Matthew T. Besmer

Matthew T. Besmer advises public-sector educational institutions on the legal and operational questions facing their boards and administrators. His practice spans K-12 and higher education, with a focus on governance, compliance and risk management. Matt works with boards, executives and other administrators on matters that require legal analysis within the practical demands of institutional decision-making.

His education-law counsel covers board governance, the Ralph M. Brown Act, the California Public Records Act, and public-agency ethics and conflict-of-interest laws. He also advises on student discipline and Title IX, First Amendment and campus free-speech issues, and student privacy and records. Other areas of his work include contracting and independent-contractor issues, Government Claims Act liability, and labor and employment matters involving investigations and discipline.

Matt brings public-agency litigation experience to that advisory practice. He has defended employment-law claims in state and federal courts and before enforcement agencies, and has represented clients in grievances, unfair labor practice proceedings, writ-of-mandate litigation and appellate matters. His experience also includes advising law-enforcement agencies on personnel records and disciplinary matters under the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act.

Before joining the firm, Matt was General Counsel for the State Center Community College District in Fresno. In that role, he advised an elected Board of Trustees, the Chancellor and four college presidents across a district serving more than 60,000 students. He frequently presents and provides training on ethics, board governance, the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, the First Amendment, and labor and employment matters.

Matt is a veteran of the Iraq War and continues to serve as a Colonel in the California Army National Guard. His military background also informs his understanding of where veteran- and military-law considerations intersect with public-education operations.

• Ed.D., Creighton University
• J.D., Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

• 2010, California
• 2006, Indiana

• Colonel, California Army National Guard serving as a reserve Judge Advocate General Officer
• California Health Sciences University Board of Trustees, Member