Legal Counsel Services: Litigation/Defense, Workers' Compensation, and Special Conflict Counsel

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting Qualification Statements from highly experienced individuals and law firms for various legal counsel services. The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks providers for Litigation/Defense Counsel, Workers’ Compensation Counsel, and Special Conflict Counsel services. The scope of work for Litigation/Defense Counsel encompasses representation in matters including, but not limited to, the Tort Claims Act (N.J.S.A. 59:1-1 et seq.), Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) claims (N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 et seq.), Laws Against Discrimination (LAD) claims (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 actions, contract disputes, and challenges to government actions. Workers’ Compensation Counsel will defend the City in lawsuits under N.J.S.A. 34:15-1 et seq., while Special Conflict Counsel will handle cases where conflicts of interest, nonavailability, or scheduling conflicts arise for regular counsel, covering both litigation and workers' compensation matters as needed. The City aims to establish a pool of qualified attorneys to provide these services on an as-needed basis, with compensation structured at a flat fee of $600.00 per workers' compensation case (or $95.00 per hour for complex cases with TPA approval) and $125.00 per hour for litigation and special conflict counsel matters, coordinated through the City’s Third Party Insurance Administrator. Prospective contractors must demonstrate substantial expertise and a proven record of litigation experience across Federal, Superior, Appellate, and Workers’ Compensation courts. Key professional requirements include providing a description of overall experience relevant to the services sought, client references from the last three years (especially municipal government clients), and resumes of key attorneys who would be assigned to the City’s cases. Administrative requirements mandate submission of an executive summary, an executed Letter of Qualification, and details on the firm's business organization, ownership (including principals with 10% or more interest), and years in business under current management. Firms must confirm appropriate federal and state licenses, disclose any professional malpractice judgments or bankruptcy proceedings in recent years, and comply with all applicable affirmative action, business registration (N.J.S.A. 52:32-44), and disclosure of ownership (N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2) laws in New Jersey. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 is required for physical RFQ packets obtained on-site. Qualification Statements must be received by the City of East Orange no later than 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. Submissions must be either mailed or hand-delivered to the East Orange Office of Procurement, addressed to Lisa L. Jackson, QPA, at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Submissions sent via facsimile or email will not be accepted. A separate Qualification Statement is required for each legal service applied for. Respondents must provide one original (unbound), four copies, and one compact disk (CD) set of their sealed submission. Required forms include a Business Entity Disclosure Certification, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement (with minimum professional liability insurance of $1,000,000.00 per claim and $3,000,000.00 aggregate), EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, and a Business Registration Certificate from the State of New Jersey. All communications regarding this RFQ must be directed in writing to the Designated Contact Person, Lisa L. Jackson, QPA, at (973) 266-5162.