Naples pension trustees retain longtime attorney Pedro Herrera at Jones Walker with temporary 25% fee cut

The City of Naples joint pension boards voted March 6 to retain longtime pension attorney Pedro Herrera as their counsel at his new firm, Jones Walker, approving a 25% reduction in standard fees for a 12‑month trial period.

Trustees heard presentations from Sugarman & Susskind partner David Robinson, who said the firm had notified the boards that Herrera was leaving and that trustees were not required to take action. Herrera addressed trustees about his 15 years advising the funds and his reasons for changing firms.

"I consider myself, and I think, I am the preeminent pension attorney here in the state," Herrera said when summarizing his qualifications and decades of experience serving public pension plans. Robinson told the boards Sugarman & Susskind would welcome the chance to continue as counsel but acknowledged trustees had the right to choose.

Trustees debated whether continuity with Herrera outweighed the option to conduct broader due diligence on other firms. Several trustees said they valued the existing working relationship with Herrera and favored a short trial period. One trustee asked for a clear dollar estimate of the proposed 25% discount; the precise dollar amount was not supplied during the meeting and Robinson offered to provide it later.

Motion and vote: Each of the three pension plans (Fire, General Employees and Police) made and seconded motions to retain Herrera at Jones Walker and to reflect a 25% fee reduction for 12 months; the motions were approved by voice vote across each board. Meeting minutes record the actions as immediate and effective.

Robinson and Herrera both told trustees they would assist with any transition logistics, including transfer of files and access to intellectual property. Trustees asked staff to document the fee concession in writing and to return with any clarifications needed.

The boards also discussed a less formal request‑for‑information (RFI) process as an option for future due diligence; Sugarman & Susskind recommended the board could interview other firms if they wished but stressed there was no contractual obligation to change counsel.

What happens next: Staff will record the fee terms and counsel assignment in the official minutes and handle administrative transition work. Trustees said they would monitor service levels during the 12‑month period and could revisit counsel procurement if concerns emerged.