SUBJECT
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Approve the Legal Representation Agreement with de la Parte, Gilbert, McNamara & Caldevilla, P.A. for General Legal Services and General Counsel of the PRWC (Action)
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DESCRIPTION
Presented for the Board’s consideration is a Representation Agreement for general legal services and general counsel by de la Parte, Gilbert, McNamara & Caldevilla, P.A. (the Firm). Since 2016, the Firm has represented PRWC interests under a pass-through arrangement with Polk County. Work by the Firm has been billed to Polk County and then passed to the PRWC for direct payment. As the PRWC has grown, and will continue to grow, this arrangement has become cumbersome. The PRWC would now like to replace that arrangement with a direct relationship through this agreement.
Mr. De La Parte will continue to be primarily responsible for the legal representation and will continue to serve as the PRWC’s General Counsel. The Firm will continue to bill the PRWC at a hourly rate. If this agreement is approved, effective October 1, 2026 the billing rates will change as follows:
Attorney
Current Rate (hourly)
Updated Rate (hourly)
Edward P. de la Parte, Jr.
$225.00
$350.00
David Caldevilla
$200.00
$300.00
Patrick J. McNamara
$200.00
$300.00
Nicolas Q. Porter
$200.00
$300.00
Zachary Roper
$175.00
$195.00
Paralegals
$90.00
$120.00
The Firm rates have not been adjusted since 2016 and are no longer in-line with the rates the firm charges its other governmental clients, which are already discounted from its non-governmental rates. Given that the firm has not adjusted its rates in over 10 years of direct service to the PRWC, staff agree that these updated rates are appropriate, and value the strong and effective relationship that has been built between the PRWC and Mr. de la Parte and his firm. The FY2027 PRWC administrative and project budgets provide the necessary appropriations for the Firms’ revised rates.
The PRWC and the Firm may, upon wr...
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