CONTRACT 4576 Vender Agreement Agreement No. 4576
AGREEMENT FOR CITY ATTORNEY SERVICES
TIDS AGREEMENT, made and entered into by and between the CITY OF EL
SEGUNDO, a General Law City (hereinafter "City") and the Hensley Law Group (hereinafter
"HLG") and shall be e f f e c t i v e as of M a y 1, 2014. In consideration of the mutual covenants
and agreements set forth herein the parties agree as follow:
SECTION 1. RECITALS. This Agreement is made and entered into with respect to the
following facts:
A. City desires to engage the services of HLG to serve as the City Attorney for City
and to perform all legal services which are needed by the City; and
B. It is the desire of the parties hereto to formalize, by means of this Agreement, their
relationship pertaining to the performance of such legal services; and
C. HLG has agreed to provide such legal services, in the time, manner and for the
compensation, as hereinafter set forth; and
D. That City Council of City has determined that the public interest, convenience and
necessity require the execution of this Agreement.
SECTION 2. LEGAL SERVICES. HLG shall perform the legal services necessary to
serve the City,which shall include,but are not limited,to the following:
A. The designated City Attorney or the designated Assistant City Attorney shall
attend all meetings of the City Council unless excused by the City Council or, as appropriate, the City
Manager; and
B. Provide legal counsel at such other meetings of boards, joint powers authorities,
commissions and committees of the City as directed by the City Council or City Manager; and
C. Provide legal advice and opinions on all matters affecting the City when requested by
the City Council, the City Manager, or a Department Head (as approved by the City Manager),
and
D. Prepare and approve as to legal form all resolutions, ordinances, contracts, agreements
and other legal documents; and
E. Undertake civil and criminal prosecution of violations of City ordinances; and
F. Represent the City in administrative proceedings and civil litigation to which the City
is a party; and
Agreement No. 4576
G. Provide legal advice and opinions on all financial matters affecting the City when
requested by the City Council, the City Manager, or a Department Head,.
HLG shall not be required to perform the services described above where to do so would be a
conflict of interest pursuant to the State Bar Act. When requested by the City Manager, H L G shall
provide City with an estimate of the costs of litigation or other services to be provided. The City Council
shall retain the right to direct that attorneys other than HLG perform legal work for the City.
SECTION 3. DESIGNATION OF CITY ATTORNEY. MARK D.HENSLEY of HLG
shall be appointed City Attorney of City, and Karl H. Berger shall be appointed as Assistant City
Attorney of City. Such appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council of City and may be
changed by Council action without amending this Agreement. Such appointees shall have the authority
vested in city attorneys by the applicable laws of the State of California. The designated City Attorney
shall be responsible for performing or causing to be performed the work described in Section 2 of this
Agreement. In the event that the designated City Attorney and/or the designated Assistant City
Attorney are incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform their duties, the City Manager shall
designate an acting City Attorney or Assistant City Attorney as appropriate, subject to the later
confirmation of the City Council.
SECTION 4. COMPENSATION. HLG shall be compensated by City for the performance of
such services as follows
A. Basic Retainer. HLG shall be compensated for the performance of basic retainer
services pursuant to this Agreement in the amount of Six Thousand four hundred dollars
($6,400.00) per calendar month commencing as of the effective date of this Agreement. Basic retainer
services for the purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to be: Attendance at up to Four (4) City
Council meetings per month, of whatever length, and office hours of Eight (8) hours per week in the
City Hall.
B. Additional Services. HLG shall be compensated for additional services m accordance
with the following:
1. Performance of Services by Designated City Attorney and Assistant City
Attorney.
For all time spent by the designated City Attorney and Assistant City Attorney in excess
of the basic retainer rate per calendar month, HLG shall be compensated on an hourly basis of One
Hundred Sixty Dollars ($160.00) per hour for all time so spent by the Assistant City Attorney,
and One Hundred Sixty Five Dollars ($165.00) per hour for all time so spent by the City Attorney.
The hourly rates of the designated City Attorney and Assistant City Attorney, exclusive of the basic
retainer services, shall be increased or decreased subject to City Council approval.
2. Legal Services Provided by Attorneys Other Than Designated City
Attorney and Assistant City Attorney.
HLG shall be compensated for the performance of legal services by attorneys other than
the designated City Attorney and Assistant City Attorney at the hourly rate of $170.00 for associates
and $195.00 for partners.
3. Legal Services for which the City's Receives Reimbursement.
To the extent HLG provide legal services for the City for which the City
receives reimbursement from third parties (for example, preparation of development
agreements), HLG shall be compensated for associates based upon their years of experience
($150 per hours for first year associates, $160 per hour for second V#erAgWiNps,4tT(f
continuing on at $10 per hour increments through associates with 7 or more years of
experience at the rate of$220 per hour) and partners at the rate of$265 per hour.
