Title
Authorization to Enter into Agreements for Outside Legal Counsel Services (Ordinance S-45753)
Description
Request to authorize the City Attorney, through the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into legal services agreements with various law firms and lawyers to provide outside counsel services to the City on an as-needed basis as determined by the City Attorney. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse funds in an amount not to exceed $17,000,000 in total over the two-year period for FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21 for purposes of this ordinance.
Report
Summary
The existing list of firms and attorneys that currently provide outside counsel legal services to the City on an as-needed basis expires June 30, 2019. The Law Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from lawyers and law firms to provide legal counsel services to the City in numerous areas of law. The responses were evaluated by a panel comprised of the City Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel for litigation, and the Finance Department Assistant Risk Management Administrator. The panel determined that all firms and attorneys who submitted proposals met the requirements and have been approved to be placed on the attached list to be engaged to represent the City on a case-by-case basis (Attachment A).
The City Code authorizes the City Attorney to enter into agreements to provide legal services for the City of Phoenix. Upon approval of this request by the City Council, the City Attorney will enter into agreements, as needed, with firms from the attached list of approved respondents to the RFP. As needed, the City Attorney may also contract for other legal services, including services of attorneys, expert witnesses, and other legal advisors or consultants consistent with the authority granted in the Phoenix City Code, sections 2-10 and 43-2.
Contract Term
The contract term will be from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021, with an option to extend the contracts for one additional year.
Financial Impact
The amount requested represents an increase of approximately $500,000 over the current two-year period of FY 2017-19.
The individual agreements with outside counsel set forth specific rates and fees for legal services, in accordance with proposals submitted during the procurement. The agreements will include a prompt-payment discount of 2 percent.
Funds are available in various department budgets, including the Law Department and Self-Insured Retention Fund. Payments will be made from affected funding sources, primarily from the Self-Insured Retention Fund or the General Fund on an individual case or legal assignment basis.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. and the Law Department.