Item 17 - Agreements for Legal Counsel Services

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1 LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH RICHARDS WATSON & GERSHON This AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 2nd day of December, 2025, by and between Richards Watson & Gershon, a California Professional Corporation (“Attorneys”), and the City of Santa Ana, a charter city and municipal corporation duly organized and existing under the constitution and laws of the State of California (“City”). Collectively, City and Attorneys are also referred to as “the Parties.” RECITALS A. The City of Santa Ana and the City Attorney’s Office desire to employ Attorneys to assist the in-house attorneys for the City (“City Attorney”) in the provision of legal services to the City, for general municipal law advisory and litigation matters. B. Attorneys represent that they are licensed to practice law in the State of California, have special experience and knowledge providing general municipal law advisory and litigation services and desire to undertake said service. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual and respective promises, and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the Parties agree as follows: 1. RETENTION OF ATTORNEYS On an as-needed basis, and at the sole discretion of the City, City hereby agrees to and does retain Attorneys, for the compensation hereinafter specified, to assist the City Attorney with general municipal advisory and litigation matters, including but not limited to, elections matters filed against the City and to defend the City, its employees and its officials. Attorneys accept said retention and agree to perform, in a timely and efficient manner, all such services as may be requested by the City Attorney. Attorneys shall confirm their acceptance of work requested by City in writing by e-mail or letter. 2. COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES RENDERED a. City agrees to compensate Attorneys, and Attorneys agree to accept from City, as and for payment in full for all services for the foregoing services, all attorneys will bill their time at $335/hour, all paralegals will bill their time at $195/hour, and time will be billed in 1/10th of an hour increments. b. The total sum to be expended under this Agreement for attorney’s fees and out of pocket expenses, during the initial term of this Agreement shall not exceed three hundred fifty thousand dollars and zero cents ($350,000.00). Parties agree that any remaining budget available from the initial term shall be made available for any optioned extension period. If needed, any increase in the overall compensation amount listed here, shall be subject to approval by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana. c. The compensation includes payment of invoices since May 1, 2025. This amount is included and does not increase the not-to-exceed amount set forth above.