Aleshire & Wynder

What Aleshire & Wynder does

Aleshire & Wynder, LLP is a California-based law firm founded in 1975 by Dave Aleshire and William Wynder that provides full-service legal representation to public agencies throughout California. The firm operates from seven offices (Irvine headquarters, plus Westlake Village, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Riverside, and Oakland) with a roster of 90+ attorneys across equity partners, of-counsel, non-proprietary partners, associates, and law clerks. Its client base is exclusively governmental: cities and counties, housing authorities, water districts, groundwater sustainability agencies, and special districts. Practice areas span municipal law, land use and zoning, environmental law, water rights, public finance, ethics/open government (Brown Act, Public Records Act, Government Code §1090), code enforcement, cannabis law, mining law, unlawful detainer, and litigation and appellate work.

The firm operates a traditional professional services partnership model, generating revenue through fee-for-service legal representation on long-tenure engagements (city attorney appointments, general counsel roles, special counsel, and bond counsel). Notable case outcomes include a $550 million settlement from Chevron for the City of Richmond, a $7.9 million Woolsey Fire settlement from Southern California Edison, an $850,000 Government Code §1090 judgment, and a $91 million bond closing for the City of Carson. Recent legislative and litigation activity includes U.S. Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit amicus briefs on charter city rights and municipal authority, consistent with the firm's positioning as defender of local control against state preemption.

Governance transitioned in 2024 when Sunny Soltani was appointed Managing Partner (succeeding founder Bill Wynder's retirement in late 2023), with Keith Lemieux and Adrian Guerra joining the Executive Committee. The firm has invested in operational professionalization with hires including a CFO (Orlando Torres), COO (Amanda Hughes), and Director of Attorney Development (Jordan Starks), alongside multiple partner promotions and lateral additions in 2024-2025. Distribution is direct (no intermediaries), driven by thought leadership, conference presence (League of California Cities, CALPELRA, ICA, ACWA, CSDA, CAALAC), and demonstrated expertise in California-specific municipal law.

Name

Aleshire & Wynder

Legal name

Aleshire & Wynder, LLP

Website

https://awattorneys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Aleshire & Wynder, LLP is a California law firm founded in 1975 providing full-service municipal legal representation to cities, counties, water districts, housing authorities, and special agencies across seven statewide offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Law Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411), All Other Legal Services (541199)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector) (BPAIABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Labor Law (BPAHAAAD), Real Estate & Construction Law (BPAHAAAE), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), State/Provincial Courts & Judicial Administration (BPAIABAE)

Keywords

• Municipal law services
• Public agency legal counsel
• Land use zoning law
• California city attorney
• Environmental law public sector

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: Fee-for-service legal representation to California public agencies including cities, counties, special districts, housing authorities, and water districts. Services encompass all aspects of municipal law including litigation, transactions, advisory, and regulatory compliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Aleshire & Wynder provides full-service legal representation to California public agencies, serving as city attorney, general counsel, and special counsel to cities, counties, housing authorities, water districts, and special districts. The firm delivers comprehensive municipal law counsel across practice areas including land use and zoning, environmental law, litigation and appellate practice, public finance, code enforcement, ethics and open government, cannabis regulation, real estate, mining law, and unlawful detainer matters.

Product overview

Aleshire & Wynder, LLP is a full-service law firm providing unparalleled legal representation to California public agencies. The firm operates as a unified legal services platform rather than a modular product, offering comprehensive municipal law counsel through specialized practice areas including Economic Development, Code Enforcement, California Coastal Act, Cannabis Law, Ethics and Open Government, Litigation and Appellate Law, Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning, Real Estate and Title, Mining Law, Public Finance, and Unlawful Detainer services. The firm serves as city attorney, general counsel, and special counsel to cities, counties, special districts, and other public agencies throughout California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Municipal Law Legal Services Full-service legal representation to California public agencies covering all aspects of municipal law, including advisory counsel, litigation, transactions, and regulatory compliance. Serves as city attorney, general counsel, and special counsel to cities, counties, special districts, housing authorities, and water districts throughout California.
• Land Use and Zoning Legal Services Comprehensive land use legal services including zoning regulations, entitlement processes, subdivision, general plans, specific plans, CEQA/NEPA compliance, and land use litigation for public agencies.
• Environmental Law Services Environmental law counsel covering CEQA/NEPA, CERCLA, brownfields development, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and storm water discharge regulation for public agencies.
• Litigation and Appellate Law Services Federal and state civil, administrative, and code enforcement litigation including water rights, CEQA, Brown Act, civil rights, tort, land use, eminent domain, and employment matters for public agencies.
• Public Finance Legal Services Bond counsel, issuer's counsel, and disclosure counsel for community facilities districts, assessment districts, general obligation bonds, certificates of participation, and revenue bonds for public agencies.
• Code Enforcement Legal Services Comprehensive code enforcement representation including municipal, zoning, and uniform codes, public nuisance abatement, criminal prosecution, receiverships, and administrative hearing processes for public agencies.
• Economic Development Legal Services Legal counsel on redevelopment, tax increment financing alternatives, economic development programs, commercial real estate transactions, eminent domain, and public-private financing mechanisms for public agencies.
• California Coastal Act Legal Services Legal counsel on California Coastal Act compliance, coastal development permits, local coastal plans, and California Coastal Commission navigation for coastal public agencies.
• Cannabis Law Services Legal services for marijuana regulatory ordinances, prohibitions, taxation, litigation, and enforcement related to California's Adult Use of Marijuana Act and Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act for public agencies.
• Ethics and Open Government Services Legal counsel on Brown Act, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act, conflict of interest laws, Government Code Section 1090, and governmental transparency requirements for public agencies.
• Real Estate and Title Services Commercial real estate legal services including acquisitions, financing, development, leasing, title insurance, and escrow/settlement services for public agencies.
• Mining Law Services

