City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Attorney’s Office to:
1) continue the legal services of Deborah J. Fox, and 2) enter into a Legal Services
Agreement with Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS:
On June 26, 2006, the City Council approved a continuing agreement with the firm of
Fox & Sohagi to provide legal services, including defense representation in litigation
against the City and advisory opinions to the City Attorney’s Office on an as-needed
basis. This firm has provided these legal services to the City for over eight years, on
matters relating to First Amendment and land use issues, including adult use, signs,
and assembly. Deborah Fox’s expertise in these areas has resulted in the important
defense of recent litigation related to signs in the City’s public rights-of-way and off-
site signs. In addition, the firm has assisted our Office in drafting and updating the
free speech policy and guidelines. As new issues present themselves, Ms. Fox has
been on-call and provides a quick response.
On October 24, 2006, the City Attorney’s Office (the “Office”) was notified that the
firm of Fox & Sohagi will dissolve effective December 1, 2006. Ms. Fox will be
joining the firm of Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson in their Los Angeles office.
Other members of her current support staff will also be accompanying her to the new
firm. By approving the new agreement with Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson,
Council will ensure continuity in the handling of pending matters and continued
quality representation from Ms. Fox in other issues that may arise.
Meeting Date: 11/27/06 Item Number: C-4
AGENDA ITEM: Authorization to 1) Continue the Legal Services of Deborah J.
Fox, and 2) Enter into a Legal Services Agreement with Meyers Nave Riback
Silver & Wilson.
Contact Person/Dept.:
Carol Schwab
Phone Number: 310-253-5660
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Master Notification List; Fox & Sohagi and Meyers Nave Riback
Silver & Wilson (11/22/06).
Department Approval:
Carol Schwab (11/20/2006)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (11/21/2006)
City Controller Approval:
Marlee Chang (11/21/2006)City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The funding for this agreement is budgeted in two different funds – the General Fund
(City Attorney’s budget) and the Self-Insurance Fund (Risk Management). The
expenses incurred for defense of cases filed against the City, including land use and
First Amendment issues are funded by the Self-Insurance Fund. This fund is
supported by allocations from each department. The City Attorney budget (Legal
Services line item) covers expenses for assistance in transactional work and
advisory opinions.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Fox & Sohagi Firm Dissolution Letter
2. Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson Firm Resume
MOTIONS:
That the City Council:
1. Authorize the continuation of the legal services of Deborah J. Fox; and
2. Authorize a Legal Services agreement with the firm of Meyers Nave
Riback Silver & Wilson on an as needed basis; and
3. Authorize the City Attorney to prepare the necessary agreements and
authorize the City Manager to execute the agreements on behalf of the
City.
MEETING DATE: November 27, 2006
AGENDA ITEM: Authorization to 1) Continue the Legal Services of Deborah J.
Fox, and 2) Enter into a Legal Services Agreement with Meyers Nave Riback Silver &
Wilson.
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
1. Fox & Sohagi Firm Dissolution Letter 1 - 2
2. Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson Firm Resume 3 - 6Maehmeat I
LAW OFFICES
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Fox 8 SOHAGI, LLP YED
A REGISTERED LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERS106
OCT 3
10960 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 1270
Y
90024-3702
DEBORAH J. FOX
MARGARET MOORE SOHAGI
NICOLE GOODHUE HOEKSMA
GREGORY J. NEWMARK
NICOLE KRASNY ASCH
HELENE V. SMOOKLER
PHILIP A. SEYMOUR
DAWN ANDREWS McINTOSH
OF COUNSEL
FACSIMILE
(310) 444-7813
TELEPHONE
444-7805
RECYCLED PAPER
° 41111: oo
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Ci )!, (310)
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October 24, 2006
Carol A. Schwab, City Attorney
City of Culver City
9770 Culver Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Culver City, California 90232
Re: Fox & Sohagi LLP
Matter Disposition
Dear Carol:
We write jointly to advise you that after nearly 20 years of practicing law, Fox &
Sohagi will dissolve effective December 1, 2006. We are proud of our statewide practice
representing public entities in municipal, environmental and land use law. Now, we are
moving in some equally exciting directions in our individual practice areas.
