To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JOY A. FORD, CITY ATTORNEY
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APPROVE THE LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH COVINGTON & BURLING, LLP FOR LEGAL SERVICES
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Agreement for Legal Services with Covington & Burling LLP will allow Abigail O’Brient to continue to represent the City in Bankruptcy matters.
BACKGROUND
The City Attorney’s office maintains a list of approved law firms and attorneys from which to select when special expertise is required on legal matters.
Attorney Abigail O’Brient was representing the City of Redondo Beach on Bankruptcy matters when she was employed at the law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. Starting January 1, 2024, Ms. O’Brient moved to the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP. On April 2, 2024, the City entered into an Agreement for Legal Services, which terminated on December 31, 2024. Ms. O’Brient provided services to the City during the period of January 2, 2025 through July 15, 2025.
This Agreement would allow Abigail O’Brient to continue her representation of the City of Redondo Beach on a complex Bankruptcy matter.
COORDINATION
The Agreement has been approved by Covington & Burling LLP and has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
In 2024, Covington & Burling LLP offered a blended rate of $760 an hour. They allowed to use this rate because it was the same fee structured used by Ms. O’Brient’s former firm. Covington and Burling LLP is now requesting a fee increase to a blended rate of $1,095. Ms. O’Brient’s standard billing rate is $1,525 and Julia Philips Roth, a senior associate who has been another primary timekeeper, has a standard rate of $1,215 per hour. The new blended rate of $1,095 would be approximately 28% below Ms. O’Brient’s standard rate and approximately 10% below Ms. Roth’s standard rate.
Submitted by:
Joy A. Ford, City Attorney
ATTACHMENTS
• Agreement