Contributor Directory

Gerald A. Fisher




Clarkston, Michigan


Gerald A. Fisher is a local government law consultant and facilitator and retains the position of professor emeritus at Cooley Law School, having taught courses as a full-time professor on property law, constitutional law, zoning and land use law, and state and local government law until his retirement at the end of 2018. Before joining the law school, Mr. Fisher served as general counsel for cities, villages, and townships in southeast Michigan and as special counsel for governmental entities throughout the state. As emeritus professor, he now continues in that practice. Mr. Fisher is an author and contributing coeditor for several ICLE publications. He is also the author of a recently published book entitled "Local Government Law: A Practical Guidebook for Public Officials on City Councils, Community Boards and Planning Commissions," published by Routledge. Mr. Fisher has appeared numerous times in local government law cases in the Michigan Supreme Court. He is a member and past chair of the State Bar of Michigan's Government Law Section and received the State Bar of Michigan's Roberts P. Hudson Award and the "Cooley Law Review" 2001 Michigan Supreme Court Distinguished Brief Award. He was listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" in 2007 and 2009 for land use and zoning and was recognized as a Lawyer of the Year by "Michigan Lawyers Weekly" in 2001. Mr. Fisher served for 10 years as chair of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission until 2020.

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