Managing Member
Joseph G. Lauber
Joe Lauber established Lauber Municipal Law, LLC, in 2010 and practices in the areas of general municipal law, public facility/infrastructure construction and financing, economic development law, public works contracts, annexation, land use planning and zoning, and appellate law. Throughout his career, Joe has dedicated his practice to the representation of governmental entities, exclusively. Joe has served as the appointed City Attorney and Special Counsel for dozens of cities. Joe’s experience spans over 20 years, including work in the Public Law/Public Finance Division of Stinson, economic development work at Gilmore & Bell, and time with a boutique municipal law firm, all before he founded Lauber Municipal Law.
Education
- University of Missouri – Kansas City, J.D., 2003
- The Urban Lawyer, Editorial Associate
- UMKC Law Review, staff member
- University of Oklahoma – Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Legal Studies, 1995
Bar Admissions
- Missouri, 2003
- United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, 2003
- Kansas, 2004
- United States District Court, District of Kansas, 2004
Honors/Recognition
- Designated an International Municipal Lawyers Association Local Government Fellow, 2019-2024; redesignated 2024-2029
- International Municipal Lawyers Association Marvin J. Link Private Practice Local Government Attorney Award 2022
- Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association Lou Czech Award, 2020
- Missouri Municipal League’s Municipal Governance Institute, Fellow (2014)
- Selected as a Kansas and Missouri “Super Lawyer” for State and Local Government Law 2024 and 2025
- Selected as a Kansas and Missouri Super Lawyers “Rising Star” for State and Local Government Law 2011, 2012, and 2013
- The Best Lawyers in America- Municipal Law, 2025
Relevant Legal Experience
- Serves as City Attorney for multiple Missouri cities
- Served as Assistant City Attorney for multiple cities in Kansas and Missouri
- Provides or has provided on-call special counsel for general municipal issues to the cities of Independence, St. Joseph, Kearney, Branson, Moberly, Blue Springs, and Pleasant Valley, Missouri
- Provides or has provided special economic development counsel to the cities of Grandview, Grain Valley, Branson, Lexington, Sedalia, Jefferson City, Butler, Pleasant Valley, and Harrisonville, Missouri
- Appointed Public Officer of Fairway, Kansas, 2003–2005
- Knowledgeable in a wide variety of day-to-day municipal law issues including drafting ordinances, open meetings and open records laws, municipal authority issues, contract review, negotiation drafting, and interpretation, zoning, subdivision, and planning, personnel issues, and election law
- Drafted amicus curiae brief on behalf of Missouri Municipal League in both the Missouri Court of Appeals-Western District and Missouri Supreme Court in prevailing wage law case
- Drafted amicus curiae brief on behalf of Missouri Municipal League in the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District in case regarding city authority to impose health, safety, and welfare ordinances on county facilities constructed within a city’s boundaries
- Assisted in-house client as special counsel to develop procedure and documents needed in impeachment and removal of an elected official
- Extensive experience in tax increment financing and the formation and ongoing administration of Transportation Development Districts and Community Improvement Districts, including elections for district sales taxes
- Extensive experience in Missouri annexation law obtained in litigation support for a successful annexation challenge on behalf of a municipal client
- Experienced in code drafting, including development codes and a comprehensive licensing ordinance for the registration of rental properties, for the provision of transitional services for the homeless, and regulating drag shows
- Represent City of O’Fallon on impeachment matter
Professional Affiliations
- International Municipal Lawyer’s Association
- The Missouri Bar
- Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association, Board of Directors (2012–2019; President 2017-2018)
- Missouri Municipal League, Participating Affiliate; member Economic Development Committee
- League of Kansas Municipalities- Municipal Business Alliance, Associate Member
- City Attorneys Association of Kansas, Associate Member
- Missouri Main Street Connection, Board of Directors (2011–present, currently Secretary)
- Missouri Economic Development Finance Association (MEDFA), Board of Directors (2011–2014)
Civic and Community Involvement
- Honorary Warrior “Father of Shining Heart,” Tribe of Mic-O-Say
- Executive Board of Directors, Lee’s Summit West Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp, Secretary (2016- 2017)
- District Commissioner At-Large, Boy Scouts of America, Heart of America Council, Thunderbird District (2011-2015)
- Troop Committee Member, Boy Scout Troop 220, Lee’s Summit, Missouri (2011- present)
- Costa Rica Mission Team Member, South Summit Christian Church (January 2010)
- Secretary, Board of Directors of the South Summit Christian Church, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, (2007–2008); property manager (2014)
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