RIVERSIDE, Calif.- LAWFUEL – Law News Network -Riverside County District Attorney Grover Trask will join the California law firm of Best Best & Krieger LLP (BB&K) in January 2007 as special counsel focusing on ethics, conflicts of interest, election law and governmental accountability.
Trask will head up a new government and policy working group within the firm’s municipal and redevelopment law practice group that will advise clients on the California Political Reform Act, ethics and elections laws of California. He will provide compliance counseling that focuses on governmental accountability and, in particular, ensuring timely and accurate investigation of alleged ethical violations. Trask will also advise and represent clients on public integrity issues involving conflicts, fair political practices and other areas of political regulations impacting public and corporate entities and individual elected officials.
BB&K advises its government and individual clients on complying with state elections and ethics laws and reporting and disclosing conflicts of interest under the Political Reform Act, as well as a variety of other political law matters. The firm also practices initiative and referendum law, election contests and the legality of redistricting plans under the federal constitution, state statutes and federal Voting Rights Act.
“Best Best & Krieger’s statewide representation of public entities is unsurpassed and Grover’s expertise will further enhance our ability to serve these clients,” says Eric L. Garner, the firm’s managing partner. “With his extensive knowledge of the workings of government and business, he is particularly well positioned to provide counseling to firm clients.”
“As I near the end of a long and rewarding career at the Riverside County District Attorneys Office, I have the rare privilege of joining another great law firm,” says Trask.
Trask will retire at the end of the year from the County of Riverside, Calif. after having served for nearly a quarter century as District Attorney and 32 years as prosecutor. As District Attorney, he heads the fourth largest District Attorneys office in the state with an annual budget of $85 million and a staff of over 800 people, including 256 attorneys.
Trask has prosecuted hundreds of criminals during his career. According to the Attorney General, Trask’s office has one of the strongest prosecution records of felons in the state. At the local level, he implemented innovative programs targeting local gangs, drug dealers, child and elder abusers, and domestic violence. His strong public safety stance had statewide impact affecting important policy issues such as juvenile crime reform and tougher laws on meth lab dealers. Trask’s top priorities as District Attorney are strong prevention, intervention and educational efforts for youth at risk, creating Youth Accountability Teams in 18 Riverside County school districts. In 2005, he created one of the first Identity Theft Units in California. Trask also created one of the best victim outreach and support programs in the nation, including regional Family Justice Centers for domestic violence and sexually abused victims.
Governor Dukemejian appointed Trask to chair a statewide Blue Ribbon Commission on Prison Reform in 1990. Six years later, Governor Wilson appointed Trask to chair the California task force to review Crime and the Juvenile Justice Response. He also served 12 years on the California Council for Criminal Justice. Trask intends to remain active in professional organizations, including serving on the board of the American Prosecutors Research Institute, located near Washington D.C.
Best Best & Krieger is a full-service law firm with 195 attorneys in eight California offices. The firm offers unique experience in handling complex, multi-disciplinary issues and providing solutions of common interest to leaders of both government and business. BB&K’s legal service areas include bankruptcy; business; eminent domain; employee benefits; environmental and natural resources; estate planning, probate and trust administration; intellectual property; labor and employment; litigation; municipal law; public finance; real estate; redevelopment, economic development and housing; school; and special district law. For more information, visit www.bbklaw.com.
Note to Editors: Photo and in-depth bio available upon request.
