Item 22 - Agreement and Amendment for Legal Services

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LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH RICHARDS WATSON & GERSHON This AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 41h day of June, 2024, by and between Richards Watson & Gershon, a California Professional Corporation ("Attorneys"), and the City of Santa Ana, a charter city and municipal corporation duly organized and existing under the constitution and laws of the State of California ("City"). Collectively City and Attorneys are also referred to as "the Parties." RECITALS A. The City of Santa Ana and the City Attorney's Office desire to employ Attorneys to assist the in-house attorneys for the City ("City Attorney") in the provision of legal services to the City, for general municipal law advisory and litigation matters. B. Attorneys represent that they are licensed to practice law in the State of California, have special experience and knowledge providing general municipal law advisory and litigation services and desire to undertake said service. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual and respective promises, and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the Parties agree as follows: 1. RETENTION OF ATTORNEYS On an as -needed basis, and at the sole discretion of the City, City hereby agrees to and does retain Attorneys, for the compensation hereinafter specified, to assist the City Attorney with general municipal advisory and litigation matters, including but not limited to, elections matters filed against the City and to defend the City, its employees and its officials. Attorneys accept said retention and agree to perform, in a timely and efficient manner, all such services as may be requested by the City Attorney. Attorneys shall confirm their acceptance of work requested by City in writing by e-mail or letter. 2. COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES RENDERED a. City agrees to compensate Attorneys, and Attorneys agree to accept from City, as and for payment in full for all services for the foregoing services, all attorneys will bill their time at $335/hour, all paralegals will bill their time at $195/hour, and time will be billed in 1/10th of an hour increments. b. The total sum to be expended under this Agreement, shall not exceed three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) including any extension periods. C. City agrees to reimburse Attorneys for out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to, mileage, copying costs, service of process, and mail services authorized by the City Attorney in connection with the performance of duties under this Agreement. i. In-house printing, copying, and reproduction charges will be reimbursed at the rate of 20 cents per page.