Scott C. Smith

Partner

Irvine
5 Park Plaza
Suite 1500

TEL: (949) 263-6561
FAX: (949) 260-0972
Scott.Smith@bbklaw.com

General Bio
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Environmental Law & Natural Resources

Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Practice

Scott C. Smith is a partner in Best Best & Krieger’s Orange County office.  He specializes in general municipal, land use, environmental, and redevelopment law.  He has special expertise in representing public agencies – LAFCO’s in particular – under the Cortese-Knox Local Government Reorganization Act of 1985.  He was assistant legal advisor to the Mojave County – New County Formation Commission.  He graduated valedictorian from Utah State University with a degree in Spanish and Political Science.  Mr. Smith received his J.D. degree with honors from Brigham Young University Law School in 1985.  He joined Best Best & Krieger LLP upon law school graduation.

Mr. Smith has served as Associate General Counsel to Orange County LAFCO since 1996.  In addition to his regular duties at LAFCO regarding a myriad of reorganizations, he has advised Orange County LAFCO on a series of special district dissolutions and consolidations from 1996-99 pursuant to a comprehensive work program for those reorganizations.  He has drafted legislation and presented testimony to the California Senate Local Government Committee relating to proposed revisions to the Cortese-Knox Act.  He addressed the California Association of LAFCO’s at its 1999 annual conference on LAFCO’s ability to impose terms and conditions.  He represented a task force comprised of representatives of the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties to modify and clarify the revenue neutrality statute and other provisions of the Cortese-Knox Act relating to incorporations.

Mr. Smith serves as City Attorney for the cities of Aliso Viejo and Lake Forest.  He has also served as City Attorney to the City of La Verne (1987-1990), the City of Big Bear Lake (1991-1996), and the City of Santee (1996-2003).  Mr. Smith is general counsel to Helix Water District.  He has served on the Solana Beach School District Board of Education since 1995.

Mr. Smith serves as general counsel to the California Chapter of the American Planning Association and has trained new planners for that organization.  Mr. Smith regularly represents public agency clients in an advisory capacity and as litigation counsel under the California Environmental Quality Act.  He teaches land use law courses for the UC San Diego Extension.  Mr. Smith has participated in annual CEQA workshops for the California Association of Environmental Professionals since 1997.  He has also presented papers to the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers (“NIMLO”) and the League of California Cities on various topics. 

Bar & Court Admissions

• California, 1985

Education

• JD, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
• BA, Utah State University, Logan, UT