Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2020 
John O. Pinkney is the managing partner of Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney LLP in Palm Springs, California. His practice focuses on Municipal Law, public agency representation, and complex litigation. Before joining the firm, Mr. Pinkney practiced for 18 years at Best Best & Krieger LLP, where he served on the firm’s executive committee and as managing partner of its Desert office.
Mr. Pinkney was appointed City Attorney for the City of Beaumont in May 2015. He also serves as City Attorney for the City of Needles, California. In addition, he serves as general counsel and litigation counsel to Mission Springs Water District, general counsel to a public utility agency and Myoma Dunes Water Company, and special counsel to joint powers agencies and California cities. His public agency work includes representing a Central California County in federal litigation and serving as litigation counsel to the Salton Community Services District in a trial involving a proposed parcel tax measure.
Mr. Pinkney has served as assistant city attorney to several Southern California municipalities and has represented public agencies in a range of litigation matters involving constitutional rights, taxation, elections, Proposition 218, utility rate setting, contracts, labor and employment, and real estate development disputes. He served as co-trial counsel for a public agency client in a complex trial that resulted in a $17 million judgment against a developer. He also obtained a $5 million recovery for a public agency client after a large international retail company breached an operating covenant agreement.
Mr. Pinkney served as trial and appellate counsel in Mission Springs Water District v. Verjil, which upheld the right of a county water district to challenge utility rate reduction ballot measures proposing rates below the cost of providing essential government services. He has also authored amicus briefs before the California Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court on behalf of the League of California Cities, the Association of California Water Agencies, and the California State Association of Counties.
Mr. Pinkney provides training and speaks on the Brown Act, the California Public Records Act, conflicts of interest, utility rate setting, Propositions 218 and 26, and public agency risk management.
