William R. Seligmann
Top rated State, Local & Municipal attorney in Santa Cruz, California
Law Office of Wm R. Seligmann
Practice areas: State, Local & Municipal, Land Use & Zoning, General Litigation
Licensed in California since: 1983
Education: Santa Clara University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2026 Law Office of Wm R. Seligmann
333 Church StreetSuite A
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Phone: 831-423-8383 Email: William R. Seligmann Visit website
Details 
Mr. Seligmann's practice emphasizes representation of public entities, as well as businesses and individuals who deal with public entities. His clients include cities, regional government agencies, businesses and individuals. He has served as the City Attorney for the City of Campbell, since 1985, at which time he was the youngest city attorney in the State of California. Since that time, he has gone on to distinguish himself as one of the preeminent attorneys in his field, being appointed by his peers as the Chair of the Executive Board of the Public Law Section of the California State Bar in 2004. He is a past Chair of the Civil Practice Committee of the Santa Clara County Bar Association; and he served on the Executive Committee of the State Bar's Litigation Section. He has had the honor of being listed in Marquis Who's Who in American Law, and has been a perfect 5 out of 5 rating by Avvo.com, and is AV rated by Martendale-Hubbell. He has been a frequent lecturer at presentations of the State Bar and California League of Cities, and has written numerous papers, as well as serving as a consultant to the California Continuing Education of the Bar on its publication, California Land Use Practice. Mr. Seligmann graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law as a Public Interest Scholar. He is the sole proprietor of the Law Offices of William R. Seligmann, which practices in a close relationship to Atchison, Barisone & Condotti.
First Admitted: 1983, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.southbaylaw.com/attorney/william-r-seligmann/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Appointed to Cannabis Regulation Committee of City Attorney's Division of the League of California Cities, 2019
- Member of Executive Committee of Litigation Section of California Bar, 2012
- Appointed to Cannabis Committee of City Attorney Division of the League of California Cities, 2019
- Member of the Executive Board of the Public Law Section of the California State Bar., 2001
- Member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association (Civil Practice Committee 1995 - present; Judiciary Committee 1998 - 2009).
- Member of the West Valley Bar Association, 1995
- Chair of the Civil Practice Committee of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, 2012
- Chair of the Executive Board of the Public Law Section of the State Bar of California, 2004
- Memeber of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, 1987
- Member of the Santa Cruz County Bar Association, 2000
- Associate Member of the American Association for Justice, 2005
- Consultant to the Exectutive Board of the Public Law Section of the California State Bar., 2005
- Member of the Public Law, Litigation and Real Estate sections of the State Bar of California, 1985
- Member of the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada (Public Law Section), 2006
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Obtained dismissal of writ of mandamus case seeking to invalidate client's administrative fines in land use case., 2021
- Obtained judgment vacating approval of newspaper as newspaper of general circulation , 2020
- Obtained favorable decision in domestic violence weapons disposition case., 2024
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2025
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2025
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2024
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2025
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2024
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2024
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2023
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2023
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2023
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2023
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2023
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2024
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2024
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2023
- Obtained favorable decision in weapons disposition matter., 2025
- Obtained favorable decision in weapons disposition matter., 2024
- Obtained favorable decision in weapons disposition matter., 2024
- Obtained favorable decision in weapons disposition matter., 2023
- Obtained favorable decision in weapons disposition matter., 2022
- Obtained favorable decision in weapons disposition matter., 2022
- Obtained favorable decision in weapons disposition matter., 2022
- Obtained favorable decision in weapons disposition matter., 2021
- Obtained gun violence restraining order., 2022
- Obtained favorable settlement for client in breach of below market housing case., 2023
- Obtained decision in favor of client on domestic violence weapons disposition case., 2024
- Obtained decision in favor of client in weapons disposition case., 2020
- Obtained gun violence restraining order for client., 2023
- Obtained trial verdict in favor of client in land use case involving use of residential property for hockey league., 2019
- Settled criminal prosecution involving the unpermitted distribution of food, which was often spoiled and drew vermin to a local neighborhood. Defendant was placed into a court supervised diversion program for two years. , 2021
- Settled regulatory inverse condemnation case against City of Los Altos, by which the City agreed to purchase my client's property for $2,850,000., 2020
Settled inverse condemnation lawsuit on behalf of clients who were denied the right to develop their property.
, 2017Litigated wrongful death case against a city and property owners arising out of a fallen tree. The case presented difficult liability issues. Settled the case in mid-six figures.
, 2015Successfully procesecuted criminal case through trial against violators of recycling laws.
, 2012Litigated inverse condemnation and property damage case involving flooding of my clients' business to sucessful settlemtent.
, 2016Successfully prosecuted animal welfare complaint to verdict.
, 2016- Obtained defense judgment in favor of my clients, the City of Campbell and one of its Council Members, in an action brought by a citizen's group seeking to set aside the approval of a major commercial development, on environmental and conflict of interest grounds (People for Open Space v. City of Campbell et, al., Santa Clara County Superior Court)., 1987
Successfully tried weapons case to verdict.
