Joan Stevens Smyth was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1985.

Her practice is focused on litigation of all matters related to the business of a municipality, including code enforcement (including civil, criminal and administrative enforcement), CEQA, land use, planning, zoning, eminent domain, bonds, development, bankruptcy, and the defense of municipal officers and employees, at both the trial and appellate level.  Ms. Smyth has developed a particular expertise in the burgeoning field of medical marijuana litigation, having successfully defended attacks on municipal ordinances through trial up to the California Supreme Court.   In addition, Ms. Smyth is the head of the Firm’s litigation department supervising all litigation matters being handled by the firm, as well as supervising litigation which has been referred to outside attorneys.

As an associate of the Firm, she routinely advises staff on legal compliance issues, contract issues, constitutional issues and the Brown Act. 

Ms. Smyth is a member of the State Bar of California, the Public Law Section, as well the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, and the City Attorneys Association of Los Angeles County.  Ms. Smyth is admitted to practice in California, the United States District Court for the Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.   Ms. Smyth received her undergraduate degree from UCLA, and her Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law.