October 17, 2023
City Attorney's Office
DATE: October 17, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Dave Aleshire, City Attorney
Sharrone Taylor, Interim Director of Human Resources
Subject:
First Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with
Jackson Lewis PC
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total expenditure for this legal services amendment is not to exceed $75,000 for a total contract payment limit not to exceed $84,990. Expenditures for Jackson, Lewis PC will be appropriated from both the Risk Management
Liability Fund [50182316-400554 and Human Resources
Legal Services General Fund 01181016-400206]
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City Council approval is required to increase the contract payment limit for the Jackson Lewis PC legal services
agreement.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the First Amendment to the Legal Services
Agreement with employment law firm Jackson Lewis PC
increasing the compensation by an amount not to exceed
$75,000, for a total contract payment limit of $84,990, and extending the term one year to June 30, 2025 – City Attorney’s Office (Alan M. Cohen 510-620-6709).
AGENDA
REPORT
October 17, 2023
DISCUSSION:
Earlier this year, the City entered into a legal services agreement with Jackson Lewis PC (Jackson Lewis) for specialized labor and employment advice and services. The contract term commenced on February 21, 2023, and ends on June 30, 2024. The payment limit was set for an amount not to exceed $9,990.
Jackson Lewis is a law firm that has focused on employment and labor law since 1958.
The firm provides advice and counsel to public sector employers and focuses on identifying practical solutions to help ensure compliance with state and federal law, including advice and counsel about litigation avoidance, employee management issues, implementing disciplinary actions, and collective bargaining issues. The services provided by Jackson Lewis have been highly beneficial to the City and performed very satisfactorily.
The City Attorney’s Office and the Human Resources Department wish to increase the contract payment limit and the term of the agreement to ensure continuity of service.
The proposed first amendment to the legal services agreement with Jackson Lewis would increase the payment limit by $75,000 for a total contract payment limit of $84,990 and would extend the term one year to June 30, 2025.
Rates for Jackson, Lewis are as follows: Partner - $425 per hour, Of Counsel - $400 per hour, Associate - $375 per hour and Paralegal - $250 per hour.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Original Contract
Attachment 2 – [Proposed] First Amendment to the Contract