HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-30; Clean Energy Alliance JPA; ; Consider Approval of Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP to Provide General Counsel Services...
CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
ITEMG:
Staff Report
June 30, 2022
Clean Energy Alliance Board of Directors
Barbara Boswell, Chief Executive Officer
Consider Approval of Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP to Provide General
Counsel Services
RECOMMENDATION
Approve agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP to provide General Counsel services for an
annual not to exceed $120,000 beginning July 1, 2022 and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
execute all documents subject to General Counsel approval.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
At its regular meeting March 31, 2022, the Board directed staff to issue a Request for Qualifications for
General Counsel services. The RFQ was issued April 18, 2022, with responses due May 16, 2022. At its
special meeting April 21, 2022, the Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) Board appointed Vice Chair Druker and
Board Member Acosta to serve on an ad-hoc Subcommittee to review the RFQ responses and make a
recommendation to the Board for consideration. The RFQ was posted to CEA's website and sent directly
to nine firms.
The following firms submitted responses to the RFQ:
• Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
• Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer, Pembroke
• Procopio
• Richards Watson Gershon
The Board Subcommittee reviewed the four responses and selected Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP,
Procopio, and Richards Watson Gershon to interview which were held on May 31, 2022. Based on the
interviews, the Board Subcommittee selected Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP to meet with the full
Board, which occurred at a closed session held June 23, 2022.
Based on t he results of the selection process, Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is recommended as the
firm that best meets the needs of CEA in the coming years.
June 30, 2022
General Counsel
Page 2 of2
Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP was founded in 1927, has over 130 attorneys and specializes in public
entity administration and municipal law, land use and environmental law, and public sector labor and
employment law. CEA w ill be supported by a team located in their San Diego office and includes:
• Johanna Canlas, Lead Attorney
• Elizabeth Mitchell, Assistant Lead Attorney
• Gena Burns, Public Sector and Employment Attorney
The proposed team has a deep breadth of experience and expertise to support CEA as it continues to
expand and moves towards in-house staff in the coming years.
FISCAL IMPACT
The annual not to exceed amount of $120,000 has been included in the Proposed Fiscal Year 2022/23
Budget.
ATTACHMENTS
None
Item 6: General Counsel Agreement
• Recommendation:
6/30/22
• Approve agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP to
provide General Counsel for an annual not to exceed $120,000,
beginning July 1, 2022 and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
execute all documents subject to General Counsel approval.
CLEAN
ENERGY
ALLIANCE
3
Item 6: General Counsel Agreement
• Recommendation:
6/30/22
• Approve agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP to
provide General Counsel for an annual not to exceed $120,000,
beginning July 1, 2022 and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
execute all documents subject to General Counsel approval.
CLEAN
ENERGY
ALLIANCE
4
Item 6: General Counsel Agreement
• Background:
6/30/22
• March 31, 2022 -CEA Board Directed RFO for General Counsel
Services
• April 18, 2022 -RFO issued
• Posted to CEA Website
• Sent directly to nine firms
• April 21, 2022 -Ad Hoc Subcommitte Appointed
• Vice Chair Druker
• Board Member Acosta
• May 16, 2022 -Responses Due
• 4 Responses Received
CLEAN
ENERGY
ALLIANCE
5
Item 6: General Counsel Agreement
• Responses:
• Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
• Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke
• Procopio
• Richards, Watson, Gershon
• Subcommittee reviewed responses, selected Burke,
Williams & Sorensen, Procopio & Richards, Watson, Gershon
to interview
• Subcommittee selected Burke, Williams & Sorensen to ECNL:t~v
meet with full Board -June 23, 2022 Closed Session
ALLIANCE
6/30/22 6
Item 6: General Counsel Agreement
• Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
• Founded 1927
• Over 130 Attorneys on staff
• Specialties
• Public entity administration and municipal law
• land use environment law
• Public sector labor and Employment law
• Office in San Diego to support CEA
• Johanna Canlas, Lead Attorney
• Elizabeth Mitchell, Assistant Lead Attorney
• Gena Burns, Public Sector Labor and Employment Attorney
6/30/22
CLEAN
ENERGY
ALLIANCE
7