Explanation
Background: This legislation will authorize the City Attorney to enter into retainer agreements with Baker & Hostetler, LLP; Bricker Graydon, LLP; Frost Brown Todd, LLC; David A. Goldstein Co., LPA; McNees Wallace & Nurick, LLC; Perez & Morris, LLC; Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, LLP; and Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC for the provision of special legal counsel services, each with a contract term to expire December 31, 2026.
Pursuant to the Columbus City Charter, the City Attorney “shall be the legal adviser of and attorney and counsel for the city, and for all officers and departments thereof in matters relating to their official duties. The city attorney shall prosecute or defend all suits for and in behalf of the city, and shall prepare all contracts, bonds and other instruments in writing in which the city is concerned.” Sec. 67. From time to time, the City Attorney requires assistance from outside counsel in the performance of these duties whether due to a conflict of interest that prohibits the office from providing representation or the need for attorneys who have a particular expertise in an area of law or simply due to lack of capacity due to the voluminous or complex nature of a pending matter. Additionally, while the City Attorney retains the ability to appoint special counsel on a case-by-case basis depending upon the specific needs presented by the case or issue, the City Attorney made the decision to embark upon a more formalized process for identifying law firms that could provide such representation so as to allow for additional firms to be identified and to increase efficiencies in the appointment process.
On May 28, 2024, the City of Columbus Purchasing Office on behalf of the City Attorney, issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ 027871) for outside legal counsel services and received a total of nine (9) responses. A Selection Committee reviewed the proposals, and of the nine (9) responses, the eight (8) firms referenced above wer...
Click here for full text