Lake Oswego will pay the law firm Miller Nash $60,000 a month for legal services under a new open-ended contract the City Council approved Tuesday, Aug. 4.

The annualized cost of $737,500 is nearly four times the $197,483 salary the city paid former City Attorney Ellen Osoinach in 2024.

The council approved the contract change on its consent agenda, a process that generally does not include deliberation.

The previous Miller Nash contract, in place since Osoinach resigned in late 2025, set a flat fee of $23,400 per month for up to 60 hours of legal work. Additional hours were billed separately. The new agreement removes the hourly cap entirely, representing a 156 percent increase in the base monthly rate.

The monthly payment rises again to $62,500 in 2027. The contract can be terminated at any time by mutual agreement.

A city staff report said the change was meant to bring more predictable costs, noting that monthly invoices had varied significantly due to complex projects, litigation and catching up on legal work in arrears, including updating procurement forms and contracts, according to the Lake Oswego Review.

The city has relied on Miller Nash, a Portland-based firm with an extensive public-law practice, for all legal services since Osoinach's departure.

Lake Oswego is also navigating leadership turnover in its executive offices. The council approved City Manager Martha Bennett's separation agreement on Feb. 6, and Willamette Week reported in July that Lynn Peterson left the Metro Council in March to take the city manager position. The Lake Oswego Review reported Aug. 6 that the city is still "in the process of hiring a city manager," suggesting the transition may not yet be complete.

The city plans to hire a permanent city attorney after the city manager transition is settled. No timeline for that search has been announced.