In-Rem Tax Foreclosure Special Legal Counsel Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting Qualification Statements from highly skilled individuals and firms to serve as In-Rem Tax Foreclosure Special Legal Counsel. This professional services engagement requires the selected counsel to represent the City in all tax foreclosure-related matters, encompassing both the prosecution and defense of cases heard before the Superior Court of New Jersey and the United States Bankruptcy Court. All services will be performed under the direct supervision and direction of the City’s Office of Corporation Counsel, on an as-needed basis, and may also include attendance at meetings and providing other specialized legal assistance as required by the municipality. This initiative aims to secure expert legal representation to manage complex tax foreclosure litigation effectively, ensuring the City's interests are professionally represented. Prospective contractors must demonstrate extensive expertise in the provision of professional legal services, particularly within municipal tax foreclosure matters. Mandatory qualifications include a proven record of litigation experience in Federal, Superior, Appellate, and Workers’ Compensation courts. Respondents are required to provide comprehensive administrative information, including their business organization structure, identification of principals with 10% or more ownership, confirmation of compliance with affirmative action requirements, years in business, and current management details. Furthermore, applicants must disclose any professional malpractice judgments within the last three years and bankruptcy proceedings within the last ten years, along with confirming possession of all appropriate federal and state licenses. Professional requirements mandate submitting a detailed description of relevant experience, a list of municipal government clients from the past three years, resumes of assigned attorneys, a clear understanding of the City's needs, and disclosure of immediate relatives who are City employees or elected officials. Malpractice insurance coverage with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 aggregate per policy period is also a strict requirement. Qualification Statements must be meticulously prepared, including one original, two copies, and one thumb-drive, and must be submitted in a sealed envelope. All submissions are to be mailed or hand-delivered to the East Orange Office of Procurement, Attention: Racquel Ferguson, at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Crucially, submissions forwarded by facsimile or email transmissions will not be accepted. The firm deadline for receipt of Qualification Statements is 11:00 A.M. on November 13, 2024. The successful respondent will be awarded a contract not exceeding one year, with compensation structured at $500.00 per property for standard services and $165.00 per hour for extraordinary services. For inquiries or to obtain copies of the Request for Qualifications, interested parties should contact Racquel C. Ferguson, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162, with a fax number provided as (862) 444-0101.