Laserfiche WebLink
Exhibit B Conflict of Interest <br />As lawyers, the Contractor's representatives are regulated by ethical rules, including rules governing <br />conflicts of interest, in the jurisdictions in which they practice. Based on the Contractor's review of their <br />records, the Contractor's representation of the City on this initial matter does not create a conflict of interest <br />for the Contractor or the City, however, the Contractor does serve as outside counsel and bond counsel <br />to other municipalities and entities that interact and/or contract with the City (such as the Valley <br />Communications Center, the Valley Communications Center Development Authority, the South <br />Correctional Entity, the South Correctional Entity Facility Public Development Authority, King County, King <br />County Regional Homelessness Authority, the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network, the Housing <br />Development Consortium (in connection with South King Housing and Homelessness Partners), and the <br />Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority), and serves as underwriter's counsel from time to time to <br />underwriting firms on matters unrelated to the City's bonds. Execution of this Agreement by the City's <br />representative constitutes consent by the City to such representation. The Contractor agrees not to use <br />any proprietary or other confidential nonpublic information concerning the City, acquired as a result of the <br />Contractor's representation of the City, to the City's material disadvantage in connection with any litigation <br />or other matter in which the Contractor is adverse to the City. <br />If the City learns about significant name changes of any of the entities or about additional adverse or <br />potentially adverse parties, it will advise the Contractor so their records can be updated. The <br />Contractor's representation of the City does not include acting as counsel for any entity in which the <br />City holds equity or any subsidiary, affiliate, equityholder, employee, family member or other person <br />unless such additional representation is separately and clearly undertaken by the Contractor. <br />During the Contractor's representation of the City, there may from time to time be issues that raise <br />questions as to the Contractor's duties under the rules of professional conduct that apply to <br />lawyers. These might include, e.g., conflict of interest issues, and could even include issues raised <br />because of a dispute between the Contractor and the City over the handling of a matter. Under normal <br />circumstances when such issues arise the Contractor would seek the advice of their non -bond <br />related counsel such as Professional Standards Counsel, Loss Prevention partners or <br />Professional Standards Conflicts Attorneys who are experts in such matters. Historically, the <br />Contractor has considered such consultations to be attorney-client privileged conversations between <br />firm personnel and the counsel for the firm. In recent years, however, there have been judicial <br />decisions indicating that under some circumstances such conversations involve a conflict of interest <br />between the City and the Contractor and that consultation with the Contractor's non -bond related <br />counsel may not be privileged, unless the Contractor either withdraws from the representation of <br />the City or obtain the City's consent to consult with the Contractor's non -bond related <br />counsel. <br />It is in the Contractor's and the City's interest, that in the event legal ethics or related issues arise during <br />a representation, the Contractor receives expert analysis of their obligations. Accordingly, as part of <br />this agreement concerning the Contractor's representation of the City, the City agrees that if the <br />Contractor determines by their own discretion during the course of the representation that it is either <br />necessary or appropriate to consult with the Contractor's non -bond related counsel (either Pacifica Law <br />Group's internal counsel or, if determined necessary by the Contractor, outside counsel) the City <br />consents to this and agrees that the Contractor's representation of the City shall not, thereby, <br />waive any attorney-client privilege that the Contractor may have to protect the confidentiality of <br />the City's and Contractor's communications with counsel. Any such consultation will be paid for by the <br />Contractor, and not the City. <br />{KZS2490554.DO CX;1 /13175.000001/1 <br />2013 <br />CA Revised 1 - <br />Page 5 of 7 <br />25 <br />