Special Legal Counsel Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting Qualification Statements from highly experienced and qualified individuals and firms to provide Special Legal Counsel Services. The core project involves representing the City in public sector labor matters, operating under the direction and supervision of the City’s Office of Corporation Counsel. This includes handling special legal matters where a conflict of interest ethically or legally precludes the Law Department from rendering advice, encompassing defending claims, filing and defending lawsuits on behalf of the City Council, providing advice on litigation, regulations, and ordinances, interacting with City Administration on related legal issues, engaging with the City’s insurance carrier regarding liability, and attending meetings as requested by the Mayor and Council. The contract period for these specialized legal services will be for one year. Prospective contractors must demonstrate extensive professional, financial, and administrative capabilities. Respondents are required to possess proven expertise in providing professional legal services, particularly with a strong record of litigation experience in either the Superior Court of New Jersey (including the Appellate Division) or the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Qualification Statements should detail the respondent's business organization, ownership, organizational structure, names and business addresses of all Principals, and affirm compliance with applicable affirmative action requirements. Additionally, submissions must include resumes of key employees and attorneys assigned to the City, malpractice insurance coverage limits, and a comprehensive listing of all relevant engagements over the past five years, especially those involving municipal government clients. There are no mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits specified for this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Qualification Statements must be received by the City no later than 11:30 A.M. on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Submissions must be either mailed or hand-delivered to Racquel Ferguson, Purchasing Agent, East Orange Division of Procurement, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Facsimile or email transmissions will not be accepted, and submissions sent by mail or courier must arrive by the specified deadline. Each Qualification Statement requires an original and four (4) copies, submitted individually in a sealed envelope. Respondents picking up the RFQ packet on-site will incur a non-refundable cost of $25.00 to cover printing and administrative expenses, with checks payable to the City of East Orange. There is no mention of bid security or performance bonds. For inquiries, the designated contact is Racquel Ferguson, Purchasing Agent, who can be reached at (973) 266-5162.