CONTRACT FOR CITY ATTORNEY SERVICES WITH THE FIRM OF
JENKINS & HOGIN, LLP

 

Recommendation:

1. Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign a professional services agreement with Jenkins & Hogin, LLP, for City Attorney and legal services for the City of Hermosa Beach;
2. Authorize notification to Richards, Watson & Gershon of termination of City Attorney services effective March 1, 2001; and,
3. Authorize the Mayor to execute a contract with Richards, Watson & Gershon for special services in connection with three pending litigation matters and certain specialized services.

 

Background:

Since 1995 the City has retained Michael Jenkins to serve as City Attorney through the law firm of Richards, Watson & Gershon. Effective March 1, 2001, Mr. Jenkins will provide legal services to the City through Jenkins & Hogin, LLP, a new law firm he is establishing with Christi Hogin.

Prior to establishing the new firm, Mr. Jenkins was a senior shareholder at Richards, Watson & Gershon, where he has specialized in the practice of municipal law since joining the firm in 1978. Mr. Jenkins currently serves as City Attorney for the cities of Diamond Bar, Rolling Hills and West Hollywood. Mr. Jenkins has previously served as city attorney for the cities of Avalon, Hidden Hills, La Habra Heights, Malibu, Solvang and Westlake Village.

In the course of his career, Mr. Jenkins has developed expertise in many facets of municipal law, including municipal incorporation, constitutional law, land use regulation, public works construction, open meetings law, elections law and municipal litigation. Mr. Jenkins has been responsible for the legal affairs of a diverse array of Southern California municipalities with an emphasis on representing new cities and handling newly developing issues.

Mr. Jenkins' statewide stature in the field of municipal law is evidenced by his service as President of the City Attorneys Department of the League of California Cities (1993), his leadership in co-authoring the League's Municipal Law Handbook and chairing the League's Brown Act Committee, in which capacity he negotiated on behalf of California cities major changes to the State's open meeting laws, which took effect in 1994. Mr. Jenkins also served as President of the City Attorneys Association of Los Angeles County and Member of the Executive Committee of the Public Law Section of the State Bar (and Editor of the Section Newsletter).

Ms. Hogin has also had a distinguished legal career. She is currently the Interim City Manager for the City of Malibu. She has also served as a City Attorney for the cities of Malibu and Agoura Hills. Recently, she served as President of the City Attorney's Association of Los Angeles County.

The cost of services provided by the new firm of Jenkins & Hogin, LLP will remain the same as we now have with Richards, Watson & Gershon.