5-A
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute a legal retainer agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen and terminate a legal retainer agreement with Hensley Law Group effective on or before December 31, 2022; reappoint Karl H. Berger as City Attorney.
DATE: December 15, 2022
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Authorize the City Manager to terminate the legal services agreement with Hensley Law Group (AFN 707) to be effective on or before December 31, 2022; and
2) Authorize the City Manager to execute a legal services agreement with Burke, Williams and Sorensen to be effective on or before January 1, 2023; and
3) Confirm Karl H. Berger as City Attorney and reappoint him as City Attorney, effective on or before January 1, 2023; or
4) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
BACKGROUND
Karl H. Berger was appointed City Attorney on April 25, 2016. At the time of his appointment, the City Council approved a retainer agreement with Mr. Berger’s law firm, the Hensley Law Group (AFN 707).
Mr. Berger informed the City that he is accepting a partnership with Burke, Williams and Sorensen on (BW&S) or before January 1, 2023. A copy of BW&S’s firm overview is included as an attachment.
Mr. Berger has provided exceptional legal services to the City of Bellflower. Making sure Mr. Berger continues as City Attorney is important to the City and his joining BW&S will only help him continue to provide outstanding legal services.
ATTACHMENT
Burke, Williams, Sorensen Firm Overview ...................................................................... 2
For over ninety years, Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP has served the public agencies and private business entities of California. Today, with over one hundred attorneys and ten offices throughout California, we are fully prepared to meet your legal needs.
Burke originated as a law firm in 1927, founded by two brothers, Louis H.
Burke and Martin J. Burke, and Thomas P. White. From its inception, the firm specialized in corporate law and business litigation. In 1938, the firm also embarked on what was at the time a unique specialty - the representation of public entities. Always striving for excellence in its attorneys, two of the firm’s founding partners, Louis H. Burke and Thomas P. White, went on to serve as California Supreme Court Justices. Throughout its growth over the years, and into the new millennium, Burke has retained its roots in real estate and business law and litigation, and as one of the preeminent firms in the fields of public law, education law, and labor and employment law.
Our clients value not only our expertise and efficiency, but also our integrity and responsiveness. In each of our eight primary practice groups, our only focus is to serve our clients so that they may receive the very best possible result.
At Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, we provide our broad base of clients with superior, cost-efficient legal services tailored to the particular demands of working and doing business in the nation’s most dynamic region: California.
In all our work, and in all our areas of legal expertise, our growth and strength have derived from a commitment to serve our clients while following sound business practices in an environment that celebrates diversity and fosters professional development.
Our reputation, however, is based on more than just our flexible, task-oriented approach to providing high-quality legal services rooted in our attorneys’ expertise, skills, and performance. Our clients also value us for our honesty, reliability, accessibility, efficiency, and prompt responsiveness, all qualities that form a foundation for the most important factor of all when you choose legal representation: Trust.
Burke, Williams & Sorensen
Firm Overview
Burke assists our clients with complex, multi-
disciplinary issues and responds to our clients’ needs in markets across the state and nationally. Clients benefit from our depth and breadth of experience in key
industry sectors, including public law, retail, education, insurance and health care.
Construction Law
Burke is home to a nationally-recognized construction
law and litigation practice, representing public and
private clients in all facets of the construction process.
We have handled cases involving virtually every type
of public or private construction project, including
power plants, highways, hospitals, schools, jails, parking facilities, libraries, hotels, shopping malls, sports
facilities, wastewater facilities, pipelines, and many
more.
Education Law
Our Education Law Practice Group provides
comprehensive representation to public school
districts, community college districts, private schools, private vocational schools, and private colleges.
In serving these educational institutions, we are
committed to helping them fulfill their respective
missions by providing strong advocacy and sound legal
advice.
Environmental, Land Use, and Natural Resources
Burke’s Environmental Group is uniquely positioned
to address clients’ projects, whether large or
small, on every phase – from idea, to planning, to
implementation, to successful conclusion. Whether you
are faced with an environmental, planning, land use,
NEPA, CEQA, water, contract, or funding issue, we can
assist you in effectively and efficiently achieving your goal.
Insurance Coverage and Litigation
Burke has a nationally renowned insurance coverage,
litigation, and appellate practice in first and third-party insurance matters. Burke’s litigators specialize in
advising clients and litigating cases from start to finish in the areas of bad faith and punitive damages; life, health, disability, and accidental death and dismemberment
insurance; long-term care and hospital indemnity
insurance; ERISA pension and welfare benefit plans;
property, casualty, and liability insurance; professional E&O insurance; health insurance; environmental
coverage; complex litigation; class actions; and FINRA
and financial services.
Labor and Employment Law
Our Labor and Employment Law practice group is
dedicated to helping California employers solve their
labor and employment issues in a strategic, creative,
and cost-effective manner.
At home in the courtroom, at the bargaining table,
and providing day-to-day preventive counseling and
training, we provide expert advice and litigation skills.
Litigation
Burke maintains a full-service litigation practice,
covering over a dozen specialized areas of the law.
Burke has handled cases in a broad spectrum of
subject areas, including: contract disputes and
general commercial litigation, public law litigation, real estate, commercial tenancies, labor and employment,
construction, environmental and land use, insurance,
constitutional law, securities, bankruptcy, financial
services, business torts, personal injury and products
liability, intellectual property, and professional
malpractice.
Public L aw
Our public law practice began in 1938 when founding
partner Louis H. Burke was appointed as City Attorney
of the City of Montebello. Today, our public law practice delivers a full range of services and represents the
spectrum of public and quasi-public entities including
municipalities, special districts, counties, joint powers authorities, and departments of the State, as well
as special purpose entities such as redevelopment
agencies, economic development corporations, and
affordable housing non-profits.
Real Estate and Business Law
Recognizing that real estate issues often require local resources and expertise in many other areas of the
law, Burke builds cross-disciplinary teams according to clients’ needs. The team works effectively and efficiently across jurisdictions and practice areas drawing
upon expertise in specialty areas such as banking
and financial services, food and grocery services,
technology, and research and development.