LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lozano Smith, LLP and Gutierrez, Preciado & House, LLP (GPH) announced a strategic alliance confirming the two long-standing firms have become Of Counsel to each other. The relationship combines Lozano Smith's extensive experience and reputation working with education and other public agencies with GPH's deep employment and litigation expertise to offer unparalleled legal services and counsel to clients throughout the state.

Lozano Smith is a full-service education and public agency law firm serving hundreds of California's K-12 and community college districts, universities, and numerous cities, counties, and special districts for the past 25 years. The firm's expertise includes, but is not limited to, personnel matters, labor relations, real property and construction matters, constitutional issues, special education, student discipline, school funding, charter schools, higher education, bond elections, governance, and litigation in all areas of representation. Lozano Smith has offices in eight California locations: Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Redding, Sacramento, San Diego, Santa Rosa and Walnut Creek.

"With our new affiliation, Lozano Smith and GPH together will bring clients greater accessibility to resources and expertise, coupled with our dedicated focus on labor-related services for public agencies," said Nohemi Gutierrez Ferguson, Partner at GPH. "Our overarching goal is to be an all-inclusive partner to our clients in fulfilling their mission by providing high quality, timely and cost-effective legal services."

Based in Pasadena, Gutierrez, Preciado & House, LLP has devoted its practice to representing employers and public entities in Southern California since 1994. GPH emphasizes the defense of employment and municipal liability lawsuits, employment law training issues and investigation of personnel matters. The firm has defended over 500 cases under the federal and state anti-discrimination laws, including claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. GPH has also defended over 30 wage and hour lawsuits and provides daily advice to their clients on wage and hour rule compliance.

"We at Lozano Smith believe that the culture of GPH is a strong match with our firm," said Lou Lozano, Partner at Lozano Smith. "Practicing law at the highest level of quality and ethics, and centered on the best interests of our clients, is a core principle of our firms. Together we will continue to offer our clients the benefits of our core principles, as well as broader resources, which will produce the results and cost effectiveness our clients have come to expect from us."

More information about both firms is available at http://www.lozanosmith.com and http://www.gphlawyers.com.

Contact: Andy Garcia
Executive Director
559.431.5600 
agarcia@lozanosmith.com

SOURCE Lozano Smith, LLP and Gutierrez, Preciado & House, LLP