April 15, 2025
DocID #40173v1
City Attorney's Office
DATE: April 15, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Dave Aleshire, City Attorney
Shannon Moore, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Kimberly Chin, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Subject: Legal Services Agreement (LSA) with Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth, LLP (AGHW)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This LSA will be for an amount not to exceed $650,000 and will be charged to the Risk Management General
Liability Fund (Account String: 50182316-400554).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
December 22, 2020
March 2, 2021
October 5, 2021
May 17, 2022
December 20, 2022
June 20, 2023
April 2, 2024
September 10, 2024
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
To ensure the City has appropriate legal representation relating to tort/dangerous conditions, personal injury, civil rights, and employment cases, the City Attorney’s Office requests approval of a new LSA with AGHW for an
amount not to exceed $650,000 and term ending
December 31, 2027.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE a new legal services agreement with Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth, LLP, for an amount not
to exceed $650,000 and term ending December 31,
2027, to allow continued defense of the City in pending and future municipal litigation — City Attorney’s Office (Kimberly Chin 510-620-6709/Shannon Moore 510-620-
6505).
AGENDA
REPORT
April 15, 2025
DocID #40173v1
DISCUSSION:
Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth, LLP (AGHW), has been representing the City and providing special counsel services since 2013. AGHW has experience advising and representing government agencies across the full scope of public entity defense . It routinely handles several cases at any one time, defending the City in a variety of municipal litigation matters, including but not limited to tort/dangerous condition, personal injury, inverse condemnation, civil rights, and employment litigation.
The current AGHW legal services agreement (LSA) dates to 2020, has been amended seven times, all of which were approved by Council on December 22, 2020, March 2, 2021, October 5, 2021, May 17, 202 2, December 20, 2022, June 20, 2 3, April 2, 2024, and September 10, 2024. The firm is on the City Attorney Office’s approved 2021 Request for Qualificat ions (RFQ). Currently, AGHW is defending the City in approximately 11 matters. AGHW has the experience and expertise necessary to continue to represent the City of Richmond in pending and future municipal litigation cases.
Rates for AGHW are as follows:
General Litigation Matters --Partners $ 280 per hour; Associates $ 245 per hour; and Paralegals $130 per hour
Employment Litigation Matters-- Partners $300 per hour; Associates $250 per hour; and Paralegals $125 per hour
The City Attorney’s Office requests City Council’s approval of a new legal services agreement with Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth, LLP, for an amount not to exceed $650,000 with term end date of December 31, 2027, so that it may continue to represent and defend the City in current and future litigation.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Legal Services Agreement with AGHW (proposed)