09-05-2014 Butler Snow Bond & Disclosure Counsel ServicesATTACHMENT A: Letter of Engagement
BUTLER
September 5, 2014
VIA E -MAIL
Town Council
Town of Avon
Avon, CO 80104
Attn: Eric Heil, Town Attorney
Re: Bond and Disclosure Counsel Services — Town of Avon
Dear Eric:
We are pleased to confirm our engagement as counsel to Town of Avon (the
"Town "). We appreciate your confidence in us and will do our best to continue to merit it.
In establishing our attorney- client relationship, current practice standards
dictate that we set forth in writing (and in some detail) the elements of our mutual
understanding. While some of the matters covered in this engagement letter will never be
relevant or of concern between us, we hope you will understand that as attorneys and
counselors it is our natural function to try to make communication clear and complete, and to
anticipate and resolve questions before they arise. We also believe that the performance of
our services may require your effort and cooperation. Consequently, the better we each
understand our respective roles, responsibilities and contributions, the more efficient,
effective and economical our work for you can be.
Personnel
This letter sets forth the role we propose to serve and the responsibilities we
propose to assume as bond and disclosure counsel to the Town in connection with the a lease
purchase agreement financing in the approximate principal amount of $5,800,000, including
the issuance of related certificates of participation (collectively, the "Obligations "). Dee
Wisor will be principally responsible for the work performed by Butler Snow LLP on your
behalf. Where appropriate, certain tasks may be performed by other attorneys or paralegals.
At all times, however, Dee Wisor will coordinate, review, and approve all work completed for
the Town.
Scope of Employment
Bond Counsel is engaged as a recognized expert whose primary responsibility
is to render an objective legal opinion with respect to the authorization of securities like the
Obligations. As your bond counsel, we will: examine applicable law; consult with the parties
1801 wfi"ia swtw DsE P. WtSOR l 7720.330.2300
si*t 5100 x-0.330 2357 FT20.330.2301
Dre:rs CO 9020C drr.W*WrgbudCMnuw.com wwwbudemwwrum
Bunx3tSww LLP
ATTACHMENT A: Letter of Engagement
Town of Avon
September 5, 2014
Page 2
to the transaction prior to the execution of the Obligations; prepare customary authorizing and
operative documents, and closing certificates; review a certified transcript of proceedings; and
undertake such additional duties as we deem necessary to render the opinion. Subject to the
completion of proceedings to our satisfaction, we will render our opinion relating to the
validity of the Obligations, the enforceability of the security for the Obligations, and the
exclusion of the interest on the Obligations (subject to certain limitations which may be
expressed in the opinion) from gross income for federal income tax purposes and for
Colorado income tax purposes.
We are also being retained by you to act as special counsel to the Town in
connection with the Official Statement for the Obligations (the "Official Statement "). As
such, we will provide advice to the Town on the applicable legal standards to be used in
preparing the Official Statement and meeting the Town's disclosure responsibilities. At the
conclusion of the transaction we will deliver a letter to you stating that we have assisted the
Town in the preparation of the Official Statement, and that in the course of such assistance,
nothing has come to the attention of the attorneys in our firm rendering legal services in
connection with our representation which leads us to believe that the Official Statement, as of
its date (except for the financial statements, other statistical data and statements of trends and
forecasts, and information concerning the bond insurer, if any, and information concerning
The Depository Trust Company ( "DTC ") provided by DTC contained in the Official
Statement and its Appendices, as to which we express no view), contains any untrue statement
of material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements in the
Official Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
In delivering our opinion and letter, we will rely upon the certified proceedings
and other certifications of public officials and other persons furnished to us without
undertaking to verify the same by independent investigation. Our opinion and letter will be
addressed to the Town and will be executed and delivered by us in written form on the date
the Obligations are exchanged for their purchase price (the "Closing "). The opinion and letter
will be based on facts and law existing as of their date.
Our services are limited to those contracted for explicitly herein; the Town's
execution of this letter constitutes an acknowledgment of those limitations. Specifically, but
without implied limitation, our responsibilities do not include any representation by Butler
Snow LLP in connection with any 1RS audit, SEC enforcement action or any litigation
involving the Town or the Obligations, or any other matter. Neither do we assume
responsibility for the preparation of any collateral documents (e.g., environmental impact
statements) which are to be filed with any state, federal or other regulatory agency. Nor do
our services include financial advice (including financial advice about the structure of
Obligations) or advice on the investment of funds related to the Obligations.
