Overview

Claire Gerard-Wimby is an Associate in Lozano Smith’s Monterey Office. Ms. Gerard-Wimby assists public agencies in a variety of areas, including governance, Title IX, special education, and student matters.

Experience

Ms. Gerard-Wimby provides strategic counsel on California Public Records Act compliance, advising clients on public records requests, exemptions, electronic records, confidential information, litigation-related requests, and disclosure obligations while balancing legal compliance with operational considerations. She has also drafted legal memoranda on complex issues, including records retention, Brown Act applicability, contracted service providers' access to information systems, law enforcement disclosures, and Joint Powers Authority (JPA) obligations.

In addition to her governance practice, Claire Gerard-Wimby represents school districts in IEP meetings, in settlement negotiations both before and after complaints have been filed, and in mediations during due process proceedings. Her experience includes drafting prior written notices, prehearing conference statements, and motions, as well as responses to California Department of Education requests for information and Office of Administrative Hearings due process complaints. Ms. Gerard-Wimby regularly conducts detailed legal research to advise districts on nuanced areas of special education law.

Ms. Gerard-Wimby also represents school districts in a broad range of student-related matters. Her work includes advising districts on student discipline, cell phone policies, transporation, pupil records, and constitutional issues such as student speech and due process rights. She also advises on day-to-day Title IX issues, providing practical guidance on supportive measures, investigation requirements, and compliance with evolving federal and state legal requirements.

Education

Ms. Gerard-Wimby earned her Juris Doctor from the Monterey College of Law where she was awarded the MCL Board of Trustees Scholarship three years in a row. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Communication Pre-Law from California State University, Monterey Bay.