In-Rem Tax Foreclosure Special Legal Counsel Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting Qualification Statements from highly competent and qualified individuals or firms to provide In-Rem Tax Foreclosure Special Legal Counsel Services. This critical engagement involves representing the City in all tax foreclosure-related matters, encompassing both the prosecution and defense of cases before the Superior Court of New Jersey and the United States Bankruptcy Court. Selected counsel will operate under the direct oversight and coordination of the City’s Office of Corporation Counsel, delivering specialized legal assistance on an as-needed basis. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks to establish a roster of legal professionals capable of ensuring robust legal representation for the municipality's tax collection and enforcement efforts. Prospective contractors must demonstrate extensive expertise in professional legal services, providing detailed information on their business organization, including principals with 10% or more ownership interest. Key qualification requirements include a comprehensive description of years in business under the present name and current management, disclosure of any professional malpractice judgments within the last three years, and any involvement in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings over the past decade. Applicants are required to confirm appropriate federal and state licenses, submit resumes of all key attorneys and employees who will be assigned to the City's matters, and provide a narrative outlining their understanding of the City’s specific needs and goals. Furthermore, respondents must submit evidence of professional liability insurance with minimum coverage limits of $1,000,000 per claim and $3,000,000 in aggregate, along with a proven litigation record across Federal, Superior, Appellate, and Workers’ Compensation courts, listing all relevant governmental engagements from the last five years, and any prior representation of or litigation against the City within the same timeframe. Qualification Statements must be received by the City no later than November 22, 2022, at 12:00 P.M. Submissions require one original, four copies, and one compact disk, which must be mailed or hand-delivered to the East Orange Office of Procurement, Attention: Racquel Ferguson, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Facsimile or email transmissions will not be accepted. The submission package must include a comprehensive set of documents such as the Business Entity Disclosure Certification, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgment Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notices, Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 Form, a copy of the New Jersey Business Registration Certificate, Professional Service Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, a detailed Submission Form, Acknowledgement of Corrections, Additions or Deletions, Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran, Statement of Indebtedness, Agreement for Payment of Commodity/Service, a Letter of Intent, and a Letter of Qualification. For inquiries regarding the RFQ document, Lisa L. Jackson can be contacted at (973) 266-5162, while submission-related questions should be directed to Racquel Ferguson at the same number.