HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgreement_General_07/16/2014 LEWIS
��;•� =- LONGMAN &
WALKER I P.A.
A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W
REPLY To: TALLAHASSEE
July 11, 2014
Mr. Michael R. Couzzo, Jr. CONFIDENTIAL
Village Manager ATTORNEY /CLIENT
Village of Tequesta PRIVILEGED
345 Tequesta Drive
Tequesta, FL 33469
Re: Legal Representation of Village of Tequesta—Pension Matters
Dear Mr. Couzzo:
On behalf of the law firm of Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., thank you for the opportunity to
work with you on the above matter. The terms and conditions of our representation are outlined
below.
1. Services Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. will provide advice and representation on
pension matters. I will be the shareholder in charge of this matter and will be primarily
responsible for providing and supervising the legal services required. I will be responsible for
ensuring that this matter is staffed in a manner adequate and appropriate to the requirements of
the representation. Glenn Thomas, a shareholder who works with me on pension matters, will
also be involved in this matter. We will use our best judgment to determine the amount of time,
who is to perform specific tasks and work, and the nature of the services to be performed in your
best interests.
2. Professional Fees I will be the primary attorney working on your matter and my
standard hourly rate is $275.00. In addition to me, I may assign work to other attorneys or
paralegals within the office, depending upon who can best do the work in the most efficient
manner. The hourly rates for attorneys range from $165.00 to $275.00 per hour. The hourly
rates for paralegals/law clerks range from $110.00 to $165.00 per hour. These rates will be in
effect through December 2014 and may be modified annually thereafter in January of each
See Things Differently'
TAMPA BAY JACKSONVILLE TALLAHASSEE WEST PALM BEACH
101 Riverfront Boulevard 245 Riverside Avenue 315 South Calhoun Street 515 North Flagler Drive
Suite 620 Suite 150 Suite 830 Suite 1500
Bradenton, Florida 34205 Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Tallahassee, Florida 32301 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
p 941 - 708 - 4040 • f 1 941 - 708 - 4024 p 1 904 - 353 - 6410 • f 1 904 - 353 - 7619 p 1 850 - 222 - 5702 • f 1 850 - 224 - 9242 p 561 640 - 0820 • f 1 561 - 640 - 8202
00362713 -1 www.11w - law.com
Mr. Michael R. Couzzo, Jr.
July 11, 2014
Page 2
subsequent year. We will provide you with our new rates along with the Firm's statement of
services rendered in January of each year.
3. Costs and Expenses The firm charges for costs and expenses incurred on your behalf for
this representation. Attachment 1 sets forth the most commonly incurred costs and expenses.
We may advance these costs and seek reimbursement in our billings or we may at our discretion
require you to deposit these costs with us before the costs are incurred.
4. Billing and Payment We will bill you on a monthly basis for professional services
rendered and expenses incurred in connection with this matter, less any retainer amounts applied
against these services and expenses. You agree to pay the amount of each statement in full
within twenty (20) days of the billing date. Should you question or dispute any items or any
statement, you agree to notify us in writing of any such question or dispute within fifteen (15)
days of the billing date, and we will assume you do not have any dispute if we do not hear from
you in that time. Any amounts remaining unpaid for more than thirty (30) days from the date of
billing shall bear interest at the rate of twelve (12 %) percent per annum, compounded daily, until
paid.
5. Client Documents During the course of your matter, you may be required to provide to
us documents such as pension plan documents, actuarial reports, etc. We will hold these records
during the pendency of this matter. At the conclusion of this matter, you may contact us and
make arrangements for the return of your records. It is your responsibility to secure the return of
your records. We will retain the balance of your file for an appropriate time period. If
arrangements are not made for the return of your records within six (6) years following the
conclusion of your matter, they will be destroyed according to the guidelines set out in our
Records Retention Policy.
We sincerely thank you for choosing our firm to assist you in this most important matter. if you
agree with the foregoing terms and conditions, please sign in the space provided at the bottom of
the letter, return the original to me, and retain a copy for your records. On behalf of the Firm, I
look forward to assisting you in this matter.
Sincerely. ACCEPTED BY.
VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA
\. Jam s W. Linn By:
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Enclosure
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ATTACHMENT 1
Cost/Expense Typical Charges
Computer Research Actual usage + proportionate share of base subscription.
Court Reporters Direct invoice from vendor to client or paid from retainer.
Delivery Charges Actual amount invoiced to firm.
Mode of delivery based on need and economy.
Messenger Service Actual amount invoiced to the firm.
Overnight Express Actual amount invoiced to the firm.
Telefacsimile Outgoing: Actual telephone charge + $1.25 /page.
Incoming: No charge
Photocopying Inside copies: $0.20 /page
Outside services: Actual amount invoiced to firm.
Secretarial Overtime No charge
Telephone Charges Actual long distance and cellular charges + proportionate share
of base subscriptions.
Temporary Help Actual amount invoiced to the firm.
Travel -Local /Surface Reasonable mileage or actual rental charges.
Travel- Out -of -Town Intrastate: Actual common carrier charges for coach.
Interstate: Actual common carrier charges for business
class.
Meals /Accommodations: Lowest corporate seasonal rate
available, reasonable business related meal expenses.
Word Processing No charge
Other Expenses Actual cost invoiced to the firm. In selected cases, these items
may be directly invoiced from vendor to client.
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