Overview

Manuel F. Martinez is a Partner in Lozano Smith's Walnut Creek Office. His practice focuses on labor and employment, charter school, student, technology and facilities and business issues.

Experience

He is well-versed in all areas of civil litigation, trial practice and appellate work. He has advised clients on cutting edge issues such as cloud computing, electronic records, and public private partnerships regarding web-based applications. He is also skilled in various aspects of employment law, including dismissals, discipline, investigations and employee/employer relations and negotiations. He also advises clients regarding the Brown Act, Public Records Act, Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and elections.

Mr. Martinez is experienced in all aspects of charter schools, including drafting and negotiating MOUs, charter reviews, assisting clients with Prop. 39 facility requests, charter oversight, facility issues, petition review and revocation.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Martinez served as Associate County Counsel for the County of Alameda. He successfully negotiated the settlement of several cases through formal mediation and informal discussions. As a Deputy City Attorney in Los Angeles, he conducted jury trials, researched and briefed appeals before the Los Angeles Superior Court, and regularly assisted and advised attorneys with pretrial, trial, and post-conviction matters.

Presenter Experience

Mr. Martinez has been a speaker for the California School Boards Association (CSBA), co-presented at the California Latino School Board Associations Unity Conference (CLSBA), and at the Association of Superintendents with Innovative Charter Schools.

Education

Mr. Martinez received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School at Loyola Marymount University, where he was a member of the Scott Moot Court Honors Board. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he majored in Political Science.

The California Public Records Act Has All New Statutory Citations Starting January 1, 2023

By: Manuel Martinez- 01/24/2023

New EEOC Poster to be Posted by Employers

By: Manuel Martinez, Sarah Fama- 01/18/2023

Ninth Circuit Backs Fellowship of Christian Athletes Over Non-Discrimination Policy

By: Manuel Martinez, Josh Walden- 09/21/2022

Foreseeability in Sexual Abuse Cases: Appellate Court Clarifies Legal Standards for Claims Against School Districts

By: Manuel Martinez, Juliane Rossiter- 03/09/2022

California Public Records Act Balancing Exemption Protects COVID Information

By: Manuel Martinez- 09/27/2021

FTC Issues New Guidance Regarding Child Online Privacy Law in Light of COVID-19

By: Manuel Martinez- 04/29/2020

Public Agencies Can Be Liable For Attorney's Fees In Reverse-CPRA Actions

By: Manuel Martinez- 12/12/2019

Students Suspended For Two Or More Days Must Now Be Provided Homework Assignments

By: Manuel Martinez, Alyse Nichols- 10/24/2019

Letter Saves City From Potential Brown Act Violations

By: Manuel Martinez- 06/07/2019

Court Of Appeal Shields Personnel Records From Disclosure

By: Manuel Martinez- 02/14/2019

Supreme Court To Decide Whether Local Agencies Can Recover Costs Associated With Redacting Video Footage Under The Public Records Act

By: Manuel Martinez- 01/31/2019

Directory and Personal Information Must Be Withheld from Board Meeting Minutes upon Request

By: Manuel Martinez- 11/14/2018

California Bans For-Profit Charter Schools

By: Manuel Martinez, Erin Hamor- 09/26/2018

Episode 60 Changes to the California Public Records Act: What You Need to Know

By: Manuel Martinez, Alyse Nichols- 03/30/2023

Effective 2023, the California Public Records Act ("CPRA") has a new statutory "home" within the Government Code. (See Gov. Code, § 7920.000 et seq.) While the Legislature has indicated this reorganization is not intended to change the CPRA substantively, the practical effects of this reorganization remain to be seen. In this Lozano Smith Podcast episode, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith Partner, Manuel Martinez, and Senior Counsel, Alyse Pacheco Nichols, to discuss this statutory reorganization; guesses as to the Legislature's rationale for the reorganization; and how this reorganization will or will not effect the way public agencies response to CPRA requests.

The Rising Costs of the Public Records Act

By: Manuel Martinez- 10/03/2018

This podcast addresses the tension between protecting personal information and the obligation to disclose public records. Striking the wrong balance may burden either the local agency, or the individual employee, with significant costs. Hear how best to contend with the money pitfalls of the CPRA.