📄 Extracted Text (2,351 words)
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212 506 3955 Steptoe JOHNSON LLP
1114 Avenue of the Americas
New York. NY 10036
June 28, 2016
BY E-MAIL
Mr. Jeffrey E. Epstein
do Mr. Dan-en K. Indyke, Esq.
Darren K. Indyke, PLLC
575 Lexington Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Dear Mr. Epstein:
This letter and the attached General Terms and Conditions of Engagement set
forth the basis for the engagement of Steptoe & Johnson LLP ("Steptoe") to represent
you ("You") in connection with a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court,
Southern District of New York, captioned Jane Doe v. Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey E.
Epstein, No. 1:16-cv-04642-RA (SDNY), filed on June 20, 2016.
The terms and conditions that govern this engagement and the services we will
provide are described in detail in the attachment to this letter. You should review these
materials and let me know immediately if you have any questions. After reviewing
them, please countersign this letter and return a fully executed copy to me. However, if
You ask us to perform work on your behalf prior to returning the countersigned letter
and we commence such work at Your request, that will constitute acceptance of these
terms and conditions of engagement.
I want to draw your attention in particular to several important terms and
conditions for our engagement. A number of these points are explained at greater
length in the attachment, which is an integral part of this letter.
First, this engagement establishes an attorney-client relationship solely with You
and not with any other individual or affiliated or associated entity. We accordingly apply
ethics rules relating to conflicts of it ,J•tcst only with respect to You.
Second, the scope of our engagement is limited to the specific matter described
above; while we would be pleased to discuss potential engagements on other matters,
any new or extended engagement will require our mutual agreement in writing.
Third, we charge hourly rates for services rendered and require reimbursement
for costs. Reid Weingarten's hourly rate is $1,045, my hourly rate is $825, and Michael
EFTA00621929
Mr. Jeffrey E. Epstein
June 28, 2016
Steptoe
Sig PIO. • JOANSON It.
Page 2
Scavelli's hourly rate is $730. Other individuals who cannot be identified at this time
also may be involved in the representation as necessary. We will bill you on a monthly
basis and expect prompt payment dither via mail or through electronic fund transfer
using the following wire instructions:
Bank: Wells Fargo Bank■., Washington, DC
Domestic Wire Transfers: ABA#:
Domestic ACH Transacti
Beneficiary's Account #:
Swift Code --
CHIPS --
Beneficiary's Name: Steptoe sit Johnson LLP
Fourth, the attorney-client relationship created by this engagement is terminated
when our services are completed, and in any event when we send You our final
statement for services rendered in this matter.
Fifth, as detailed in the Conflicts and Waiver paragraph of the attachment, we
require a forward-looking waiver permitting Steptoe to represent current or future clients
in matters adverse to You on matters that are not substantially related to the subject of
this representation.
Finally, this letter and the attachment set forth the agreed specific terms of our
engagement; these terms can be modified only by written agreement between the
individual signatories below expressly stating that this specific engagement letter is
being changed.
Please sign and retum a copy of this letter to me as explained above.
Sincerely yours,
4/444,-(cgm&
Michael C. Miller
EFTA00621930
STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENGAGEMENT
AS OF MAY 1, 2015
1. Client•. The client in this representation—and the only party with which
Steptoe & Johnson LLP ("Steptoe") is establishing an attorney-client relationship—Is the
specific entity identified in the first paragraph of the engagement letter to which this is
attached (the "Client"). Steptoe has not been asked, and is not agreeing, to represent or
establish an attorney-client relationship with any other entity, such as a parent, subsidiary,
affiliate, member, owner or other affiliate or associate of the Client. Steptoe is applying
ethics rules relating to conflicts of interest only with respect to the Client.
2. Scope of Representation: The subject matter and scope of this
representation is limited to the specific matter described in the first paragraph of the
engagement letter to which this is attached. Any further work will require our mutual
agreement reflected in writing.