4. Expenses.
HLG shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary
expenses incurred by it in the performance of legal services hereto, provided that the same are
first approved by the City Manager. Reimbursable expenses to which HLG shall be entitled shall
include: extraordinary duplication costs; and messenger service. Expert witnesses and other
expert costs shall be approved prior to engagement by the City Manager.
A. Payment for Services.
HLG shall submit monthly statements to the City Manager for all services
provided and costs incurred pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Said statements shall
clearly set forth by date the type of work performed, the time spent on a task and the attorney
performing the task. The City Attorney shall meet with the City Manager monthly to review the
statements. Payment to HLG shall be made by City within thirty (30) days of receipt of the
statement, except for those specific items on the billing which are contested or questioned
and returned by City with an explanation within thirty (30) days of receipt of the statement.
HLG shall provide to City a written response to any statement contested or questioned and
further, upon request of City, provide City with any and all documents related to the service or
costs. No charge shall be made for time expended in meeting or providing this information to
the City, nor for time expended preparing the statements.
SECTION 5. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence as of May 1,
2014, and shall continue thereafter unless terminated by either party hereto pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement. City may terminate this Agreement at any time, by giving notice in writing
prior to termination. HLG may terminate on the giving of thirty (30) days written notice to the
City of such termination. HLG will comply with all obligations required of it pursuant to the
State Bar Act in connection with a termination and the transition to replacement counsel.
HLG shall be compensated for its services rendered through and including the effective date
of such termination.
SECTION 6. NOTICES. Notices required pursuant to this Agreement shall be given
by personal service upon the parry to be notified, or by delivery of same to the custody of the
United States Postal Service, or its lawful successor, postage prepared and addressed as follows:
CITY: City of El Segundo
350 Main Street
El Segundo, California 90245
Attention: City Manager
HLG: Hensley Law Group
2600 West Olive Avenue,
Suite 500
Burbank, California 91505
Attention: Mark D. Hensley, Esq.
Service of a notice by personal service shall be deemed to have been given as of the date of such
personal service. Notices given by deposit with the United States Postal Service shall be deemed to have
been given two (2) consecutive business days following the deposit of the same in the custody of said
Postal Service. Either party may, from time to time, by written notice to the other, designate a
different address which shall be substituted for the one above specified.
Agreement No. 4576
SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION. HLG does hereby agree to hold City, and its elected
and appointed officers and officials, employees and other agents free and harmless from any claim,
demand or judgment which may arise based upon personal injury or damage to property to a third
party arising out of the negligent or intentional misconduct by HLG.
SECTION 8. INSURANCE. Not in derogation of the provisions of Paragraph 7 hereof, HLG
does hereby agree to take out and maintain in full force and effect under the terms of this Agreement
the following insurance coverage:
A. Such insurance coverage as is required pursuant to the Workers' Compensation Laws
of the State of California; and
B. A general commercial liability policy with, coverage of not less than$1,000,000..
C. Professional Liability (errors and omissions) insurance in an amount of not less than
$1,000,000.00.
SECTION 9. GENERAL PROVISIONS
A. HLG shall not assign this Agreement, or any of the rights, duties or obligations
hereunder. It is understood and acknowledged by the parties that HLG is uniquely qualified to perform the
services provided for in this Agreement.
B. HLG is and shall at all times remain as to the City a wholly independent contractor. HLG
shall not at any time or in any manner represent that it or any of its officers, employees or agents are
in any manner employees of the City. City acknowledges and agrees that the City Attorney, Assistant
City Attorney and attorneys representing the City will need to represent to others as officers of the
City.
C. In the performance of this Agreement, HLG shall not engage in discrimination in
employment of persons because of the age, race, color, sex, national origin or ancestry or religion of
such persons.
D. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed, construed or represented by the City or
HLG to any third person to create the relationship of principal or agent, or of a partnership, or of a joint
venture, or of any other association of any kind or nature between the City and HLG, including an
employer/employee relationship.
E. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties concerning the subject
matter hereof and all prior agreements or understandings, oral or written, are hereby merged herein. This
Agreement shall not be amended in any way except by a writing expressly purporting to be such an
amendment, signed and acknowledged by both of the parties hereto.
F. The City Attorney shall meet at least quarterly with the City Manager or the City Council,
as requested, to review the performance of this Agreement.
G No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed, or shall constitute, a
waiver of any other provision, whether or not similar, nor shall any such waiver constitute a continuing
or subsequent waiver of the same provision. No waiver shall be binding, unless executed in writing by the
party making the waiver.
Agreement No. 4576
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caus,ed this Agreernent to be
executed by their representatives as follows:
CITY OF EL SEGUNDO, a General Law City
By:
Cr arp iter,City Manager
C 114
Al"TF.S'r:
"C' -k
T racy We av er, ,` y Clark
HENSLEY LAW GROUP,
By: Ial I,l, I'I I I..ensley