The city of Tallahassee has hired Ausley McMullen, one of Florida’s oldest law firms, to provide guidance during an FBI investigation into local redevelopment deals.

The city contracted with the law firm on July 10, agreeing to pay up to $35,000 to “consult with and advise” the city attorney’s office during the investigation. The funding limitation can be increased, however, by written notice from the city attorney’s office, according to the contract.

The contract was signed by City Attorney Lew Shelley and new Ausley attorney Pamela Marsh, who served as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida from 2010 until her resignation in September 2015. Marsh became a shareholder in the firm this month, according to her LinkedIn page.

During Marsh's more than five-year tenure, she supervised assistant U.S. attorney Stephen Kunz, who is overseeing the federal investigation involving the city and the Community Redevelopment Agency.

More:Nearly 40 Tallahassee workers let go to balance city budget

Prosecutor in Tallahassee FBI probe was disciplined for misconduct

CRA places moratorium on large projects

The FBI is working with the Northern District's U.S Attorney’s Office and a federal grand jury in its investigation. The probe is believed to have begun in 2015, based on FBI case numbers listed on subpoenas.

The FBI probe came to light last month after the FBI served two subpoenas at City Hall demanding bids, applications, proposals and other documents involving eight individuals, more than a dozen of their businesses and their dealings with City Hall and the CRA.

Our opinion:Let's not pause too long

More:County commissioners vote to leave downtown CRA by 2020

Proctor: FBI investigation into CRA a 'wake-up call'

The city’s professional services agreement with Ausley McMullen specifies hourly rates that will be paid to the firm: $380 an hour for shareholders, $210 an hour for associates and $80 an hour for paralegals and clerks.

“The attorney, the coordinating attorney or his designee shall work closely together to monitor, on an ongoing basis, time expended and expenses incurred by the attorney in providing services, to anticipate the need for future services and to estimate the costs for services being requested by the city to ensure that adequate funding is available for all such services.”

The contract allows the city attorney to terminate it at any time if a conflict of interest arises involving the city and another client of the firm.

When asked by the Tallahassee Democrat if the firm is representing any person or business in the FBI investigation, Ausley attorney Michael Glazer said in an email, "We are also representing the recipient of another subpoena but I am not at liberty to disclose the identity."

The Ausley firm has represented the Democrat for decades in legal matters. For public records matters related to the FBI investigation, the Democrat has obtained other legal counsel.

The law firm serves as general counsel to the Leon County and Gadsden County school boards and has a number of high-profile corporate clients, including CSX, Johnson & Johnson, Monsanto, R.J. Reynolds and Proctor & Gamble.

Marsh, a Democrat, gave $500 to Mayor Andrew Gillum's campaign for governor earlier this year. Last year, she and Gillum co-hosted a fundraiser in Tallahassee for Rep. Patrick Murphy, who was trying to unseat Sen. Marco Rubio.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.