Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) congratulates Rubin E. Cruse, Jr. and Andrew Shen on their promotions to partner effective Sept. 1. Rubin joined RPLG as of counsel in May 2023 after serving over 24 years in the Shasta County Counsel’s Office and over 12 years as the Shasta County Counsel. Andrew joined RPLG as senior counsel in October 2022 after 15 years of service as deputy city attorney for the City and County of San Francisco.
“We are excited to announce both Rubin and Andrew’s well-deserved promotions to partner,” said Founding Partner Art Hartinger. “Their extensive experience, encompassing both broad and in-depth knowledge in a number of practice areas, has brought substantial value to our team and our clients.”
Rubin’s practice areas encompass labor and employment, land use, public agency law and elections. During his tenure with Shasta County, he provided wide-ranging legal advice and representation to the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive Officer and other leadership. Demonstrating his interest and expertise in addressing housing and homelessness, he updated Shasta County’s ordinance concerning unlawful camping and provided legal advice to the Board of Supervisors on local ordinances related to panhandling. Rubin also has advised on efforts to provide affordable housing.
“I am honored to be promoted to partner at Renne Public Law Group,” said Rubin. “This promotion represents not just a personal milestone but also the collaborative efforts and shared values that define our firm. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and success of RPLG and I look forward to leading with integrity and dedication alongside such a talented team.”
During his tenure at RPLG, Rubin has written on various topics, including the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act with Associate Anastasia Bondarchuk, and the effect on legislatively enacted impact fees from the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, 601 U.S. 267 (2024).
Rubin has been a presenter on topics involving labor and employment and public agency law at several County Counsels’ Association conferences. In addition, this spring, he and Founding Partner Jon Holtzman presented at the League of California Cities City Attorneys Spring Conference on the tension between state laws seeking to increase housing and local government policies aiming to preserve the environment and reduce the risk of fires. This month, he joins Of Counsel Ann Danforth—and Andrew—to present “Getting Started with CEQA” at the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) Annual Conference.
“I look forward to continuing to provide responsive and effective legal advice and representation to our clients,” said Rubin. “I am committed to delivering timely and cost-effective solutions that empower our clients to achieve their policy objectives. By leveraging the collective expertise and resources of RPLG, I aim to strengthen our client relationships and drive positive outcomes that reflect the core values and mission of our firm.”
Former vice president and president of the County Counsels’ Association of California, Rubin received the association’s James B. Lindholm Jr. Legacy Award for his outstanding contributions to the organization and broader public agency law. He holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of Southern California.
Together, Rubin and Andrew authored an article about the California Court of Appeal’s ruling that San Francisco cannot tow safely and lawfully parked vehicles, without a warrant, solely because of unpaid parking tickets, in Coalition on Homelessness v. City and County of San Francisco, 93 Cal.App.5th 928 (2023).
Andrew’s practice areas include general government advice, ethics and conflicts of interest, election law, constitutional law, land use, and public meeting and records compliance. As leader of the City Attorney’s Office’s Ethics and Elections Team, Andrew collaborated with the San Francisco Department of Elections during a 14-month period in which the City and County of San Francisco held five separate elections, including its first recall elections in decades. He also advised the City’s Redistricting Task Force through the contentious and high-profile process of revising San Francisco’s supervisorial district boundaries, bringing the complicated process to a close without facing any litigation after the adoption of the final district maps.
At RPLG, Andrew has written 11 articles on topics including protections for election workers and other public servants, Fair Political Practices Commission guidance, voter initiatives, campaign contribution restrictions, and the California Voting Rights Act. At the League of California Cities’ 2023 New Mayors and Council Members Academy, Andrew presented “Understanding Public Service Ethics Laws and Principles (AB 1234),” training newly elected officials on ethics laws and principles related to personal financial interests, gifts, public funds, governmental transparency, fair process and other topics. He also will present on this topic at the League of California Cities Annual Conference this month.
“As a partner, I plan to continue working closely with my clients and the local communities that they serve,” said Andrew. “I recognize the high standards set by the existing partners. It is a tremendous honor to receive their support and join the partnership.”
Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Andrew was a litigation associate at Keker & Van Nest LLP and a law clerk to the Hon. William J. Rea, Senior District Court Judge for the Central District of California. A former member of the California State Bar’s Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct, he holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
“We look forward to collaborating with Rubin and Andrew in their new roles as partners,” said Art. “Having embodied the RPLG mission of practicing public law in the public interest throughout their careers, their promotions will further strengthen our leadership team and enhance the firm’s efforts furthering the public good.”
RPLG practices public law and public interest law throughout California, advising and advocating for public agencies, and nonprofits in need of effective, responsive and creative legal solutions. For more information, visit www.publiclawgroup.com.