Agenda Item
ii. RFQ No. 23-02, Insurance Defense Legal Services to Swift, Currie, McGee and Hiers, LLP (Year 3 of 5)
Summary: Presented by: Mr. H. Eric Hilton, Chief Legal Officer, Division of Legal Services
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education (“Board”) renew its contract with Swift, Currie, McGee and Hiers, LLP (“Swift Currie”) as Workers’ Compensation Counsel at the hourly rate of $215 for partners and senior attorneys, $180 for associates and $125 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. This is the third of five one-year optional renewals. The legal services vendor is paid on an hourly fee basis for assigned work at negotiated hourly rates.
It is further requested that the Board renew its contract with Swift Currie as General Liability Counsel, at the hourly rate of $260 for partners and senior attorneys, $210 for associates and $155 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. This is the third of five one-year optional renewals. The legal services vendor is paid on an hourly fee basis for assigned work at negotiated hourly rates.
Why: Public school districts require sound legal advice on various issues. Therefore, it is prudent for the DeKalb County Board of Education (“Board of Education”) to engage with the law firm they determine to best represent its interests. The engagement of the Swift Currie law firm 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 the retention of the Swift Currie law firm at its business meeting on July 10, 2023. This approval was pursuant to the District’s Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) 23-02, entitled Insurance Defense Legal Services, dated January 12, 2023. RFQ 23-02 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, 2025.
Financial impact: This is a budgeted expense.
The account codes from which the expense will be paid is 100.1000.526000.15311.7490.9990.8010.080.0000
and 100.2500.552000.69011.7490.9990.8010.080.0000.
Contact: Mr. H. Eric Hilton, Chief Legal Officer, Division of Legal Services, 678-676-0159
Effective: December 3, 2025
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs