November 1, 2022
City Attorney's Office
DATE: November 1, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Dave Aleshire, City Attorney
Heather McLaughlin, Interim Senior Assistant City
Attorney
Subject:
Legal Services Agreement for Labor Negotiations and
Employment Advice and Representation with the Law
Firm of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total expenditure for the legal services agreement for labor negotiation is not to exceed $165,000 (Human
Resources Legal Services General Fund 01181016-
400206).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
The original negotiations agreement was approved
October 1, 2018, and the agreement expired on June 30,
2022.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The law firm of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore has provided
ongoing legal support in labor relations and police
personnel matters. The City Attorney’s Office is
requesting City Council to approve a legal services
agreement in the amount of $165,000 to pay for past due bills and to allow the City to use Liebert to assist the City in labor negotiations.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a legal services agreement with the law firm
of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, for a total contract amount of $165,000, for a term starting July 1, 2022, through
June 30, 2023 – City Attorney’s Office (Dave Aleshire
510-620-6509).
AGENDA
REPORT
November 1, 2022
DISCUSSION:
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore is a law firm with several offices throughout California that exclusively provides legal services to public sector agencies. In addition, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore has a consortium that offers management training at a reduced cost to the City. Liebert Cassidy Whitmore has the experience and expertise necessary to continue providing legal support in labor negotiations, general labor and employment legal advice and litigation. The services provided by Liebert Cassidy Whitmore have been highly beneficial to the City. Given the turnover in the negotiating team and the firm's history with the City, its experience and expertise are necessary to provide continuing representation for the City of Richmond during the current labor negotiations. Partners bill at $380 per hour and associates bill between $240 to $300 per hour. Moreover, the firm provides legal advice to the Fire and Police Departments and training for the City's Management Leadership Academy.
The original agreement, as amended, expired on June 30, 2022, and there are $65,806 in outstanding, unpaid invoices since the expiration of the contract. The requested $165,000 accounts for the remaining balance and the estimated amount moving forward to continue with labor negotiations and to represent the City in several police personnel matters.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Legal Services Agreement (“LSA”) Negotiations with amendments (expired contract)
Attachment 2 – Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Legal Services Agreement (proposed)