3. Term of Engagement: Either Steptoe or the Client may terminate this
engagement at any time for any reason, subject on Steptoe's part only to applicable rules of
professional conduct. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate work on behalf of a
client that does not pay our statements within 30 days after they are rendered. In the event
of any termination or withdrawal initiated by the Client, Steptoe will be entitled to receive
any unpaid fees and expenses through the date of withdrawal on the basis set forth above.
In the event of a termination or withdrawn! initiated by Steptoe, Steptoe will provide at its
cost reasonable services to transition the engagement to subsequent counsel engaged by
the Client. The attorney-client relationship created by this letter terminates when the
services sought by the Client have been completed, and shall in any event terminate upon
Steptoe sending you its final statement for services rendered in the matter, which date shall
not be extended because of subsequent statements sent with respect to unpaid balances or
because of activities associated with the collection of unpaid balances.
4. Hourly Fees: Steptoe will charge hourly rates for services rendered. Hourly
rates are reviewed annually, typically in January, and may be revised based on that review.
If rates are adjusted, the new rates will be reflected in the first billing statement we provide
after the date of the change.
5. Expenses: Steptoe will charge the Client for various services and expenses,
such as duplication, travel and the like. Expenses for services that are furnished using
Steptoe resources (or for contractors that use Steptoe office space, equipment, services or
facilities) are billed at a rate that covers direct costs plus an allocation of indirect costs that
we believe to be fairly related to the service involved. For legal or factual research using
third-party computer databases, most vendors (including LexisNexis and Westlaw) provide
us with rate schedules listing suggested per-search and other charges. Steptoe will charge
of
the Client for use of those databases at the vendor's scheduled rates because allocations
total costs for these databases Gann-, made consistently on a month-by-month basis
due to variable usage; however, Steptoe will not pass on any vendor charges for printing
from these databases. Where services are provided entirely by an outside vendor for a
specified amount (e.g., consultants' fees, graphics, court reporters, filing fees) and do not
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involve the use of firm facilities or otheriresources, we charge clients only the amount
charged by the outside vendor, without any markup. Unless special arrangements are
made at the outset, any significant fees and expenses of others supplying services in
connection with this representation (such as experts, expert witnesses, investigators,
consultants and court reporters) will be billed to the Client for payment directly to the billing
entity, and Steptoe will have no responsibility for paying those fees or expenses.
6. Taxes: Some jurisdictions impose charges denominated as sales, use,
excise, business, value added or other taxes, tariffs or duties on amounts billed to clients.
The amount of any such charges (excluding taxes based on Steptoe's net income or on the
wages, salaries or benefits paid to its personnel) will be included in our statements and will
be the Client's responsibility. Our fees are net of any withholding or similar tax imposed by
the jurisdiction in which the Client resides. If any amount is withheld for such taxes in such
jurisdiction, the Client must gross up the amount to be paid to Steptoe so that the net
amount paid to Steptoe is the amount due on our statement.
7. Billing: Steptoe will send statements to the Client on a monthly basis
covering fees and expenses for the prior month. We expect the Client to pay our
statements promptly and in any event within 30 days after they are received. Where
applicable and at the Client's election, the New York State Fee Dispute Resolution Program
and New York Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.5(0 require arbitration of fee disputes
in civil representations where the amount in dispute is between $1,000 and $50,000, to be
conducted pursuant to Part 137 of the Rules of the Chief Administrator of the New York
State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 22 NYCRR Pt 137.
8. Retainer. If a retainer is required, it will be applied against fees and charges
during the representation, with any amount not applied to such fees and charges to be
refunded at the completion of the representation. Applicable bar rules provide that fees and
expenses paid in advance of the performance of legal services are to be treated as the
property of the client and must be deposited into a client trust account unless the attorney
and client agree otherwise. By signing this engagement letter, the Client acknowledges the
receipt of the foregoing information and agrees that any advance payment of legal fees and
expenses related to this representation shall be treated as the property of Steptoe upon
receipt. The Client also agrees that any such advance payment of legal fees or expenses
shall be deposited in Steptoe's general operating account to be drawn upon as legal
services are performed and expenses incurred. Steptoe will refund any portion of the
advance payment that exceeds the total of Steptoe's legal fees and expenses incurred in
the representation upon the terminathi, c. f the representation.
