To fight soda tax suit, Philadelphia budgets $1.6 million for lawyers

To fight soda tax suit, Philadelphia budgets $1.6 million for lawyers | City & State PA: "Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration has budgeted $1.6 million to fend off a legal challenge from the beverage industry to the city’s recently approved soda tax. 
Prominent lawyers Mark Aronchick and Ken Trujillo, both former city solicitors, were selected this week to represent the city in its defense.
“The contracts still aren’t final, but they’ve agreed on a rate,” said Kenney spokesperson Lauren Hitt, in an email.
“There is an $800,000 cap for both firms.
...Meanwhile, anti-tax opponents are grumbling that the selection of the two men constitutes a “no-bid” contract, and are alleging political influence is at play – even though no one would put their name next to the allegation.
...While acknowledging that the contract was not competitively bid out – professional services are exempt under city charter – the Kenney administration rebuffed questions about the lawyers’ selection..."