HomeMy WebLinkAbout18127 BackupHolland & Knight
701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 3300 1 Miami, FL 33131 1 T 305.374.8500 F 305.789.7799
Holland & Knight LLP www.hklaw.com
William Bloom
william.bloom@hklaw.com
+1 305-789-7712
July 7, 2025
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY -CLIENT COMMUNICATION
James D. McQueen, Executive Director
Southeast Overtown /Park West Community Redevelopment Agency
819 NW 2nd Avenue, 3rd Floor
Miami, Florida 33136
Re: Engagement as Counsel
Dear Mr. McQueen:
Thank you for retaining Holland & Knight LLP ("H&K") to represent Southeast Overtown/Park
West Community Agency (the "Client") regarding that certain dispute with Electraserve, Inc. which
shall be presented to the CRA Board for resolution. This matter is not covered by the existing agreement
between the Client and H&K. We look forward to serving your needs and to establishing a mutually
satisfactory relationship characterized by exceptional client service.
The purpose of this letter is to confirm our engagement as counsel and to provide you certain
information concerning our fees, billing and collection policies, and other terms that will govern our
relationship. Although we do not wish to be overly formal in our relationship with you, we have found
it a helpful practice to confirm with our clients the nature and terms of our representation. Attached to
this letter are our firm's standard terms of engagement. Please review these and let me know if you have
any questions concerning our policies.
Our fees in this matter will be calculated based upon the standard hourly rate of those attorneys
involved in this matter. In addition to our fees, our out-of-pocket costs will be billed to you monthly.
You agree to pay our bills within 30 days of invoicing. Our monthly bills will be itemized and will show
the lawyer, billing rate, and description of services for each time entry. If at any time you would like to
be provided more detailed information regarding our invoices or specific time entries, or if you have any
other concerns regarding our invoices or services, we will be glad to address these with you. The primary
attorney working on this matter is Miguel de Grandy with an hourly rate of $950.00.
As you will see, we have a policy of requiring an advance fee deposit with respect to the last
billing for a particular matter, or if our relationship develops into an ongoing relationship, we credit
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portions of the advance deposit at appropriate times. Of course, if the advance fee deposit exceeds the
amount of our bills, we refund the excess. In this case, we have determined to waive our requirement
for a deposit.
If the terms described above and in the attached terms of engagement are satisfactory, please so
indicate by signing and returning the enclosed copy of this letter.
HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP
P61d6:e it~ / 42 L
William R. Bloom
Approved this roil day of July, 2025.
Southeast Overtown /Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency
By:
J es McQueen, Executive Director
HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP
TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT
We appreciate your decision to retain Holland & Knight LLP as your legal counsel.
This document explains how we work, our obligations to you, your obligations to us, what we will do on your behalf, and how
our charges will be determined and billed. Experience has shown that an understanding of these matters will contribute to a
better relationship between us, and that in turn makes our efforts more productive.
Our engagement and the services that we will provide to you are limited to the matter identified in the accompanying
letter. Any changes in the scope of our representation as described in the letter must be approved in writing. We will provide
services of a strictly legal nature related to the matters described in that letter. You will provide us with the factual information
and materials we require to perform the services identified in the letter, and you will make such business or technical decisions
and determinations as are appropriate. You will not rely on us for business, investment, or accounting decisions, or expect us
to investigate the character or credit of persons or entities with whom you may be dealing, unless otherwise specified in the
letter.
We cannot guarantee the outcome of any matter. Any expression of our professional judgment regarding your matter or the
potential outcome is, of course, limited by our knowledge of the facts and based on the law at the time of expression. It is also
subject to any unknown or uncertain factors or conditions beyond our control.
Confidentiality and Related Matters
Regarding the ethics of our profession that will govern our representation, several points deserve emphasis. As a matter of
professional responsibility, we are required to hold confidential all information relating to the representation of our clients,
subject to certain exceptions that we will discuss with you. This professional obligation and the legal privilege for attorney -
client communications exist to encourage candid and complete communication between a client and his lawyer. We can
perform truly beneficial services for a client only if we are aware of all information that might be relevant to our
representation. Consequently, we trust that our attorney -client relationship with you will be based on mutual confidence and
unrestrained communication that will facilitate our proper representation of you.
Additionally, you should be aware that, in instances in which we represent a corporation or other entity, our client relationship
is with the entity and not with its individual executives, shareholders, directors, members, managers, partners, or persons in
similar positions, or with its parent, subsidiaries, or other affiliates. In those cases, our professional responsibilities are owed
only to that entity, alone, and no conflict of interest will be asserted by you because we represent persons with respect to
interests that are adverse to individual persons or business organizations who have a relationship with you. That is to say,
unless the letter accompanying this document indicates otherwise, Holland & Knight's attorney -client relationship with the
entity does not give rise to an attorney -client relationship with the parent, subsidiaries or other affiliates of the entity, and
representation of the entity in this matter will not give rise to any conflict of interest in the event other clients of the firm are
adverse to the parent, subsidiaries or other affiliates of the entity. Of course, we can also represent individual executives,
shareholders, directors, members, managers, partners, and other persons related to the entity in matters that do not conflict
with the interests of the entity, but any such representation will be the subject of a separate engagement letter. Similarly, when
we represent a party on an insured claim, we represent the insured, not the insurer, even though we maybe approved, selected,
or paid by the insurer.
