Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Professional Services Contract
Purpose: Special Tax Litigation Counsel
Entity Name: DeCotiis Doyle, LLP
Entity Address: 531 Dorchester Drive, River Vale, New Jersey 07675
Contract Amount: $350,000.00
Funding Source: NW045, Department 18G, Project 18B00, Account 94710, B2018
Contract Period: February 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor (X) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
(X ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark is involved in ongoing Legal Matters and therefore has a need to acquire Legal Services; and
WHEREAS, Legal Services are Professional Services, exempt from the requirement for public bidding, pursuant to the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i); and
WHEREAS, the Corporation Counsel of the City of Newark caused to be published in Star Ledger, on the City of Newark’s website, a Notice of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Special Taxes Litigation Counsel Services on or about October 21, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Michael R. DeCotiis, Esq. from DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, submitted a proposal and it was found based upon price and other factors to be in the best interest of the City of Newark to accept the proposal for the purpose of providing Legal Services concerning Special Taxes Litigation Counsel Services; and
WHEREAS, subsequent to the proposal, an internal separation of attorneys and reorganization of its business structure, resulting in Michael R. DeCotiis, Esq. and attorneys formerly of DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP to DeCotiis Doyle, LLP; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark wishes to enter into a contract with Michael R. DeCotiis, Esq., and his attorneys as originally selected through the RFQ process now known as,DeCotiis Doyle, LLP, 531 Dorchester Drive, River Vale, New Jersey 07675----, to provide Legal Services concerning Special Taxes Litigation Counsel Services, in an amount not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($350,000.00), for a period of February 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which shall cover those existing matters currently being handled Michael R. DeCotiis, Esq., and attorneys as well as new matters that may arise during the contract term; and
WHEREAS, the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.) requires that notice of the award of contracts for “Professional Services” without competitive bidding must be published in a local newspaper; and
WHEREAS, this contract is for an amount over Fifty-Three Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($53,000.00) and is being awarded as a fair and open contract pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5 and is in compliance with the State Pay-to-Play and the City’s Pay-to-Play Ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel, are authorized on behalf of the City of Newark to execute a contract with DeCotiis and Doyle, LLP, 531 Dorchester Drive, River Vale, New Jersey 07675, to provide Legal Services concerning Special Taxes Litigation Matters, in an amount not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($350,000.00) for the period of February 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which shall cover those existing matters currently being handled by Michael R. DeCotiis, Esq., and his attorneys, as well as new matters that may arise during the contract term.
2. This contract is being awarded pursuant to the fair and open procedures of the State Pay-to-Play Law (N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5) and pursuant to the provisions of the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i) and is in compliance with the City’s Ordinance on Pay-to-Play.
3. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.5(a), a Temporary Budget, attached hereto is a partial Certification of Funds issued by the Chief Financial Officer, which states that funds in the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($10,000.00), line NW045, Department 18G, Project 18B00, Account 94710, B2018 are available in the aforementioned Law Department Budget, for the purpose set forth hereinabove. The Certification of Funds shall be filed along with this Resolution in the Office of the City Clerk.
4. A copy of the executed Agreement herein authorized shall be filed in the Office of the City Clerk by the Corporation Counsel and same shall be made available for public inspection.
5. A notice of this action shall be published in the newspaper authorized by law to publish a legal advertisement and as required by law within ten (10) days of the adoption of this resolution.
STATEMENT
This resolution authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel, to enter into a contract for Services for Special Taxes Litigation Matters with DeCotiis and Doyle, LLP, 531 Dorchester Drive, River Vale, New Jersey 07675, in an amount not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($350,000.00), for the period of February 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.