Quantifiable outcome

• $550 million settlement from Chevron secured for City of Richmond and its community
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CitiPACminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Bronze Level sponsor of East Bay Division's CitiPAC Cornhole Tournament. Participated in CitiPAC Topgolf Event with San Jose city leaders. CitiPAC provides last line of defense for local government.
• California Special Districts AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA&W attorneys present webinars and participate in CSDA events on PFAS regulations and groundwater conservation. Commemorated Special Districts Week to encourage civic engagement.
• League of California CitiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo in Long Beach. Attorneys serve on Cal Cities committees including Employment & Labor Law Committee.
• California Association of Public Employees Labor Relations Administrators (CALPELRA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual presentations at CALPELRA conference on AI in public sector HR, ADA/FEHA accommodations, and labor & employment law. Second consecutive year presenting.
• Independent Cities Association (ICA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of ICA Independent Cities Association Summer Seminar and Winter Conference. Partners present on municipal law topics.
• City Attorneys Association of Los Angeles County (CAALAC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold-level sponsor of CAALAC Spring Retreat. Partner Elena Gerli elected President of CAALAC.
• Ventura Sheriff's K9 FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors Ventura County Sheriff's golf tournament through the nonprofit organization supporting the K9 program since 1986.
• ACWA (Association of California Water Agencies)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAttended ACWA 2024 Fall Conference & Expo including client dinner. ACWA provides leadership, advocacy, and resources to California public water agencies.
• American Bar Association (ABA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA&W attorneys serve in leadership roles including Norm Dupont as Constitutional Law Advisor to ABA Section of Environment, Energy & Resources. Attorneys publish in ABA publications and moderate ABA podcasts.
• Constitutional Rights FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA&W attorneys coach in the Constitutional Rights Foundation's annual Mock Trial Competition, inspiring next generation of legal minds.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Liebert Cassidy Whitmore: California firm exclusively serving public agencies, particularly school districts and public employers, with a leading labor and employment practice that overlaps Aleshire & Wynder's CALPELRA-facing work.
• Jones & Mayer: Full-service California firm serving as City Attorney for numerous municipalities with strong code enforcement, land use, and criminal prosecution practices; geographic and practice overlap with Aleshire & Wynder.
• Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo: California firm providing legal services to public agencies including cities, school districts, and special districts with strong labor and employment practice parallel to Aleshire & Wynder's labor work.
• Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC: California public law boutique serving municipalities, water districts, and special districts; competes head-to-head for city attorney appointments in Southern California.
• Richards, Watson & Gershon PC: Long-standing California firm serving cities, counties, and special districts with expertise in municipal law, CEQA, real estate, and litigation closely aligned with Aleshire & Wynder's offerings.
• Best Best & Krieger LLP: Large California-based firm providing full-spectrum representation to cities, counties, special districts, and water agencies, with overlapping practice areas in municipal law, water rights, environmental, land use, and public finance.
• Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP: Largest California-based firm dedicated to representing public agencies, including cities, special districts, and water authorities across California; serves as City Attorney and General Counsel to numerous California municipalities, directly competing for the same engagements as Aleshire & Wynder.
• Meyers Nave (a Professional Law Corporation): California firm with practice dedicated to public agencies including cities, counties, transit, and special districts; directly competes for general counsel and litigation engagements in California.
• Lozano Smith, LLP: California boutique with exclusive focus on public agency law serving as general counsel and special counsel to school districts, cities, and special districts; directly comparable in size, mission, and target client base.

Emerging players

• Cota Cole & Huber LLP: Sacramento-based California public agency and environmental law firm serving cities, water districts, and reclamation districts; comparable niche focus with regional overlap especially in Central Valley where A&W has a Fresno office.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61554533442596
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aleshire-&-wynder-llp
• Instagraminstagram.com/aleshirewynder

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aleshire & Wynder