Government Transparency

Offit Kurman advises businesses, individuals, and the media on how to tailor a public record request to obtain the most information allowed under the applicable law.  When you want to quickly and discretely gather information, Offit Kurman is ready to help you strategize and target your efforts. 

Offit Kurman is here to help you protect your trade secrets so you can focus on what you do best: being the expert in your business.  After winning a bid for a government contract, you may find that a losing bidder has requested a copy of your successful bid, including the trade secrets and commercial information.  Offit Kurman can help you navigate these difficult waters, ensuring that the governmental agency withhold some or all of the bid. 

We advise local government offices on how to create an efficient system for responding to records requests, the duty to disclose certain records, the right to deny access to records under applicable law, the right to charge fees to requesters, and how to efficiently and successfully litigate to limit the burdens on your office.  We also help agencies understand and comply with their Sunshine Act requirements. 

When you’re seeking to obtain or protect a record critical to you or your competitors, Offit Kurman’s team of experienced litigators will not hesitate to protect your interests in court.  Our attorneys thrive in the courtroom and we have prevailed on these important issues before agencies, trial courts, and appellate courts.  We are ready to pursue all avenues to seek a satisfying outcome for our clients:

• Administrative agency public records practice (e.g., the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records)
• Negotiation and mediation
• Confidentiality agreements
• Temporary restraining orders
• Appellate practice