9. Conflicts and Waiver. Steptoe represents companies and individuals
throughout the United States and internationally, who may have matters in conflict with the
Client or one or more of its affiliates. We are undertaking to represent the Client in this
matter on the basis of the Client's agreement that during this representation or any future
representations that are initiated without a new or amended engagement letter,'Steptoe will
not be precluded from representing other clients, including, but not limited to, any current or
future Steptoe clients who are adverse to the Client or any related entities, in matters not
substantially related to the subject of this representation, including representations in
negotiations, regulatory matters, litigation, the providing of advice or opinions, ADR
proceedings of various kinds or other matters. By retaining Steptoe for this representation,
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the Client agrees that it waives any such conflict and will not seek to have Steptoe
disqualified as counsel to another client in the event of such adverse matters.
10. Confidentiality: Our ethical obligations as lawyers impose stringent rules
about protecting the confidentiality of client information, including not only privileged
material but other material we obtain during our representation of the Client that is of a
confidential nature or that the Client would not want to see disclosed other than with its
approval. The conflicts waiver discussed above in no way relieves us of our obligation to
protect such information.
11. Our Own Use of Counsel: The Client agrees that Steptoe may seek legal
advice from internal or external counsel concerning this representation, waives any claim of
conflict based on those consultations or related communications, even if adverse to the
Client's interests, and acknowledges thalsuch communications are protected by Steptoe's
own attorney-client privilege from disclosure to the Client.
12. Retention of Records: We will keep the essential records relating to our work
for the Client for ten (10) years after we complete our engagement, with the exception of
certain kinds of legal instruments that we are required to retain for longer periods of time. If
the Client wishes to have such materials retained for a longer time, we can make
arrangements to store them for limited periods at the Client's expense and will be glad to
furnish information on the cost of doing so. Portions of our records are viewed as client
records and the Client may ask at any time to receive copies of these records, which will be
made at the Client's expense. If there are large volumes of such materials, we may
contract to have the copies made by a contractor retained by us under contract conditions
that impose obligations on the contractor personnel to recognize and honor the confidential
nature of the materials. In referring to records, we include electronic and "hard copy
records.
13. Electronic Communicabonc: Notwithstanding our efforts, modern modes of
business communication, including email, mobile telephones and telecopiers, cannot be
secured completely to prevent unauthorized access, and therefore involve some risk of
disclosure and potential loss of attorney-client privilege. Unless the Client specifically
objects to use of those modes of communication, it agrees to accept those risks.
14. Definitive Agreement: These Terms and Conditions, together with the
engagement letter to which they are attached, set forth the agreed specific terms of our
engagement. Those agreed specific terms supersede and survive any inconsistent items
that may be contained in "outside counsel guidelines" sent to us by the Client or generic
provisions that we are required to 'accept' in order to use any electronic billing system for
the Client. These terms can be modified only by a written agreement between the individual
signatories to the attached engagement letter expressly stating that terms of this specific
engagement letter are being changed.
15. Counterparts: The engagement letter to which these Terms and Conditions
are attached may be executed in two or more counterparts or by facsimile/PDF signature
(or both), each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all of which will constitute one
and the same agreement.
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16. Choice of Law/Jurisdiction: These Terms and Conditions, and with the
engagement letter to which they are attached shall be governed by, construed in
accordance with, and enforced pursuant to the laws of the District of Columbia without
regard to principles of conflict of laws. The Client hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the
District of Columbia, in connection with any suit, action, or other legal proceeding arising out
of this Agreement.
EFTA00621934
ℹ️ Document Details
SHA-256
656ca955a6d0640c34248dbeb5b1535500109688d9a82f895b5f3de07ea1932d
Bates Number
EFTA00621929
Dataset
DataSet-9
Document Type
document
Pages
6
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