Langley has new legal representation after the city council approved the hiring of Michael Kenyon of Issaquah-based Kenyon Disend at its regular monthly meeting last week.

Michael Kenyon replaced Jeff Taraday of the Seattle-based Lighthouse Law Group, who had been with the city since 2013. Mayor Tim Callison said the switch wasn’t made out of dissatisfaction with Lighthouse Law Group, but rather as a cost-saver and more accessible usage of services.

“It’s not that we’re totally dissatisfied with the Lighthouse Law Group, but we’re looking for someone who is more accessible and has a practice that specializes in municipal law,” Callison said. “The new firm comes highly recommended for their past relationships to the city.”

Callison said that among the positives of the new firm will be an increase level of service for less of a price. He said that unlike Lighthouse Law Group, Kenyon Disend will utilize paralegals to conduct research and other activities. The billing rates will subsequently be cheaper, he said. Partners and senior attorneys at Kenyon Disend charge between $270 and $305 per hour. The firms’ paralegals charge between $110 and $125.

“It should ultimately cost the city less,” Callison said.

According to city documents, Kenyon Disend is responsible for performing all legal work for the city, except prosecution of criminal cases. Other services include: reviewing or drafting city ordinances, agreements, resolutions, inter-local agreements and other legal documents as requested by the city; represent the city in all lawsuits and other contested administrative proceedings commenced by or against the city, except where defense is provided through insurance coverage; consult with and advise the mayor, city council members and staff members; and attend regular city council meetings and other meetings as requested by the mayor.