Fees and Billing
Clients frequently ask us to estimate the fees and other charges they are likely to incur in connection with a particular
matter. We are pleased to respond to such requests whenever possible with an estimate based on our professional
judgment. This estimate always carries the understanding that, unless we agree otherwise in writing, it does not represent a
maximum, minimum, or fixed fee quotation. The ultimate cost frequently is more or less than the amount estimated.
Legal Fees. We encourage flexibility in determining billing arrangements. For example, we often agree with our clients to
perform services on a fixed -fee or other basis that we and the client believe will encourage efficiency and reflect the value of
our services in relation to a particular objective.
If you and we have agreed on a fixed fee arrangement, our fees will not be limited to the fixed amount if you fail to make a
complete and accurate disclosure of information that we have requested and that we reasonably require for our work, or if you
materially change the terms, conditions, scope, or nature of the work, as described by you when we determined the fixed
amount. If any of these events occurs, our fees will be based upon the other factors described below, unless you and we agree
on a revised fixed fee.
If the accompanying engagement letter does not provide for a fixed fee, or if we do not otherwise confirm to you in writing a
fee arrangement, our fees for services will be determined as described in the following paragraphs.
When establishing fees for services that we render, we are guided primarily by the time and labor required, although we also
consider other appropriate factors, such as the novelty and difficulty of the legal issues involved; the legal skill required to
perform the particular assignment; time -saving use of resources (including research, analysis, data and documentation) that
we have previously developed and stored electronically or otherwise in quickly retrievable form; the fee customarily charged
by comparable firms for similar legal services; the amount of money involved or at risk and the results obtained; and the time
constraints imposed by either you or the circumstances. In determining a reasonable fee for the time and labor required for a
particular matter, we consider the ability, experience, and reputation of the lawyer or lawyers in our firm who perform the
services. To facilitate this determination, we internally assign to each lawyer an hourly rate based on these factors. Of course,
our internal hourly rates change periodically to account for increases in our cost of delivering legal service, other economic
factors, and the augmentation of a particular lawyer's ability, experience, and reputation. Any such changes in hourly rates are
applied prospectively, as well as to unbilled time previously expended. We record and bill our time in one -tenth hour (six
minute) increments.
When selecting lawyers to perform services for you, we generally seek to assign lawyers having the lowest hourly rates
consistent with the skills, time demands, and other factors influencing the professional responsibility involved in each
matter. That does not mean that we will always assign a lawyer with a lower hourly rate than other lawyers. As circumstances
require, the services of lawyers in the firm with special skills or experience may be sought when that will either (a) reduce the
legal expense to you, (b) provide a specialized legal skill needed, or (c) help move the matter forward more quickly. Also, to
encourage the use of such lawyers in situations where their services can provide a significant benefit that is disproportionate
to the time devoted to the matter, we may not bill for their services on an hourly rate basis but, if you agree in advance, we will
adjust the fee on an "added value" basis at the conclusion of the matter if and to the extent their services contribute to a
favorable result for you.
Disbursements. In addition to legal fees, our statements will include out-of-pocket expenses that we have advanced on your
behalf and our internal charges (which may exceed direct costs and allocated overhead expenses) for certain support
activities. Alternatively, the firm may charge for such internal charges as a percentage of the fees charged. Advanced expenses
generally will include, but are not limited to, such items as travel, postage, filing, recording, certification, and registration fees
charged by governmental bodies. Our internal charges typically include, but are not limited to, such items as toll calls, facsimile
transmissions, overnight courier services, certain charges for terminal time for computer research and complex document
production, and charges for photocopying materials sent to the client or third parties or required for our use.
We may request an advance cost deposit (in addition to the advance fee deposit) when we expect that we will be required to
incur substantial costs on behalf of the client.
During the course of our representation, it may be appropriate to hire third parties to provide services on your behalf. These
services may include such things as consulting or testifying experts, investigators, providers of computerized litigation support,
and court reporters. Because of the legal "work product" protection afforded to services that an attorney requests from third
parties, in certain situations our firm may assume responsibility for retaining the appropriate service providers. Even if we do
so, however, you will be responsible for paying all fees and expenses directly to the service providers or reimbursing us for
these expenses.
The firm attempts to achieve efficiencies and savings for its clients when dealing with independent contractors. The firm may
be able to obtain a reduced charge from the contractor if the firm provides certain functions, such as billing, collection,
equipment, space, facilities, or clerical help. For these administrative and coordination services, the firm may charge an
administrative fee, which will be separately disclosed to you.
