8D
Date: October 20, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Patrick Sullivan, City Attorney
By: Jessica Corona, Law Office Administrator | [email protected] Subject: City Attorney – Approve First Amendment to Fee Agreement for Legal Services.
Expenditure: $686,000 (General Fund).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the City Attorney that City Council approve a first amendment to the fee agreement with law firm Ice Miller LLP of Columbus, Ohio (C2026-138), in the amount of $686,000, for a new not-to-exceed total amount of $936,000, to provide the City with legal counsel services pertaining to Magellan Aerospace, Middletown, Inc. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case No. 1:26-BK-11937.
FUNDING
Funding is available in the City Attorney’s fiscal year 2026-27 operating budget and is anticipated to be available in subsequent fiscal years.
DISCUSSION
The City Attorney hired the law firm of Ice Miller LLP, an independent counsel with special expertise, to handle Magellan Aerospace, Middletown, Inc. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case No. 1:26-BK-11937.
On July 27, 2026, the City entered into a fee agreement with the law firm of Ice Miller LLP (C2026- 138) in the amount of $250,000 to provide the City with legal counsel services pertaining to Magellan Aerospace, Middletown, Inc. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case No. 1:26-BK-11937.
The City has been advised by counsel that additional funding is necessary for the completion of the bankruptcy petition process. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Attorney that City Council approve a first amendment to the fee agreement with law firm Ice Miller LLP of Columbus, Ohio (C2026-138) in the amount of $686,000, for a new not-to-exceed amount of $936,000, to provide the City with legal counsel services pertaining to Magellan Aerospace, Middletown, Inc.
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case No. 1:26-BK-11937.
ATTACHMENT
1. First Amendment to Fee Agreement C2026-138
1 FIRST AMENDMENT TO FEE AGREEMENT FOR
LEGAL SERVICES (C2026-138)
This First Amendment to Fee Agreement for legal services is made and entered into as of September 1, 2026, by and between the CITY OF TORRANCE, a municipal corporation (“CITY”), and ICE MILLER LLP, an Indiana limited liability partnership (“ATTORNEY”).
RECITALS:
A. CITY and ATTORNEY entered into a Fee Agreement for Legal Services (the “Fee Agreement”) C2026-138 on July 27, 2026, to provide the City with legal counsel services pertaining to Magellan Aerospace, Middletown, Inc. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case No. 1:26-BK-11937 in the amount of $250,000.
B. The CITY is satisfied with the level of service provided by ATTORNEY.
C. Both parties wish to amend the agreement for an additional $686,000 for a new not-to-exceed sum of $936,000.
AGREEMENT:
1. The first paragraph of Section 3 of the Fee Agreement entitled Compensation; Other Important Terms and Conditions, is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
“Compensation; Other Important Terms and Conditions
Unless otherwise specifically agreed, our fees are based primarily on our hourly billing rates for attorneys, paralegals and other professionals as applied to the amount of time that we expend in providing services. Our base hourly rates for work performed by our attorneys, absent special engagements or circumstances, currently range from $380 for new associates to $1,490 for senior partners.
Paralegal and legal assistant hourly rates currently range from $315 to $475 per hour. My 2026 hourly rate is $625. When appropriate in our judgment, we will involve other attorneys and paralegals or other legal assistants on work that can be performed effectively at their rates. The hourly rates of our professionals are periodically reviewed and adjusted upward to reflect the current cost of delivering comparable legal services and other market conditions. Accordingly, in preparation of our statements for professional services, we will use those hourly rates in effect at the time the services are rendered. At your request, we have agreed that we will stop performing work if our fees reach or exceed $936,000.00 (the "Not-To-Exceed Threshold"), unless we are expressly instructed in writing to continue performing work beyond that amount. In the event we reach or exceed the Not-To-Exceed Threshold and are required to perform additional work due to our appearance in any pending litigation, such as appearing at a hearing or filing a response ordered by a court, you specifically authorize us to perform any such necessary work, which shall be compensated at the rates set forth herein.” 2 ATTACHMENT 1
2. In all other respects, the Fee Agreement is ratified and reaffirmed and remains in full force and effect.
CITY OF TORRANCE,
a municipal corporation
_______________________________
Sharon Kalani, Mayor
ICE MILLER LLP
an Indiana limited liability partnership
By:________________________________
John Cannizzaro, Partner
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Rebecca Poirier, MMC
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN
City Attorney
By: ______________________
Jennifer V. Guerrero
Deputy City Attorney
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