Item 23 - Agreements and Amendments to Agreements for Legal Services

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Agreements and Amendments to Agreements for Legal Services November 21, 2023 Page 3 Richards Watson & Gershon APC On June 1, 2020, the City Attorney's Office engaged RWG for specialized municipal litigation and advisory services and for overflow work when necessary. In particular, the City Attorney's Office has utilized RWG for elections matters. The City exercised its option to extend the term of the Agreement to continue services until May 31, 2024 and now seeks approval to add $300,000 in funds to the agreement for a total not to exceed amount of $550,000. RWG currently represents the City in ongoing litigation brought by Share Our Selves Corporation in federal court challenging the validity of a zoning ordinance adopted by the City. The law firm of Richards, Watson & Gershon is a well -regarded municipal law firm specializing in general municipal law services and litigation. Rina Bender LLP The legal services agreement with Ring Bender LLP is set at a not -to -exceed amount of $500,000 for the term of November 21, 2023 to June 30, 2026 for municipal litigation services, including but not limited to litigation regarding AC 2525 Main, LLC v City of Santa Ana. Ring Bender has successfully represented the City in prior engagements with the City Attorney's Office (CAO) and its attorneys have a long history of representing municipal entities on a wide range of matters and litigation including on environmental, land use, water rights, governance, contractual, Section 1983 claims, and employment issues. Goldfarb & Lipman LLP The legal services agreement with Goldfarb & Lipman LLP is set at a not -to -exceed amount of $500,000 for the term of November 21, 2023 to November 20, 2026 for municipal advisory and litigation services including defending the City in litigation involving challenges to the City's Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. Legal services provided by this firm focus on serving public entities with a positive community impact through affordable housing and community economic development. Its range of services will provide CAO access to a firm with decades of experience in housing, affordable housing, fair housing, rent stabilization, land use, and real property. FISCAL IMPACT Liebert Cassidv & Whitmore The estimated expenditures below are strictly approximations; contract authority may be paid in its entirety during any given fiscal year, expended throughout the term of the contract, or not spent at all. Moreover, any contract services and associated expenditures are subject to available funding in the Human Resources Department budget. Funds for the Special and Legal Services Agreement are budgeted and available in the Human Resources Services, Contract Services -Professional account (no. 01109051 — 62300) for FY2023-24. Future fiscal year funding will be included in the proposed budgets for City Council consideration.