Defending Land-Use Cases When the Elected Official Is the Problem What to Do When They Say Something They Shouldn’t Have By Christopher D. Balch A well-conducted investigation will go a long way to helping a defense, but it is as much about public relations as about finding the truth and protecting public trust. Do the…
Chris’ Recent Article in For the Defense
IMLA – Small / Rural Communities Presentation: Taming the Hydra: Managing the tasks, demands, and goals of a public client
International Municipal Lawyers Association Mid-Year Seminar, Washington, D.C. Sunday, March 31, 2019 Presented by Chris Balch & Lori Gonzalez Moderator: Douglas Haney Your bosses are ostensibly the elected body. But, you get assignments, direction, and demands from department heads (and sometimes supervisors), the administration, and the elected body. Keeping track of the competing, overlapping, and (often) conflicting…
You Can’t Take It Back – Chris’ Presentation DRI
Learn how to limit or minimize potential fallout and other issues from comments and statements made by elected officials during legislative sessions. Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar | San Antonio, TX, January 31–February 1, 2019
Balch Law Group Parnters with City in Historic First Step Toward Greenspace and Alternative Transportation Solutions
The City Of Brookhaven, Georgia held the historic groundbreaking for Phase I of the Peachtree Creek Greenway on December 12, 2018. The Peachtree Creek Greenway will stretch 1.27 miles from North Druid Hills Road to Briarwood Road to include a series of paved multi-purpose trails and promenade trails. When Phase I and II are complete,…
IMLA, Houston – Challenges at your Local Government Council Meeting: From the Elected Official to Disruptive Speakers
Chris’ presented on the issue of disruptive speakers at local government council meetings, including a discussion of the Supreme Court’s recent case in Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach.
ICLE – Appellate Practice From The Bench
In addition to Chris’ presentation at the 65TH Annual City & County Attorneys Institute, he also served as the moderator with panelists Hon. Keith R. Blackwell, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, GA Hon. Sara L. Doyle, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA and Hon. Carla Wong McMillian, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA UNIVERSITY OF…
Professionalism & Crisis Management: Not losing your cool when all around you are losing theirs
Presented by Chris Balch at the 65th Annual City & County Attorneys Institute. University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, September 13 & 14, 2018 Seven years ago, when I first spoke on the topic of crisis management and the 24/7 news cycle, I focused on the outside risks of misfeasance coming to light: camera phones, investigative…
Attorney, ceramicist to discuss art, law in lecture at SFA
Attorney and ceramicist Chris Balch of Atlanta, Georgia, will visit the Stephen F. Austin State University campus to deliver a lecture on art and the law at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, in Room 106 of the Art Building. “Everything You Didn’t Know You Needed to Ask a Lawyer – for Visual Artists” is free…
Chris Balch Named Local Government Fellow of the International Municipal Lawyers Association
The Balch Law Group is proud to announce that its Managing Partner, Chris Balch, has been named as a Local Government Fellow of the International Municipal Lawyers Association. The Fellows program recognizes practitioners with experience, training, and service to local governments around the world. The recognition requires an exhaustive application process which is vetted by…
CHOA’s New Campus in Brookhaven
“Our partnership with Children’s allows us to accelerate several key projects of vital importance to Brookhaven, while retaining and growing one of our largest employers,” said Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst in a prepared statement. “Children’s campus is going to change our community in a positive way, but this cannot compare to the life changing effect…
Brookhaven officials participate in Atlanta Hawks ‘beam signing’
As reported by Dyana Bagby on reportersnewspaper.net | Jan 13, 2017 | Brookhaven city officials put signed their names on a steel beam that will be used in the construction of the new Atlanta Hawks practice facility now going up in Executive Park. The ceremonial beam signing took place Jan. 12 at Philips Arena and…