Boca Raton council approves higher hourly rates for outside city attorneys

The Boca Raton City Council on Aug. 27 voted 5‑0 to approve Resolution 64‑2024, amending the city’s legal services agreement with the law firm Weiserota, Heftman, Cole & Bierman to raise hourly rates for several categories of work.

City attorney staff presented the amendment as a negotiated update to the firm’s fee schedule. Under the approved change, personal‑injury and litigation shareholder rates cited in the staff presentation increase from $245 to $295 per hour, and associate rates rise from $220 to $265. For certain other complex matters staff cited an increase for shareholders from $275 to $325 per hour and for associates from $245 to $295 per hour.

Dan Abbott, an attorney with the firm, told council the increases reflect a broader market shift. "The legal expenses, primarily the cost of hiring attorneys, has really exploded in the South Florida community over the last couple of years," he said, adding that the firm assigns matters to younger, lower‑cost attorneys when appropriate to limit expense.

Councilmember Thompson said he was satisfied the proposed rates remain competitive and would support the amendment. Councilmember Wigder asked staff to continue auditing vendor costs during the transition to a new city attorney, expressing concern about taxpayer impact. Staff noted the last rate increase for this firm had been in September 2022.

The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Councilmember Thompson and seconded by Deputy Mayor Drucker; the roll call vote was 5‑0 in favor. The resolution authorizes the city manager to execute the seventh amendment to the agreement and does not obligate the city to a specific monthly billing amount.