ATTACHMENT A: Letter of Engagement
Town of Avon
September 5, 2014
Page 3
Representation of the Town
In performing our services, the Town will be our client and an attorney- client
relationship will exist between us. We will represent the interests of the Town rather than the
Town Council or its individual members. We will work closely with the Town's general
counsel and will rely on the opinion of the general counsel with regard to specific matters,
including pending litigation. We assume that other parties to the transaction will retain such
counsel as they deem necessary and appropriate to represent their interests in this transaction.
Conflicts of Interest
Our firm sometimes represents, in other unrelated transactions, certain of the
financial institutions that may be involved in this transaction, such as underwriters, credit
enhancers, and banks. We do not believe that any of these representations will materially
limit or adversely affect our ability to represent the Town in connection with the Obligations,
even though such representations may be characterized as adverse under the Colorado Rules
of Professional Conduct (the "Rules "). In any event, during the term of our engagement
hereunder, we will not accept a representation of any of these parties in any matter in which
the Town is an adverse party. However, pursuant to the Rules, we do ask that you consent to
our representation of such parties in transactions that do not directly or indirectly involve the
Town. Your execution of this letter will signify the Town's prospective consent to such
representations in matters unrelated to the Town while we are serving as bond counsel
hereunder.
Fee Arrangement
Based upon: (i) our current understanding of the terms, structure, size and
schedule of the financing, (ii) the duties we will undertake pursuant to this letter, (iii) the time
we anticipate devoting to the financing, and (iv) the responsibilities we assume, we estimate
that our fee for this engagement will be $50,000. Such fee may vary: (i) if the principal
amount of the Obligations actually issued increases significantly, (ii) if material changes in
the structure of the financing occur, (iii) if unusual or unforeseen circumstances arise which
require a significant increase in our time or our responsibilities or (iv) the Obligations are not
delivered by December 31, 2014. If, at any time, we believe that circumstances require an
adjustment of our original fee estimate, we will consult with you.
Our fees are usually paid at Closing out of proceeds of the Obligations. We
customarily do not submit any statement until the Closing, unless there is a substantial delay
in completing the financing. We understand and agree that our fees will be paid at Closing
out of proceeds. If the financing is not consummated, we understand and agree that we will
not be paid. If, for any reason, the financing is completed without our opinion as bond
counsel, we will expect to be compensated at our normal hourly rates (currently ranging from
ATTACHMENT A: Letter of Engagement
Town of Avon
September 5, 2014
Page 4
$640 to $100 depending on personnel) for time actually spent on your behalf, plus
disbursements.
Termination of Engagement
The Town may terminate our engagement, with or without cause, upon 5 days'
written notice to us. We may terminate this engagement, upon 45 days' written notice to the
Town.
Our fees for this engagement contemplate compensation for usual and
customary services as bond and disclosure counsel as described above. Upon delivery of the
opinion, our responsibilities as bond and disclosure counsel will terminate with respect to this
financing, and our representation of the Town and the attorney - client relationship created by
this engagement letter will be concluded. Specifically, but without implied limitation, we do
not undertake to provide continuing advice to the Town or to any other party to the
transaction. Many post - issuance events may affect the Obligations, the tax- exempt status of
interest on the Obligations, or liabilities of the parties to the transaction. Such subsequent
events might include a change in the project to be financed with proceeds, a failure by one of
the parties to comply with its contractual obligations (e.g., rebate requirements, continuing
disclosure requirements), an IRS audit, an SEC enforcement action, or a change in federal or
state law. Should the Town seek the advice of bond counsel on a post- closing matter or seek
other, additional legal services, we would be happy to discuss the nature and extent of our
separate engagement at that time.
Document Retention
At or within a reasonable period after Closing, we will review the file to
determine what materials should be retained as a record of our representation and those that
are no longer needed. We will provide you with a copy of the customary transcript of
documents after Closing and will return any original documents obtained from you (if a copy
is not included in the transcript). Our document retention policy is attached hereto.
