jennifer takehana

* Advise the Board of Supervisors, County departments and commissions, a joint powers agency, and an independent special district on issues affecting general government. * Substantive experience includes Brown Act and agenda items, contracting, conflicts of interest, elections, marijuana/hemp, substandard housing and abatement of nuisances, transportation, CEQA, and emergency response. * Prepare and deliver trainings to client agencies and special districts, including Brown Act, ethics, contracting, and emergencies. * Review proposed contracts for legal issues; draft contracts, leases and memoranda of understanding. * Draft ordinances, memoranda, findings, procedures, letters, opinions, emergency proclamations and orders, and other legal documents as necessary.

* Analyzed labor and employment law issues to advise public and private employers. * Drafted and assisted with filing civil litigation motions and supporting documents. Worked alongside partners to develop and revise litigation strategy. * Propounded discovery, reviewed documents, interviewed witnesses, and drafted discovery responses. * Assisted partners with deposition preparation; defended a deposition. * Drafted and filed EEOC and DFEH Position Statements, and a PERB Unfair Labor Practice Charge. * Advocated on behalf of client before California Labor Commissioner. * Reviewed and revised employee handbooks and severance contracts. * Drafted advisory emails and formal memoranda. * Led negotiations and drafted language for new collective bargaining agreement. * Represented pro bono client in affirmative application for asylum before USCIS.

* Researched legal issues in labor and employment, health care, California civil procedure, unlawful detainer, asylum, and other practice areas. * Conducted client interview with a nonprofit organization and presented legal findings. * Researched and drafted memoranda, a client declaration, and FOIA request letters.

* Tracked new employment case law and prepared case summaries for a nonprofit research and advocacy group devoted to women's advancement and to improving work/life balance. * In a joint project with the University of Kansas, reviewed a law firm’s employment reviews of associate attorneys for gender bias. * Assisted director in preparing a grant report and cite-checking her book for publication.

* Researched non-profit creation and incorporation. * Collaborated with professors and practicing attorneys on initial business and strategic plans to start a new non-profit.

* Researched and drafted memoranda on public financing, foreclosures, administrative law, and environmental issues. * Interviewed client agency representatives. * Drafted recording documents and an Answer to a Complaint. * Analyzed leases to protect client investments.

* Administered a $350,000 annual grant program for organizations working to increase economic opportunities for Native Hawaiians. * Evaluated applications * recommended awards * negotiated contract language monitored open grant awards for compliance * developed program marketing strategy. * Drafted testimony to the Hawaii State Legislature. * As microloan officer, independently managed micro loan portfolio * counseled borrowers * halved the portfolio delinquency rate.

Dean of Administration-- Managed operations for charter school of 400 primarily at-risk students and over 30 staff. Directly supervised 3 employees. Developed and implemented accounting systems for: front office cash flow (over $100,000), payroll, attendance, student nutrition. Held disciplinary conferences with parents and students. Translated parent-teacher events, presentations and a school newsletter to Spanish. Implemented web-based records management system for scheduling, grading, and district reporting. Teacher, Spanish and US History-- Led class of 33 ESL 8th graders to 100% passing rate on Texas standardized history exam. Researched teaching methods, resources, and strategies through observations, classes, and the internet. Collaborated with parents and students to overcome barriers to student learning.

Drafted guidelines, policies, and procedures to start a zero-interest loan program. Designed and taught interactive homeownership-preservation curriculum to over 250 individuals. Developed bi-lingual financial management “crash-course” for un-banked and low-income communities. Administered a $7,000 grant award from the City of Houston to reduce trash dumping through art awareness and education. Represented organization at several neighborhood and city planning meetings.