City Attorney

City Attorney
The City Attorney is the legal advisor for the City Council. He attends Council meetings and serves as attorney for several City boards. He prosecutes City ordinance violations 
and represents the City in legal proceedings.

The City currently contracts with Harkness Law Firm, PLLC for its legal services. 

Mr. Harkness is the managing member of The Harkness Law Firm, PLLC. Mr. Harkness represents several municipal clients throughout Michigan in state and federal courts as well as the Michigan Tax Tribunal. Committed to serving both his clients and his community, Mr. Harkness is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Meridian Area Business Association, the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, the International Municipal Lawyers Association, and the Haslett-Okemos Rotary Club. Mr. Harkness is also a hearing attorney for the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board and a commercial case evaluator for Ingham and Eaton counties.

Mr. Harkness received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Indiana University in 2004 and his Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University – Cooley Law School in 2007. He was admitted to practice in the State of Michigan and the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan in 2008. He was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court in 2018. Mr. Harkness has been AV rated by Martindale Hubble and has been selected as a Rising Star in Michigan municipal law multiple times by Super Lawyers Magazine.