Approval
If the other foregoing terms of this engagement are acceptable to you, please so
indicate by returning a copy of this letter signed by the officer so authorized, keeping a copy
for your files.
ATTACHMENT A: Letter of Engagement
Town of Avon
September 5, 2014
Page 5
We appreciate this opportunity to serve as your bond counsel and disclosure
counsel and look forward to a mutually satisfactory and beneficial relationship.
BUTLER SNOW LLP
By- I V - c'v- -- t---
ACCEPTED AND APPROVED:
TOWN OF AVON
By:
Title: IWA YO
Date: %- 23- /'/
DPW /jw
Enclosure
ATTACHMENT A: Letter of Engagement
Town of Avon
September 5, 2014
Page 6
NOTICE TO CLIENTS OF BUTLER SNOW'S
RECORD RETENTION & DESTRUCTION POLICY FOR CLIENT FILES
Butler Snow maintains its client files electronically. Ordinarily, we do not keep separate
paper files. We will scan documents you or others send to us related to your matter to our
electronic file for that matter and will ordinarily retain only the electronic version while your
matter is pending. Unless you instruct us otherwise, once such documents have been
scanned to our electronic file, we will destroy all paper documents provided to us. If you
send us original documents that need to be maintained as originals while the matter is
pending, we ordinarily will scan those to our client file and return the originals to you for
safekeeping. Alternatively, you may request that we maintain such originals while the matter
is pending. If we agree to do that, we will make appropriate arrangements to maintain those
original documents while the matter is pending.
At all times, records and documents in our possession relating to your representation are
subject to Butler Snow's Record Retention and Destruction Policy for Client Files.
Compliance with this policy is necessary to fulfill the firm's legal and ethical duties and
obligations, and to ensure that information and data relating to you and the legal services we
provide are maintained in strict confidence at all times during and after the engagement. All
client matter files are subject to these policies and procedures.
At your request, at any time during the representation, you may access or receive copies of
any records or documents in our possession relating to the legal services being provided to
you, excluding certain firm business or accounting records. We reserve the right to retain
originals or copies of any such records of documents as needed during the course of the
representation.
Unless you instruct us otherwise, once our work on this matter is completed, we will
designate your file as a closed file on our system and will apply our document retention policy
then in effect to the materials in your closed files. At that time, we ordinarily will return to
you any original documents we have maintained in accordance with the preceding paragraph
while the matter was pending. Otherwise, we will retain the closed file materials for our
benefit and subject to our own policies and procedures concerning file retention and
destruction. Accordingly, if you desire copies of any documents (including correspondence,
e- mails, pleadings, contracts, agreements, etc.) related to this matter or generated while it was
pending, you should request such copies at the time our work on this matter is completed.
You will be notified and given the opportunity to identify and request copies of such items
you would like to have sent to you or someone else designated by you. You will have 30 days
from the date our notification is sent to you to advise us of any items you would like to
receive. You will be billed for the expense of assimilating, copying and transmitting such
ATTACHMENT A: Letter of Engagement
Town of Avon
September 5, 2014
Page 7
records. We reserve the right to retain copies of any such items as we deem appropriate or
necessary for our use. Any non - public information, records or documents retained by Butler
Snow and its employees will be kept confidential in accordance with applicable rules of
professional responsibility.
Any file records and documents or other items not requested within 30 days will become
subject to the terms of Butler Snow's Record Retention and Destruction Policy for Client
Files and will be subject to final disposition by Butler Snow at its sole discretion. Pursuant to
the terms of Butler Snow's Record Retention and Destruction Policy for Client Files, all
unnecessary or extraneous items, records or documents may be removed from the file and
destroyed. The remainder of the file will be prepared for closing and placed in storage or
archived. It will be retained for the period of time established by the policy for files related to
this practice area, after which it will be completely destroyed. This includes all records and
documents, regardless of format.
While we will use our best efforts to maintain confidentiality and security over all file records
and documents placed in storage or archived, to the extent allowed by applicable law, Butler
Snow specifically disclaims any responsibility for claimed damages or liability arising from
damage or destruction to such records and documents, whether caused by accident; natural
disasters such as flood, fire, or wind damage; terrorist attacks; equipment failures; breaches of
Butler Snow's network security; or the negligence of third -party providers engaged by our
firm to store and retrieve records.
22493951 v1