Exceptional client service encompasses direct and timely communication, so we are
notifying you without delay. Effective December 1, 2006, Margaret Sohagi will form the
Sohagi Law Group in West Los Angeles and Deborah Fox will join the law firm of
Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson in its Los Angeles office.
Fox & Sohagi has handled or is currently handling the legal matter(s) listed on the
attached Matter Disposition instruction sheet(s). Please let us know at your earliest
convenience whether you want Margaret, Deborah or some other firm to represent you by
mailing or faxing your written instructions to Fox & Sohagi. As the firm is dissolving,
we would ask that you provide your notification on or before November 17, 2006.
We will both continue to practice in our respective areas in First Amendment, land
use, environmental, CEQA, NEPA, water rights, municipal finance, civil rights, zoning,
and sensitive land development issues. Until December 1st, if you have any questions or
would simply like to discuss these changes, please contact us at Fox & Sohagi at 310 444-
7805.Fox 8 SOHAGI, LLP
October 24, 2006
Page 2
After December 1, 2006, we can be reached at the following locations:
Deborah J. Fox
Meyers Nave Riback Silver ct Wilson
333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 1670
Los Angeles, CA 90071
D: (213) 253-4467
T: (213) 626-2906
F: (213) 626-0215
E: dfox@meyersnave.com
W: www.meyersnave.com
Margaret M. Sohagi
The Sohagi Law Group
10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900A
Los Angeles, CA 90024
T: (310) 475-5700
F: (310) 475-5707
E: msohagi@sohagi.com
W: www.sohagi.com
Very truly yours,
Deborah J. Fox Margaret M. Sohagi— 0
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Headline: Deborah Fox Will Join Meyers Nave on December 1
Source: Meyers Nave
Date: 2006-11-01
Deborah Fox Will Join Meyers Nave on December 1
Deborah Fox will join the newly expanded Los Angeles office of
Meyers Nave on December 1, 2006. The firm has five offices
located across California and is an established leader in public
law.
The attorneys at Meyers Nave are trusted advisors to cities,
counties, redevelopment agencies and special districts. Ms. Fox
joins the firm as a principal and will continue to focus her practice
on various complex land use matters along with 1st Amendment
issues. Ms. Fox also brings to Meyers Nave several seasoned
lawyers from her former firm and a top flight litigation team.
Ms. Fox stated, "I foresee many exciting opportunities to continue
to solve our clients' complex urban development problems. I am
eager to begin working with these other fine attorneys."
For more information, visit Meyers Nave or contact:
Angela Moffett
Meyers Nave
510.808.2000
amoffett@meyersnave.com
Deborah J. Fox
Fox & Sohagi, LLP
310.444.7805
djfox@fox-sohagi.comSearch
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For the past quarter century, local government has learned to
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efficiency are accelerating. Public entities today must cope with
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Attorneys at Meyers Nave understand these pressures. In fact,
HOME we have earned our reputation by helping public officials find
creative solutions to financial, regulatory and legal issues. Our
extensive knowledge of all areas of municipal law -- coupled
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us to cut to the core of most issues and resolve them quickly.
Our clients include a number of California's most progressive
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Examples of ways in which our attorneys "give back" to our
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topics such as eminent domain, the Subdivision Map Act,
the Clean Water Act, the Brown Act, initiatives and
referenda, distribution of municipal court fine revenues,
retirement and personnel issues, adult business
regulation and recent legislation
• Teachers of local government law at the University of
California at Berkeley's Boalt Hall
• Member of the adjunct faculty at the University of
California, Hastings College of the Lawmeyers nave firm
In short, Meyers Nave provides the highest quality legal counsel
and representation to its clients, delivered by the most
experienced team of public entity attorneys in California.
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In addition to being dedicated to providing the highest caliber legal
services, Meyers Nave places great emphasis on how we deliver
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least expenditure possible. By advising clients at the early stages
of an issue, we are able to offer counsel on the degree of
exposure and how to minimize losses.
The firm uses automation to reduce costs. To augment our
extensive law library, we maintain a computerized database
containing all of our substantive research. By maintaining this
dynamic reusable source, we are able to offer depth of expertise
without duplication of effort in many situations.