SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a five-year Legal Services Agreement with the law firm of Thompson Sizemore and Gonzalez, of Tampa, FL, for representation in employee matters for an amount not to exceed $50,000 per calendar year, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Body
SUMMARY:
Thompson Sizemore & Gonzalez is a law firm that specializes in representation of employers in employment matters. The firm has successfully represented the City in many complex employment issues.
The last legal services agreement entered into was in 2006. The current city policy is to have agreements last no longer than five years when possible.
The annual costs of this agreement will fluctuate depending upon litigation activity. Any lawsuits assigned to the firm will be brought individually to council for approval. Billing rates are as follows: $200.00 per hour for shareholders, $150.00 per hour for associate attorneys and $90.00 per hour for paralegals.
Legal Services are exempt from bidding requirements under Section 2.564(1)(h) of the Clearwater Code of Ordinance.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in cost code 010-09600-530100-514-000-0000 (Professional Services) to fund this contract for this fiscal year and will be budgeted in this cost code for each subsequent contract year.