CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
September 21, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Chris Munoz, Acting Human Resources/Risk Management Director SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL PANEL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Approve the hourly rate increase for Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW) Attorneys at Law to a range of $295 - $485 for Partners, Senior Counsel, and Associates; and Approve the hourly rate increase for Carpenter, Rothans & Dumont LLP (CRD) Attorneys at Law to a range of $300 for Partners and Associates; and Approve the hourly rate increase for Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Rudd & Romo to $450 per hour for Partners; and Approve the addition of Collins & Collins as a dangerous condition of Public Property and police liability defense counsel at an hourly range of $180-$375 for Partners, Associates, Paralegals/Law Clerks; and Authorize the City Manager to execute retainer agreements with the requested firms.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City utilizes a Special Legal Counsel Panel consisting of attorneys and law firms with expertise in specialized areas of law. Staff is recommending approval of updated hourly rates for Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW), Carpenter, Rothans & Dumont LLP (CRD), and Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Rudd & Romo (AALRR), as well as the addition of Collins & Collins to the panel to provide legal defense services for dangerous condition of public property and police liability matters. Approval will also authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary retainer agreements.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☐ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT: The costs for legal services have been incorporated into the adopted Fiscal Year 2026–27 Operating Budget. A total of $140,000 is budgeted for Outside Legal Services in FD101, General Fund | CC0701, Personnel. Legal expenses associated with litigated matters will be funded through appropriations from the applicable Self-Insurance Fund based on the nature of the matter. There are no additional funding appropriation requests associated with the proposed actions.
DISCUSSION: Pomona City Charter Section 703 provides that “…[t]he City Attorney shall serve as the chief legal advisor to the Council, the City Manager, and all City departments and appointed bodies, and shall have the authority to represent the City in all civil and criminal matters…” When specialized legal services are required, Pomona City Code (PCC) Section 2-993.2(7) exempts procurement of specialized legal services from the bidding process. On November 21, 2005, the City Council approved the Legal Counsel Referral Policy, which sets forth a procedure for utilizing outside counsel when expertise is required in specialized areas of law. The initial panel of attorneys and law firms was approved by the City Council in 2006 and has subsequently been updated and approved by the Council.
As a result of increased operational costs and changes in the legal services market, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW), Carpenter, Rothans & Dumont LLP (CRD), and Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Rudd & Romo (AALRR), firms currently included on the City’s Special Legal Counsel Panel, have requested adjustments to their hourly billing rates.
LCW has requested an adjustment to its hourly rates to a range of $295 to $485 per hour for Partners, Senior Counsel, and Associates. LCW provides specialized legal services to public agencies, including representation and advice in labor and employment matters. The City Council previously approved rate adjustments for LCW on February 27, 2012, July 21, 2014, July 18, 2016, July 15, 2019, and most recently on August 7, 2023. The proposed adjustment reflects LCW’s current requested rates for continued specialized legal services.
CRD provides legal defense services to the City in liability matters, including police liability and dangerous condition of public property litigation. On August 7, 2023, the City Council approved an hourly rate increase for CRD. CRD has now requested an adjustment to its hourly billing rate to $300 per hour for Partners and Associates.
AALRR was added to the City’s Special Legal Counsel Panel by the City Council on July 18, 2016, to provide specialized legal services in employment-related matters. AALRR has requested an adjustment to its hourly billing rate to $450 per hour for Partners.
Staff is also recommending the addition of Collins & Collins to the City’s Special Legal Counsel Panel to provide defense services in matters involving dangerous condition of public property and police liability. Several firms currently on the City’s panel have experienced challenges with attorney retention and, due to existing caseloads and staffing limitations, have limited capacity to accept new matters and lawsuits at this time. Adding Collins & Collins will expand the City’s available pool of qualified defense counsel, assist in distributing matters among firms, and provide greater flexibility in assigning cases based on workload, subject matter, potential conflicts, and other case-specific considerations. The firm’s proposed hourly rates range from $180 to $375 per hour for Partners, Associates, and Paralegals/Law Clerks.
Approval of the proposed actions will authorize the updated hourly rates for LCW, CRD, and AALRR; add Collins & Collins to the Special Legal Counsel Panel; authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary retainer agreements; and update the Special Legal Counsel Panel as reflected in Attachment No. 1.
Prepared by: Naela Cansino, Risk Manager
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment No. 1 – Updated Special Legal Counsel Panel
Amendment to Special Legal Counsel Panel