, 2018- Obtained a trial judgment in a criminal prosecution involving a puppy mill operation, and successfully defended the judgment on appeal, as well as obtaining a later conviction for probation violation, and subsequent writs (People v. Gabor et. al., Santa Clara County Superior Court Cases C9886574 and C992721)., 1995
- Negotiated a settlement with a hotel chain (Larkspur Landing) over their violating a condition of approval for their hotel, which prohibited hotel stays of over thirty days, by obtaining a donation to the City of Campbell's theater.
- Obtained a defense judgment in favor of my clients (Santa Clara Valley Water District and City of Campbell) in a personal injury action, in which the plaintiff claimed multiple injuries from an alleged dangerous condition of an embankment (Sousa v. Santa Clara Valley Water District et. al., Santa Clara County Superior Court Case CV786559)., 2000
- Obtained jury verdict in a criminal prosecution for violations of zoning and property maintenance ordinances. Subsequently, successfully prosecuted probation violations against the defendant that resulted in his being sentenced to serve jail time (People v. Perry, Santa Clara County Municipal Court)., 1986
- Successfully defended the City of Campbell's decision that a group home for recovering addicts was not allowed in a single family zoning district against a challenge that the City was impermissibly discriminating against the disabled (Support Systems Homes v. City of Campbell et. al., Santa Clara County Superior Court Case 107CV097585)., 2008
- Obtained six figure settlememt for plaintiffs in case involving a tree that fell on them and their 2 year old son, injuring them and taking the life of the child., 2013
- Obtained a defense judgment for the City of Campbell in a personal injury case, in which the plaintiff alleged to have suffered a totally disabling injury when she tripped over a depressed manhole cover (Mohr v. City of Campbell et. al., Santa Clara County Superior Court Case CV780534)., 2002
- Obtained a defense judgment for my client, Anne Bybee, Campbell City Clerk, in an action challenging her rejection of an initiative petition on technical grounds, and successfully defended the judgement on appeal i a published decision (Hebbard v. Bybee (1998) 65 Cal. App. 4th 1331)., 1998
- Obtained a jury verdict in a criminal prosecution against a large night club for overcrowding (People v. Baja Saloon et. al., Santa Clara County Municipal Court)
- Successfully defended the City of Campbell against an action by BP challanging the application of the Cities zoning requirements to a BP gasoline station, BP West Coast Products v. City of Campbell, Santa Clara Superior Court Case # 1-09-CV-160123., 2010
- Negotiated a settlement in an eminent domain case, allowing my client, the City of Campbell to acquire land for construction of a new street. Overcame claims of severence damages by negotiating a Development Agreement that provided for a parking credit (City of Campbell v. Boyce et. al.)
Transactions
Represented City in negotiating a development application to renevate promenent shopping mall.
, 2015- Represented City in negotiating settlement of land use dispute involving builder's remedy under the California Housing Accountability Act that will provide the City with Two Million Dollars in housing funds., 2023
Obtained determination from Santa Cruz County that client's property consisted of two lots, allowing development of an additional home.
, 2017
Pro bono / Community Service
- I have served on the Board of the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, 2000
- I have provided pro bono service through the Santa Clara County Bar Association, and other means to persons of low income on various litigation and other matters., 1990
- Managed the Flames CYSA Soccer team, bring together boys of all backgrounds and walks of life to learn to work and play together as a team., 2007
Educational Background
- J.D. from Santa Clara University, School of Law with a certificate as a Public Interest Scholar., 1982
- B.S. in Political Science from University of California, Santa Barbara, with honors, 1979
White Papers
A discussion of when and how to use alternative dispute resolution techniques.
, Beneficial Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Legal, 1999Outline designed to help practitioners navigate the peculiar laws involved in suing and defending State and Local govenmental agencies.
, Government Code Tort Claims Act: Substance and Procedure, Local Government, 2005Discussion of cases affording First Amendment protections to donation bins and how it affects local regulation.
, Regulation of Donation Bins and Trailers, Local Government, 2015Outline for navigating the government claims process in California.
, Suing and Defending Public Entities: The Claims Process, Local Government, 2014Outline for prosecuting and defending dangerous condition cases in California.
, Suing and Defending Public Entities: Dangerous Conditions of Public Property, Local Government, 2014
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- The publication provides a guide for cities in regulating the cultivation, production and distribution of cannabis in California. The section that I authored discusses the legal authority for imposing fees on cannabis businesses., Author of section on imposition of fees, Seed to Sale: A Guide to Regulating Cannabis in California Cities, California League of Cities, Local Government, 2021
- Article about the faulty reasoning and impact of the opinion in the case of Blew v. Horner (1986) 187 Cal App. 3d 1380, in which I was the lawyer for Mr. Blew., Author, Blew v. Horner: The Case of the Phantom Employer, CAAA-MENTS, Attorneys, Labor, 1987
This role playing panel was itended to provide a practical insight into the issues cities face in dealing with the issues raised by the homeless.
