By: Gabriela Flowers, Crystal Pizano- 11/16/2022

New Penalties for Failure to Provide Unions with Employee Contact Information

By: Dulcinea Grantham, Crystal Pizano- 12/20/2021

E100 Responding to Requests under the California Public Records Act: Best Practices from the Field

By: Alyse Nichols, Crystal Pizano- 12/18/2025

In this episode—the 100th Lozano Smith Podcast episode—host Sloan Simmons joins Partners Alyse Pacheco Nichols and Crystal Pizano to discuss strategic planning and best practices for responding to requests under the California Public Records Act. Alyse and Crystal’s respective expertise in Governance and Municipal practice areas lends a practical discussion useful for local educational agencies and municipalities faced with the ever-increasing number and complexity of public record requests.