Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Professional Services Contract
Purpose: To provide legal services concerning Litigation Defense Counsel Matters.
Entity Name: Simmons Law LLC
Entity Address: 105 Lock Street, Suite 203, Newark, New Jersey 07103
Contract Amount: Not to exceed $100,000.00
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:
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”) is involved in ongoing Legal Defense 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, on October 21, 2025, 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 Litigation Defense Counsel Services; and
WHEREAS, Simmons Law LLC, Court Plaza South, 105 Lock Street, Suite 203, Newark, New Jersey 07103 (the Law Firm”), submitted a proposal and it was found based upon price and other factors to be in the best interest of the City to accept the proposal for the purpose of providing Legal Services concerning Litigation Defense Counsel Services; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to enter into a contract with the Law Firm, to provide Legal Services concerning Litigation Defense Counsel Services, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($100,000.00), for a period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which shall cover those existing matters currently being handled by the Law Firm, 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; and
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 Simmons Law LLC, 105 Lock Street, Suite 203, Newark, New Jersey 07103 (the “Law Firm”), to provide Legal Services concerning Litigation Defense Matters, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($100,000.00), for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which shall cover those existing matters currently being handled by the Law Firm, 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 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.
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. This Contract between the City and Firm, is hereby ratified from January 1, 2026 to the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution.
6. 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 ratifies and authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel, to enter into a contract for Services for Litigation Defense Matters with Simmons Law LLC, 105 Lock Street, Suite 203, Newark, New Jersey 07103, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($100,000.00), for the period of January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.