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Appointing and Authorizing the Execution of a Master Legal Services Agreement with Barnes & Thornburg LLP
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WHEREAS, Saint Paul City Charter § 5.02 authorizes the City, upon request of the City Attorney in the case of special or unusual circumstances, to appoint outside counsel to represent the City; and
WHEREAS, the City is in need of special counsel to provide bond counsel and related public finance legal services (“Legal Services”); and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney hereby requests and recommends the appointment of outside counsel due to the above-articulated needs; and
WHEREAS, currently the law firms of Kutak Rock LLP and Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd., are the only outside law firms providing Legal Services to the City in its bond and public finance activities; and
WHEREAS, to update the panel of outside law firms, the City Attorney’s Office (“CAO”) researched interest and qualifications for Legal Services for both the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (“HRA”) and the City; and
WHEREAS, the CAO evaluated the qualifications of various law firms and based on careful evaluation and interviews of selected law firms, the CAO recommends that the City engage the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg LLP; and
WHEREAS, the CAO is hereby submitting to the City for approval a master legal services agreement (“Master Legal Services Agreement”) with Barnes & Thornburg LLP for a duration of approximately eleven (11) months commencing February 5, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026, with an optional one-year renewal period; a copy of the Master Legal Services Agreement is on file in the office of the HRA Executive Director; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED pursuant to Saint Paul City Charter § 5.02 and upon the request and recommendation of the City Attorney, the Council of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota does hereby appoint the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg LLP as special counsel for the purpose of providing Legal...
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