, Participant in role playing panel dealing with issues presented by homelessness., Panel on Homelessness Issues, California League of Cities City Attorney, Local Government, 2015Discussed the implications of cases holding that donation bins are entitled to protection under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
, Writer/Presenter of paper, Regulation of Donation Bins and Trailers, California League of Cities City Attorney, Local Government, 2015- Paper on the most constructive ways to use ADR, Author/presenter, Beneficial Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution, California League of Cities, Government, 1999
- Papers on the provisions and cases governing the suing and defending of cases against State and local public entities in California., Author/presenter, Government Code Tort Claims Act: Substance and Procedue, California State Bar, Legal, 2003
- Conducted editorial review of sections dealing with campaign contribution of comprehensive handbook on municipal law., Reviewer, Municipal Law Handbook, California League of Cities, Government, Legal, 1997
- Conducted editorial review of sections dealing with tort litigation of comprehensive handbook on municipal law., Reviewer, Municipal Law Handbook, California League of Cities, Government, Legal, 2006
- Panel discussion on legal issues associated with solid waste, Moderator/presenter, Solid Waste Discussion Group, California League of Cities, Government, Legal, 1997
- Presented a lecture on the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques to a group of lawyers and public officials at an annual meeting of the California League of Cities., Lecturer, Pros and Cons of ADR, California League of Cities, Government, Legal, 1999
- Lectured attorneys on the law and procedures governing the suing and defending of public entities in California at an annual meeting of the State Bar., Lecturer, Government Code Tort Claims Act: Substance and Procedure, California State bar, Legal, 2003
- Lectured attorneys on the law and procedures governing the suing and defending of public entities in California at an annual meeting of the State Bar., Lecturer, Government Code Tort Claims Act:Substance and Procedure, California State Bar, Legal, 2005
- Lectured attorneys on the law and procedures governing the suing and defending of public entities in California at an annual Section Institute of the State Bar., Lecturer, Government Code Tort Claims Act: Substance and Procedure, California State Bar, Legal, 2004
- Lectured attorneys on the law and procedures governing the suing and defending of public entities in California at an annual Section Institute of the State Bar., Lecturer, Government Code Tort Claims Act: Substance and Procedure, California State Bar, Legal, 2005
- Lectured attorneys on the law and procedures governing the suing and defending of public entities in California., Lecturer, Suing and Defending Public Entities under the Tort Claims Act, Santa Clara County Bar Association, Legal, 2005
- Led group discusion on conflict of interest issues for a group of government attorneys ., Discussion Leader/Facilitator, Providing Conflict of Interest Advice, Califronia League of Cities, Government, Legal, 2004
- Lectured government lawyers on conflict of interest issues., Lecturer, Conflicts of Interest, Califronia League of Cities, Government, Legal, 2008
- Presented lecture on the California Subdivision Map Act., Lecturer, Land Use Law: Current Issues in Subdivision, Annexation and Zoning, National Business Institute, Government, Legal, Real Estate Developement, 2007
- This program provided insights into the convoluted claims process under the California Government Claims Act that is a prerequisite to bring suits for damages against State and Local public entities., Presenter, Suing and Defending State and Local Public Entities: The Claims Process, State Bar of California, 2014
- This webinar focused on how to prosecute and defend dangerous condition cases under the California Government Claims Act. The program will focus on the unique statutory framework governing suits that arise out of the condition of State or Local public property., Presenter, Suing and Defending State and Local Public Entities: Dangerous Conditions of Public Property, State Bar of California, 2014
Honors
- Recipient of AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rating Recipient of AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, Martindale-Hubbell, 2023
- Recognized as one of the top ten percent of the lawyers in the nation., Lawyers of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction, 2024
- AV Rating, AV Rating Recipient, Martindale Hubbell, 2025
- AV Rating Recipient, AV Rating Recipient, Martindale Hubbell, 2024
- Accepted as one of top ten percent of lawyers, Lawyer of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction, 2023
Awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards by Who's Who in honor of my being selected for Who's Who in American Law for over 20 years.
, Lifetime Achievement Award, Marquis Who's Who, 2018- Recipient of AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2021
- A superb rating by the attorney rating service., 10 out of 10 rating A subperb rating by the attorney rating service, Avvo.com, 2021
- Accepted as one of top ten percent of lawyers, Lawyer of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction, 2022
- Accepted as one of top ten percent of lawyers., Lawyer of Distinction, Lawyer's of Distinction, 2021
Accepted by the American Law Society as being among the top one percent lawyers.
, Top One Percent, American Law Society, 2018- Accepted as one of top ten percent of lawyers in the nation by Lawyer's of Distinction., Lawyer of Distinction, Lawyer's of Distinction, 2020
- A subperb rating by the attorney rating service of Avvo.com, 10 out of 10 rating, Avvo.com, 2020
- Recipient of AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2020
- Biographical listing in publication of attorneys meriting special recognition., Who's Who in American Law, Marquis
Industry Groups
- Construction
- Government
- Land Development
Office location for William R. Seligmann
333 Church Street
Suite A
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Selections
8 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2026