Administrative
Report
H.16., File # 24-1430 Meeting Date: 8/20/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: MICHAEL W. WEBB, CITY ATTORNEY
TITLE
APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES WITH MICHEL & ASSOCIATES, PC
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Agreement for Legal Services with Michel & Associates PC will bring the billing rates for the attorneys who will be working on legal matters to current rates being charged to public clients.
BACKGROUND
Michel & Associates, P.C. is a premier full-service boutique law firm specializing in handling adversarial proceedings, civil litigation and criminal defense. Michel & Associates, P.C. serves a diverse clientele throughout California and the nation and has represented the City of Redondo Beach since 2009 (when the firm of Trutanich Michel, LLC. ceased doing business upon the election of Carmen Trutanich as the City Attorney of Los Angeles).
The firm’s areas of practice include environmental law, land use law, firearms regulation, employment and labor law, trade secret, contract law, corporate compliance, civil rights advocacy, criminal defense and other interrelated practice areas. They have successfully represented the City of Redondo Beach in a number of cases over the years including the case of Nunez v. City of Redondo Beach which led to a published Court of Appeal opinion very helpful to public agencies in the defense of trip and fall litigation. A copy of the opinion is attached.
The hourly rate Michel & Associates, PC charges the City of Redondo Beach has not changed since 2009. This Agreement would set a blended rate for partners and associates at $295 and the rate for paralegals at $150.
COORDINATION
The Agreement has been approved by Michel & Associates, PC and has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
ATTACHMENTS
1) Agreement for Legal Services with Michel & Associates, PC 2) Nunez v City of Redondo Beach (2022), 81 Cal.App.5th 749
H.16., File # 24-1430 Meeting Date: 8/20/2024