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Ojai council appoints Alshire and Winder LLP as city attorney
Summary
The Ojai City Council approved a five-year legal services agreement with Alshire and Winder LLP and introduced firm representatives at its Dec. 2 meeting. Council also approved a short continuation arrangement with the prior firm for selected matters.
The Ojai City Council voted Dec. 2 to retain Alshire and Winder LLP as the city's new city attorney firm under a five-year legal services agreement.
City Manager Harvey told the council the city conducted a competitive RFQ process beginning in May and selected Alshire and Winder following interviews. Bethany Burgess, a partner with the firm, introduced colleagues who would support Ojai, saying, “We are very pleased and privileged tonight to be here and to introduce ourselves to you and to initiate the great work that we'll be doing with the city of Ojai.” She said the firm has a long track record representing local governments in Southern California.
Council members asked whether the current city attorney had reviewed the proposed agreement; Harvey said the outgoing office reviewed the contract and requested minor revisions that were accepted. Harvey also noted that because the city has not previously worked with invoices from the new firm, staff may seek any necessary midyear budget adjustments when billing experience is available.
The motion to appoint Alshire and Winder passed on a roll call vote. After the appointment, Burgess acknowledged the outgoing city attorney's office and noted managing partner Sunny Soltani had been tied up in mediation but was committed to the city.
Separately, the council considered a fifth amendment to the prior city attorney firm's agreement to allow limited continuity representation on trailing matters. Staff said the continuation contract would be used selectively to maintain business continuity while the new firm gets up to speed. The council approved that amendment with one abstention recorded.
The council did not set new firm billing rules at the meeting but directed staff to monitor invoices and return with any recommended budget adjustments during the midyear review in February 2026.
The appointment is effective upon execution of the legal services agreement; the council did not vote on an implementation schedule at the Dec. 2 meeting.
