Andrew M.

Cuomo
Governor

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Charlene M. Indelicato
President/Chief Executive Officer
Susan G. Rosenthal
Vice President/General Counsel

James S. Rubin, Chairperson

Fay Fryer Christian
Dr. Katherine Teets Grimm
David Kraut
Mary Beth Labate
Howard Polivy
Michael Shinozaki
Margaret Smith

Agenda Item V, 2. January 28, 2016

AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO
CONTRACTS FOR LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW COUNSEL LEGAL SERVICES
______________________________________________________________________________
RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation of
the State of New York (RIOC), as follows:
Section 1.

that the President/Chief Executive Officer is hereby authorized to

negotiate and enter into contracts with labor and employment law counsel
to provide legal services to RIOC, upon such terms and conditions
substantially similar to those outlined in the Memorandum from Gretchen
Robinson to the RIOC Board of Directors dated January 25, 2016,
attached hereto;

Section 2.

that the President/Chief Executive Officer or her designee is hereby

authorized to take such actions and execute such instruments as she deems
necessary to effectuate the foregoing; and

Section 3.

that this resolution shall take effect immediately.

Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor
Charlene M. Indelicato
President/Chief Executive Officer
Susan G. Rosenthal
Vice President/General Counsel

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
James S. Rubin, Chairperson
Fay Fryer Christian
Dr. Katherine Teets Grimm
David Kraut
Mary Beth Labate
Howard Polivy
Michael Shinozaki
Margaret Smith

MEMORANDUM
To:
From:
Re:
Date:

RIOC Board of Directors

Gretchen Robinson
RFP Selection: Labor & Employment Counsel
January 25, 2016

The laws that govern the workplace continue to evolve and as a result, the labor and
employment sector of law has become that much more specialized to address more complex labor and
employment law matters. RIOCs current contracts with a panel of labor and employment law firms that
provide representation to RIOC on an as-needed basis, has expired. In anticipation of meeting RIOCs
future needs for labor and employment law counsel, RIOCs staff recommends that a new panel of diverse
labor and employment law counsel be established. This arrangement will allow RIOC the continuity of
service by existing firms, where appropriate, as well as ensure the availability of a diverse panel of expert
labor and employment firms to timely and effectively address the various needs of the Corporation.
In furtherance of this recommendation, on September 25, 2015, RIOC published a Request
for Proposals (RFP) in the New York State Contract Reporter for Labor and Employment Law Counsel
legal services. The RFP required proposals to be submitted to RIOC by October 16, 2015. In response to
the RFP, RIOC received bids from the following firms:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Bond Schoeneck & King LLP;

Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney LLP;
Jackson Lewis PC;
The Chandler Law Firm PLLC; and
Wong Fleming.

Thereafter, a review team, formed by RIOC, evaluated, rated and ranked each bid based on their level of
experience, resources, approach and price. Firms that received a minimum score of 70 points collectively,
were then interviewed by the review team, of which firms could award up to 20 additional points. Based
on this evaluation process, the review team reached a consensus that the top three ranking firms should be
recommended to the RIOC Board for approval to become members of the Labor and Employment Law
Counsel panel. Those firms are:
1. Bond Schoeneck & King LLP;
2. Jackson Lewis PC; and
3. The Chandler Law Firm PLLC.

The rates offered by the firms are as follows:

1. Bond Schoeneck & King LLP (BSK) offered RIOC and hourly rate of $350 for partners, and
$250 for associates.
2. Jackson Lewis PC (JL) offered RIOC a reduced hourly rate of $350 for partners, $250 for
associates, and $95 for paralegals. JL also agreed not to charge for startup time to begin handling
new additional matters on RIOCs behalf.
3. The Chandler Law Firm PLLC offered RIOC an hourly rate of $325 for senior partners, $310 for
associates, and $90 for paralegals. The Chandler Law Firm also offered to waive fees for supplies,
travel during normal business hours, postage/shipping, and telecommunications. The firm will
only charge $100 for travel time that occurs after business hours (6:00 P.M.).
Given the considerable and diverse experience and resources of the recommended firms,
the panel would provide for effective legal representation to RIOC. The proposed contract term is for five
(5) years, with an additional renewal of another five (5) years, at RIOCs option.