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A. FIRM BACKGROUND <br />Introduction/History <br />Hoff Barry, P.A. (the "Firm" or "Hoff Barry") submits this proposal ("Proposal") in response to <br />the City of Ramsey's ("City") Request for Proposals for Professional Legal Services ("RFP") in <br />the area of municipal representation. <br />Hoff Barry concentrates its practice in the area of municipal law and attorneys in the Firm have <br />extensive experience in both municipal representation and municipal litigation defense. <br />Approximately 90 percent of the Firm's billable hours are devoted to representing public sector <br />clients. We have been named among "Best Law Firms" from 2012 through the present by US. <br />News & World Report and "Best Lawyers" in the areas of Municipal Law and Municipal Litigation. <br />These accolades signify both the depth of our experience and quality of representation we provide <br />to our clients. <br />Approach to Representation and Timeliness <br />The primary goal of our municipal representation is to provide timely and legally sound advice to the <br />City. In addition to assisting the City in making reasonable decisions on a routine basis, when <br />necessary, we want City staff and Council to feel prepared to make difficult ones. <br />To provide prompt and effective municipal representation, we work collaboratively with City staff to <br />identify the City's objectives and time frame for the completion of projects. In order to accomplish <br />that goal, we seek to develop relationships with City staff and engage as counselors. We strive to <br />create positive open communication with City staff and officials. In other words, City staff should <br />feel as if we are just down the hall. As a result, we are able to help identify and prioritize alternative <br />approaches to issues and engage in a creative problem -solving process. <br />Part of developing trust and rapport with our city clients is simply being there. We take pride in prompt <br />response times. If our attorneys receive a voicemail or e-mail, they typically respond within hours. <br />Additionally, we work with City staff to develop appropriate expectations with respect to long-term <br />projects and meet those agreed upon parameters. The Firm will typically provide updates on current <br />projects and litigation matters by having continual contact with City staff and the City Council. In our <br />experience, very few projects are outstanding for a period of time longer than a month. However, a <br />monthly reporting system can be established after discussions regarding the City's desires and needs. <br />In addition to establishing an effective working relationship with City staff, the significant number of <br />local governments that Hoff Barry represents provides the Firm with a broad knowledge of current <br />issues and topics that affect cities. The Firm represents a variety of cities, small and large, rural and <br />urban. This diversity of experiences as it relates to municipal development and local priorities enables <br />our attorneys to harness a wealth of internal perspectives as we address questions or problems that <br />arise for our clients. The Firm's team approach is an integral part of our practice that allows our client <br />cities to reap the benefits of the skills and experiences of all our attorneys. <br />Office, Attorneys, Support Personnel <br />Hoff Barry is located at 100 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 200, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344. <br />Telephone: (952) 746-2700. Facsimile: (952) 941-7968. The Firm's website address is <br />www.hoffbarry.com. <br />3 <br />