Billing. We bill periodically throughout the engagement for a particular matter, and our periodic statements are due when
rendered. If our fees are based primarily on the amount of our time devoted to the matter, our statements will be rendered
monthly. In instances in which we represent more than one person with respect to a matter, each person that we represent is
jointly and severally liable for our fees and expenses with respect to the representation. Our statements contain a concise
summary of each matter for which legal services are rendered and a fee is charged.
If a statement remains unpaid for more than 3o days, you will be contacted by an H&K representative inquiring why it is
unpaid. Additionally, if a statement has not been paid within 3o days from its date, the firm may impose an interest charge of
1.25 percent per month (a 15 percent annual percentage rate) from the 30th day after the date of the statement until it is paid
in full. Interest charges apply to specific monthly statements on an individual statement basis. Any payments made on past
due statements are applied first to the oldest outstanding statement.
It is the firm's policy that if an invoice remains unpaid for more than 90 days, absent extraordinary circumstances and subject
to legal ethics constraints, H&K's representation will cease, and you hereby auParlexize us to withdraw from all representation
of you. Any unapplied deposits will be applied to outstanding balances. Generally, the firm will not recommence its
representation or accept new work from you until your account is brought current and a new deposit for fees and costs, in an
amount that the firm determines, is paid to it.
In addition, if you do not pay H&K's statements as they become due, the firm may require a substantial partial payment and
delivery of an interest -bearing promissory note as part of any arrangement under which it may, in its discretion, agree to
continue its representation. Any such promissory note will serve merely as evidence of your obligation, and shall not be
regarded as payment.
If allowed by applicable law, H&K is entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs if collection activities are
necessary. In addition, H&K shall have all general, possessory, or retaining liens, and all special or charging liens, recognized
by law.
Payment of our fees and costs is not contingent on the ultimate outcome of our representation, unless we have expressly agreed
in writing to a contingent fee.
Questions About Our Bills. We invite you to discuss freely with us any questions that you have concerning a fee charged for
any matter. We want our clients to be satisfied with both the quality of our services and the reasonableness of the fees that we
charge for those services. We will attempt to provide as much billing information as you require and in such customary form
that you desire, and are willing to discuss with you any of the various billing formats we have available that best suits your
needs.
Relationships with Other Clients
Because we are a large, full -service law firm with offices located in various cities we may be (and often are) asked to represent
a client with respect to interests that are adverse to those of another client who is represented by the firm in connection with
another matter. Just as you would not wish to be prevented in an appropriate situation from retaining a law firm that competes
with Holland & Knight LLP, our firm wishes to be able to consider the representation of other persons or entities that may be
competitors in your industry or who may have interests that are adverse to yours, but with respect to matters that are unrelated
in any way to our representation of you. The ethics that govern us permit us to accept such multiple representations, assuming
certain conditions are met, as set forth below.
During the term of this engagement, we will not accept representation of another client to pursue interests that are directly
adverse to your interests unless and until we make full disclosure to you of all the relevant facts, circumstances, and
implications of our undertaking the two representations, and confirm to you in good faith that we have done so and that the
following criteria are met: (i) there is no substantial relationship between any matter in which we are representing or have
represented you and the matter for the other client; (ii) any confidential information that we have received from you will not
be available to the lawyers and other Holland & Knight LLP personnel involved in the representation of the other client; (iii)
our effective representation of you and the discharge of our professional responsibilities to you will not be prejudiced by our
representation of the other client; and (iv) the other client has also consented in writing based on our full disclosure of the
relevant facts, circumstances, and implications of our undertaking the two representations. If the foregoing conditions are
satisfied, we may undertake the adverse representation and all conflict issues will be deemed to have been resolved or waived
by you.
By making this agreement, we are establishing the criteria that will govern the exercise of your right under applicable ethical
rules to object to our representation of another client whose interests are adverse to yours. If you contest in good faith the
facts underlying our confirmation to you that the specified criteria have been met, then we will have the burden of reasonably
supporting those facts.
Knowledge Management Tool
In order to better and more economically serve our clients, we have implemented a document search engine that will allow us
to search the firm's institutional work product to determine whether there exist documents created for one client that can be
used as a starting point for the preparation of new documents for other clients. Documents that are subject to ethics wall
restrictions, have extraordinary confidentiality requirements, or contain sensitive client information will not be included in
this system.
Termination
Upon completion of the matter to which this representation applies, or upon earlier termination of our relationship, the
attorney -client relationship will end unless you and we have expressly agreed to a continuation with respect to other
matters. We hope, of course, that such a continuation will be the case. The representation is terminable at will by either of
us. The termination of the representation will not terminate your obligation to pay fees and expenses incurred prior to the
termination and for any services rendered or disbursements required to implement the transition to new counsel.
Your agreement to this engagement constitutes your acceptance of the foregoing terms and conditions. If any of them is
unacceptable to you, please advise us now so that we can resolve any differences and proceed with a clear, complete, and
consistent understanding of our relationship.
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