Agenda Item
Meeting Date:
5/1/2025 - 6:00 PM  
Category:
Reorganization Action Items  
Type:
Action  
Subject:
10.15 Resolution Authorizing Appointment of Outside Counsel and Award of Legal Services Agreements for 2025-2026  
Strategic Plans:
 
Enclosure:
 
File Attachment:
 
Summary:
Authorizing Appointment of Outside Counsel and Legal Services Agreements for 2025-26 WHEREAS the Board of Education desires to award and/or renew its professional services contracts with legal counsel; WHEREAS, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5a(1), the Board is authorized to award a term contract of one year for professional services without advertising for bids or public bidding; WHEREAS, in response to a request for proposals issued on behalf of the Board, each of the law firms specified below has submitted a proposal to provide professional legal services and each has been found to have the requisite expertise and, as a group, these law firms meet the need for qualified counsel to handle legal matters on behalf of the Board for which it does not possess adequate in-house resources; WHEREAS General Counsel recommends award or renewal of professional services contract with each of the law firms listed below, with the following billing rates: (a) for workers’ compensation matters: for each assigned claim, $2,000.00 at opening, $1,000.00 plus expenses at disposition, $125.00 per hour for any trial or any motion for med/temp including the presentation of testimony; and flat fee of $750.00 for any medical provider application filed on any accident and/or occupational claim; (b) for school bond matters: preparation of election documents for a successful election, $2,000; services in connection with short-term bond anticipation notes, $.80/$1000 principal amount, minimum $3,500; services in connection with bond issuance, $5,000 + $1.10/$1,000 principal amount; minimum $10,000; services in connection with lease purchase financing, $5,000 + $1.00/$1,000 principal amount; minimum $10,000; and services in connection with refunding bond issuance, $10,000 + $1.10/$1,000 principal amount; (c) for specialized real estate/construction matters (Lasser Hochman, LLC only), $350.00 per hour for attorneys; (d) for board member representation, $285.00 per hour; and for all other matters: $200.00 per hour for attorneys and $90.00 per hour for paralegals; and  
Funding :
 
Recommendation to the Board
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board hereby authorizes and approves term contracts for legal services to the following law firms for the 2025-2026 fiscal year at the billing rates stated above, subject to the availability of funds: Adams Lattiboudere Croot & Herman LLC Antonelli Kantor & Rivera P.C. Biancamano & De Stefano, P.C. Braff Harris & Sukoneck Carmagnola & Ritardi LLC DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP Florio Kenny Raval LLP Genova Burns LLC Hunt Hamlin & Ridley Inglesino Taylor, LLC Lasser Hochman LLC Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC Machado Law Group Methfessel and Werbel, P.C. Plosia Cohen LLC Porzio Bromberg & Newman PC Riker Danzig LLP Sattiraju & Tharney, LLP Schenck Price Smith & King, LLP Souder Law Group, LLP Taylor Law Group LLC The Busch Law Group LLC Walsh Pizzi O'Reilly Falanaga LLP Wilentz Goldman & Spitzer PA  
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Pamela Luke - Executive Legal Assistant
Signed By:  
Brenda Liss - General Counsel
Signed By:  
Roger León - Superintendent
 
Vote Results:

Original Motion
Member Helena Vinhas Moved, Member Josephine Garcia seconded to approve the Original motion 'NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board hereby authorizes and approves term contracts for legal services to the following law firms for the 2025-2026 fiscal year at the billing rates stated above, subject to the availability of funds: Adams Lattiboudere Croot & Herman LLC Antonelli Kantor & Rivera P.C. Biancamano & De Stefano, P.C. Braff Harris & Sukoneck Carmagnola & Ritardi LLC DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP Florio Kenny Raval LLP Genova Burns LLC Hunt Hamlin & Ridley Inglesino Taylor, LLC Lasser Hochman LLC Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC Machado Law Group Methfessel and Werbel, P.C. Plosia Cohen LLC Porzio Bromberg & Newman PC Riker Danzig LLP Sattiraju & Tharney, LLP Schenck Price Smith & King, LLP Souder Law Group, LLP Taylor Law Group LLC The Busch Law Group LLC Walsh Pizzi O'Reilly Falanaga LLP Wilentz Goldman & Spitzer PA'. Upon a Roll-Call Vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 8 Nay: 0.
The motion Carried 8 - 0
   
Hasani Council     Yes
Josephine Garcia     Yes
Allison K. James-Frison     Yes
Vereliz Santana     Yes
Kanileah Anderson     Yes
Helena Vinhas     Yes
David I. Daughety     Yes
Louis Maisonave, Jr.     Yes