title
Outside Counsel Legal Services
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DESCRIPTION: Outside Counsel Legal Services |
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text. |
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ACTION REQUEST: ☒ Approval ☐ Review Comment ☐ Information Only ☐ Other |
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to: (1) extend contracts with current outside counsel firms for a one-year term to allow for continuity of services for an amount not to exceed $530,000. (2) award professional legal services contracts for a term of three years, with a two-year option to renew with competitively selected firms for an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for the first year. The total amount to be allocated is $1,530,000.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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The RTA is in need of qualified law firms to provide outside counsel legal services on an as-needed basis in various categories/specialties.
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DISCUSSION:
In 2007, the Board of Commissioners authorized the following firms to perform outside legal services for the RTA.
Wilkerson & Henry, LLC
Bordenave Boykin & Ehret
Gauthier, Houghtaling & Williams, LLP
Keifer & Keifer
Shorty, Dooley and Hall, LLC
The Broussard Baloney Law Firm, APC
Mitchell & Associates
The Willard Firm
Four of the eight selected firms are currently handling active litigation matters:
Bordenave Boykin & Ehret (currently operating as Boykin, Utley)
Keifer & Keifer
Shorty, Dooley and Hall, LLC (currently operating as the Law Office of Michael J. Hall)
The Broussard Baloney Law Firm, APC
To allow for continuity of services, staff recommend retaining assigned counsel for pending matters for an additional one-year term.
The RTA recently issued a solicitation seeking qualified and experienced law firms to represent the RTA, as needed in each of the following categories:
Category 1: General Litigation
Premises Liability
Appellate
Category 2: Employment and Labor Law
Ethics
Category 3: Professional and Non-Professional Services
Category 4: Public Bid Law and Bid Protest/Litigation
Construction
DBE matters
Category 5: Municipal Bonds
Tax
Public Finance
Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights
Category 6: Unique/Miscellaneous Transit Related Matters
There were five responsive firms:
Boykin, Utley
Butler Law Firm
Butler Snow, LLC
Kiefer & Kiefer
Wright Gray Harris, LLC
All responsive firms have been selected to provide services on a rotating basis in various categories.
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Firm |
Category 1 |
Category 2 |
Category 3 |
Category 4 |
Category 5 |
Category 6 |
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Boykin, Utley |
X |
X |
X |
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X |
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Butler Law Firm |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Butler Snow, LLC |
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|
X |
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|
Kiefer & Kiefer |
X |
X |
X |
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Wright Gray Harris, LLC |
X |
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FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding totaling $1,530,000 (one million, five hundred thirty thousand and 00/100) is currently available through the operating budget, account code 01-8800-02-7051-168-89-00-00000-00000-00000.
2025 Awards: (Year 1 allocation not to exceed $1,000,000)
Boykin, Utley - $270,000
Butler Law Firm - $270,000
Butler Snow, LLC - $10,000
Kiefer & Kiefer - $250, 000
Wright Gray Harris, LLC - $200,000
2007 Extensions: (Year 1 allocation not to exceed $530,000)
Bordenave Boykin & Ehret (currently operating as Boykin, Utley) - $250,000
Keifer & Keifer - $250,000
Shorty, Dooley and Hall, LLC (currently operating as the Law Office of Michael J. Hall) - $15,000
The Broussard Baloney Law Firm, APC - $15,000
NEXT STEPS:
Proceed with the execution of professional services agreements as set forth above.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Board Resolution
2. Administrative Review Form
3. Procurement Summary
Prepared By: Tracy L. Tyler
Title: Chief Legal Officer
Reviewed By: Gizelle Banks
Title: Chief Financial Officer
3/11/2025
Lona Edwards Hankins Date
Chief Executive Officer