Outside Legal Counsel

The City of Columbus, Ohio, through the City Attorney’s Office, is seeking Statements of Qualifications to establish a Qualified Suppliers List for Outside Legal Counsel to provide as-needed legal services. The scope of work covers various legal areas, including 42 USC section 1983 actions, state law tort claims, labor and employment law, municipal law, bankruptcy, construction law, tax law compliance, real estate, eminent domain, and economic development. Services are billed at fixed blended hourly rates, with a rate of 275.00 dollars for general representation and 350.00 dollars for specialized tax, real estate, and economic development matters. The City Attorney intends to award contracts within 180 days of the solicitation issuance. Qualified firms are evaluated on a 85-point scale focusing on competence, past performance, and ability. Competence requires at least one attorney with five or more years of experience in the relevant legal matter, while past performance heavily weights experience with city, township, or state governments. Ability is measured by current workload and proximity to Columbus state and federal courts. Selected counsel must maintain malpractice insurance, possess the resources to advance all costs, and adhere to strict reporting requirements, including monthly open matter lists and quarterly status reports. Additionally, firms must disclose all adverse determinations, criminal or civil offenses, and maintain a continuing obligation to report potential conflicts of interest. Statements of Qualifications must be submitted via the Bonfire portal by November 20, 2026.