Then-City Attorney Louise Renne retained Phillips & Cohen and Irell & Manella in2001 to represent San Francisco in a qui tam case, which accused four companiesof providing substandard parts for water supply systems. San Francisco and two otherplaintiffs settled for a combined $13 million in 2003, according to the firm. Underthe contract the firms were to get a combined 5 percent of any recovery.

• Electric carbon products.

Herrera retained Moscone, Emblidge & Quadra and LieffCabraser Heimann & Bernstein to help sue sellers of electric carbon products,such as those used in the motors of some public transportation vehicles. In 2003the city filed antitrust suits in state and federal court. The firm’s contingencyagreement calls for a sliding scale, from 25 percent for the first $100 million recovered,down to 15 percent for any recovery over $150 million. If recovery is obtained througha class action settlement or judgment, a court would determine attorneys fees.

• Wholesale electricity.