Samantha Smithies

Senior Management Analyst, RPMG

ABOUT

As a senior management analyst, Samantha supports public agencies with research, writing and analysis for matters related to labor negotiations, mediations and fact-finding, public pension systems, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and executive performance evaluations. In all these areas, Samantha approaches her work with curiosity, analytical rigor and an appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration.

In collective bargaining, she works closely with employers throughout the process, assisting at the negotiating table and behind the scenes to develop negotiation strategies grounded in objective, data-driven analysis. Her work reflects Renne Public Law Group’s fact-based approach to labor relations, leveraging financial analysis, compensation surveys and recruitment and retention data to help clients and their governing bodies make informed decisions and effectively navigate complex employment matters.

Samantha also assists with technically complex litigation and settlement matters requiring detailed financial and payroll analysis. Working alongside RPLG’s attorneys, she helps develop sophisticated Excel payroll models to assess potential liability under the FLSA, helping clients evaluate litigation risk and inform settlement strategies. By combining a deep understanding of the underlying payroll calculations with the legal framework governing FLSA claims, Samantha helps public employers identify opportunities to maximize statutory offsets, accurately quantify potential exposure and gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors driving liability and the most effective paths to resolution.

EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining the firm, Samantha spent several years at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) conducting applied research on clean energy and climate policy. As the project coordinator at the UCLA California Center for Sustainable Communities, she managed a portfolio of state and locally funded research projects focused on building decarbonization and facilitating the transition toward renewable energy. She worked closely with government agencies, utilities, researchers and community organizations to develop practical solutions to complex energy challenges. She has co-authored journal articles and other research publications on electrification, energy affordability and post-disaster recovery.

Samantha graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a bachelor of arts degree in public affairs, where she developed a strong foundation in public policy, quantitative research methods and civic engagement. While at UCLA, Samantha gained practical experience serving as a UC president’s climate action fellow, working as a research assistant on California housing policy with the Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies and volunteering as an undergraduate student representative on the City of Los Angeles North Westwood Neighborhood Council.

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Getting and Maintaining Support of Governing Bodies for Negotiations, California Special Districts Association, General Managers Leadership Summit, June 2026.
Impacts of Household Electrification on Energy Affordability in Los Angeles, co-authored with Lauren Dunlap, Rachel Sheinberg, Will Callan and Gregory Pierce, August 2025.
Estimating the Energy Impacts of Rebuilding after the Palisades and Eaton Fires, co-authored with Rachel Sheinberg, Eric Daniel Fournier and Stephanie Pincetl, August 2025.
Quantifying the Electric Service Panel Capacities of California’s Residential Buildings, co-authored with Eric Daniel Fournier, Robert Cudd and, Samantha Smithies, & Stephanie Pincetl,. Energy Policy, September 2024.