Agenda Item
iii. Renewal of Swift, Currie, McGee and Hiers, LLP Law Firm Agreement (Year 5 of 5)
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Charles Burbridge, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance
Request: (Part 1)
It is requested that the Board of Education approve the renewal of the Swift, Currie, McGee and Hiers, LLP (“Swift Currie”) contract as Workers’ Compensation Counsel at the hourly rate of $210 for partners and senior attorneys, $175 for associates and $120 for paralegals, excluding necessary expenses and any necessary complex litigation, which will be determined and authorized by the Board Chair and Superintendent on a case-by-case basis. The Swift Currie hourly rate for handling litigation previously initiated by the law firm of Drew Eckl & Farnham is $150 for partners and senior attorneys, $140 for associates and $95 for paralegals. The term of this annual agreement shall commence on December 3, 2022. This is the fifth of five one-year optional renewals.
(Part 2)
It is further requested that the Board of Education approve the renewal of the Swift Currie contract as General Liability Counsel, at the hourly rate of $250 for partners and senior attorneys, $200 for associates and $150 for paralegals, excluding necessary expenses and any necessary complex litigation, which will be determined and authorized by the Board Chair and Superintendent on a case-by-case basis. The term of this annual agreement shall commence on December 3, 2022. This is the fifth of five one-year optional renewals.
Why: Public school districts require sound legal advice on various issues. Therefore, it is prudent for the Board of Education to engage with the law firm they determine to best represent its interests. Renewal of the Swift Currie contract will enable the District to continue the efficient provision of legal services for workers’ compensation and general liability matters.
Details: The Board of Education approved to retain the Swift Currie law firm at its business meeting on December 3, 2018. This approval was pursuant to the District’s Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) 19-01, entitled District Wide Legal Services, dated August 20, 2018. RFQ 19-01 provides that the contract for legal services will contain four (4) one-year extension options. The contract is therefore up for renewal on December 3, 2022.
Financial impact: This is a budgeted expense. The account codes from which the expense will be paid is 100.1000.526000.15311.7490.9990.8010.050.0000 and 100.2500.552000.69011.7490.9990.8010.050.0000.
Contact: Mr. Charles Burbridge, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance, 678.676.0289
Mr. Glinton R. Darien, Jr., Director of Risk Management, Division of Finance, 678.676.0403
Status: Approved by General Counsel.
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mr. Charles Burbridge, Chief Financial Officer
Division of Finance
FROM: Mrs. Cheryl L. Watson-Harris, Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
DATE: October 18, 2021
RE: Renewal of Swift, Currie, McGee and Hiers, LLP Law Firm Agreement at Varied Hourly
Rates (Year 4 of 5)
(Part 1)
At its business meeting on Monday, October 18, 2021, the DeKalb Board of Education approved the
renewal of the Swift, Currie, McGee and Hiers, LLP (“Swift Currie”) contract as Workers’ Compensation
Counsel at the hourly rate of $210 for partners and senior attorneys, $175 for associates and $120 for
paralegals, excluding necessary expenses and any necessary complex litigation, which will be
determined and authorized by the Board Chair and Superintendent on a case-by-case basis. The Swift
Currie hourly rate for handling litigation previously initiated by the law firm of Drew Eckl & Farnham is
$150 for partners and senior attorneys, $140 for associates and $95 for paralegals. The term of this
annual agreement shall commence on December 3, 2021. This is the fourth of a five-year term.
(Part 2)
Also, the DeKalb Board of Education approved the renewal of the Swift Currie contract as General
Liability Counsel, at the hourly rate of $250 for partners and senior attorneys, $200 for associates and
$150 for paralegals, excluding necessary expenses and any necessary complex litigation, which will be
determined and authorized by the Board Chair and Superintendent on a case-by-case basis. The term of
this annual agreement shall commence on December 3, 2021. This is the fourth of a five-year term.
Please take the appropriate action to affect this directive of the Board.
CWH:am
c: Ms. Carla Smith, Purchasing Manager, Purchasing Department, Division of Finance
Ms. Phyllis Jones, Buyer, Purchasing Department, Division of Finance