Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Professional Services Contract
Purpose: To serve as Per Diem Attorneys in the Newark Municipal Court
Entity Name: Multiple Vendors - See list below
Entity Address: Multiple Vendors - See list below
Contract Amount: Not to exceed $200,000.00 cumulative for Three (3) vendors
Funding Source: 2026 Budget/Law Department - NW011, Department 040, Division 0401, Account 71260, Budget 2026
Contract Period: January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor (X) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
(X) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP (X) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
1. Evelyn Akushie-Onyeani, Esq., d/b/a Onyeani Law Firm, LLC, 76 South Orange Avenue, Suite 200, South Orange, New Jersey 07079
2. Gracia Robert Montilus, Esq., d/b/a GRM Legal Works, LLC, 76 South Orange Avenue, Suite 107, South Orange, New Jersey 07079
3. White and Co. Attorneys and Counsellors, LLC., 523 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, Orange, New Jersey 07050
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”) operates a Municipal Court and has a need to engage attorneys as Special Municipal Prosecutors; 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, on October 21, 2025, the City’s Corporation Counsel caused to be published in the Star Ledger and on the City of Newark’s website, a Notice of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Municipal Prosecutor Services; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to award a multiple-vendor contract for the period from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, to be used in the City’s sole discretion on an “as needed” basis during the term of the contract; and
WHEREAS, four (4) proposals were submitted and it was found, based upon price and other factors, to be in the best interest of the City to accept three (3) proposals for the purpose of providing legal services concerning Special Municipal Prosecutors; and
WHEREAS, each vendor shall expressly acknowledge and agree that services may be required from any and/or all of the single vendors with no single vendor receiving any promise or guarantee of minimum compensation except for a flat daily fee of $250.00 per session should such service be required; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to enter into contracts with the following three (3) vendors in a multiple vendor award to provide legal services concerning Special Municipal Prosecutors, for the cumulative amount for all of the vendors not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($200,000.00), for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026:
a. Evelyn Akushie-Onyeani, Esq., d/b/a Onyeani Law Firm, LLC, 76 South Orange Avenue, Suite 200, South Orange, New Jersey 07079; and
b. Gracia Robert Montilus, Esq., d/b/a GRM Legal Works, LLC, 76 South Orange Avenue, Suite 107, South Orange, New Jersey 07079; and
c. White and Co. Attorneys and Counsellors, LLC., 523 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, Orange, New Jersey 07050, 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 contracts with the following vendors to provide legal services in the capacity as Special Municipal Prosecutor:
a. Evelyn Akushie-Onyeani, Esq., d/b/a Onyeani Law Firm, LLC, 76 South Orange Avenue, Suite 200, South Orange, New Jersey 07079; and
b. Gracia Robert Montilus, Esq., d/b/a GRM Legal Works, LLC, 76 South Orange Avenue, Suite 107, South Orange, New Jersey 07079; and
c. White and Co. Attorneys and Counsellors, LLC., 523 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, Orange, New Jersey 07050.
2. This is a multiple award contract and no vendor shall have any expectation as to minimum compensation under this multiple award.
3. Services may be required from any and/or all of the single vendors; however, the cumulative amount of compensation for all of the vendors shall not exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($200,000.00), for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
4. These contracts are 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.
5. 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 Thirty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($30,000.00), line NW011, Department 040, Division 0401, Account 71260, Budget 2026 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.
6.
7. A copy of the executed agreement herein authorized shall be filed in the Office of the City Clerk by the Corporation Counsel and shall be made available for public inspection.
8. 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 multiple vendor contract with:
1. Evelyn Akushie-Onyeani, Esq., d/b/a Onyeani Law Firm, LLC, 76 South Orange Avenue, Suite 200, South Orange, New Jersey 07079; and
2. Gracia Robert Montilus, Esq., d/b/a GRM Legal Works, LLC, 76 South Orange Avenue, Suite 107, South Orange, New Jersey 07079;
3. White and Co. Attorneys and Counsellors, LLC., 523 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, Orange, New Jersey 07050
and to provide legal services in the capacity as Special Municipal Prosecutors for the cumulative amount not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($200,000.00), for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.