May 5, 2026DocID #66637v1
City Attorney's Office
DATE: May 5, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Shannon Moore, Interim City Attorney
Kimberly Chin, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Subject:
Legal Services Agreement with Colantuono, Highsmith &
Whatley, PC for General Litigation and Municipal Advice FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed not-to-exceed $100,000 expenditure is included within the approved fiscal year 2025–2026 Risk Management General Liability Fund budget (Account
String: 50182316-400554).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
December 22, 2020
May 17, 2022
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
A new legal services agreement with Colantuono is
needed to ensure that the City has the appropriate legal advice and representation for pending and future
municipal litigation matters.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE a legal services agreement with Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC, for general litigation and
municipal advice in an amount not to exceed $100,000,
for a term of May 5, 2026, through December 31, 2027 –
City Attorney’s Office (Kimberly Chin 510-620-
6709/Shannon Moore 510-620-6509).
DISCUSSION:
Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC (“Colantuono”) has been representing the City of Richmond (“City”) in general litigation and municipal law advice since 2020, and was on the City Attorney’s Office’s lists of approved Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in 2018 and 2021. In addition, this firm has the experience and expertise necessary to provide continuing representation for the City in pending and current municipal law litigation in AGENDA
REPORT
May 5, 2026DocID #66637v1
federal and state trial and appellate courts. Colantuono represents public clients in municipal law matters, including areas such as specialized tax law, land use, and elections. This request is made to ensure the City continues to have legal counsel to provide ongoing legal advice regarding a wide range of municipal law matters. The prior legal services agreement with Colantuono went to Council on December 22, 2020, and May 17, 2022.
The rates for Colantuono are:
Partners $375/hour; Senior Counsel: $285-$355/hour; Paralegals: $170/hour
The City Attorney’s Office requests City Council approval of a new legal services agreement with Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC, for an amount not to exceed $100,000, for a term of May 5, 2026, through December 31, 2027.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Legal Services Agreement with Colantuono (proposed)