General Counsel and Legal Services

The Vendor is required to provide legal services on an "as needed, when needed" basis.
- Real estate and development
•    The authority may require a broad range of legal assistance concerning real estate and development including home ownership programs, closings on the sales of homes, drafting and reviewing real estate contracts, preparing and reviewing loan documents, title examinations, representation at closing; real estate and financing transactions including rezoning, variance and land use issues, project development negotiations, project syndication and disposition/development analysis, purchase and sale agreements, real estate litigation; environmental site assessment and other environmental matters, landlord tenant issues, leases, tax issues related to development and financial structuring of transactions, eminent domain, hope vi requirements, choice neighborhoods, mixed-finance development issues, replacement housing factor funding advice, low income housing tax credit advice negotiation assistance and counsel, acquisition and redevelopment of real estate issues, development, assistance in preparation of evidentiary submissions to HUD, the state.
- Employment and labor
•    The authority may require a broad range of legal services pertaining to human resources including: counsel, investigate and litigate employment claims concerning EEO and CHRO compliance, fair labor laws, wage disputes, discrimination claims, retaliation, wrongful termination, termination for cause, unemployment compensation, complex employment and employee benefits litigation, single-employer collective bargaining under the municipal employee relations act (MERA) any an matter pertaining to the department of labor and EEOC. 
•    The authority may require assistance with the development and update of policies, training and counsel on the family and medical leave act, the ADA, workers compensation statutes and any other human resource policy related matters. 
•    The authority will require up to date information on laws that impact the authority's hiring and employment practices.
- Bond counsel
•    The authority may require the services of bond counsel in the issuance of bonds from time to time. 
•    Bond issuances may involve the authority as issuer of its own debt for projects or as a conduit issuer for other entities. 
•    Bond counsel would also be expected to assist in the maintenance of outstanding bond issues, drafting and provision of opinions related to bond matters, etc.
- Litigation
•    The authority requires counsel from time to time on matters that could lead to litigation. 
•    It is expected that legal counsel will guide the authority in such a way that litigation is avoided if possible. 
•    Where litigation has commenced the contractor will take the lead on the preparation of a defense, update the authority as necessary, act as lead counsel including court appearance, pretrial preparation, motions, discovery and negotiations, provide legal research, legal analysis, factual information, investigations; prepare position papers various legal issues including the interpretation of contractual provisions, address policy coverage disputes and general coverage questions and interpretations, etc.
- General Counsel and community representation
•    Attendance at meetings, regular or special, of the board of commissioners and supervision, as to legality, of the official minutes of the authority.
•    Confer with and advise officers, employees and commissioners of the authority on legal matters.
•    Advise and assist in the preparation of legal documents, papers, bids, contracts, specifications, bonds and waivers.
•    Advise and consult with parties having dealings with the authority of a legal nature.
•    Advise and consult on issues related to the operation and use of the authority instrumentalities and their subsidiaries.
•    Appear for and represent the authority in courts of law and before administrative agencies.
•    Advise on all types of matters, protests and compliance related to appropriate federal, state and local regulations.
•    Advise and approve as to contract and other document form and legality.
•    Render legal opinions.
•    Review and approve documents pertaining to temporary and permanent financing related to authority's acquisition and disposition of real property.
•    Assist in the assessment and collection of monetary damages or past due amounts from various individual and corporate sources as may be due to the authority.