Many of us deal with compliance related to local governments and the politics that go along with it. Whether in connection with simple zoning and land use issues, massive public–private partnership deals or regional development agencies, a general counsel who ignores the impact of the local political environment does so at their company's peril. Knowledge of the law is one thing; being able to navigate the political waters is an entirely different one. In a mock public-hearing format using headlines and video from recent media, a diverse panel will conduct a highly interactive session to demonstrate the pitfalls of working with local government and offer practical solutions.