Nye County Water District signs new legal counsel’s contract

Prominent Las Vegas-based law firm Kaempfer Crowell legal firm will represent Nye County Water District in legal matters.

The district’s governing board approved a new contract for the firm on Tuesday. Interim General Manager Oz Wichman said he selected the firm and recommended it to the board.

“The water district needs legal service from time to time. This is what this (contract) is for,” Wichman said.

According to the documents, the firm will assist with general legal services, including litigation services for the district, “on a wide range of water-related items and district operations as required for a political subdivision of the state of Nevada.”

At the meeting in July, members of the board voted to retain services of its retiring legal counsel, George Benesch, on an hourly basis for advice and counsel and to look for and to advertise for a replacement at the same time.

Benesch’s contract was created to help the district to transition to a new firm, officials said.

“I have been looking for someone to replace George,” Wichman said.

According to the contract, NCWD pays Benesch $215 per hour for each hour of legal service provided to NCWD.

Kaempfer Crowell’s standard hourly rate is $395, however it will provide services to Nye County for $300 per hour. The hourly rate for associates is $200. The firm has offices in Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City.

The firm’s fees will not exceed $50,000 for the water district’s fiscal year 2016-2017, according to the documents.

“We will retain George, so he is available to our new law firm, should they need to consult George on anything that he provided to the district since it was created,” Wichman said.

It remains to be seen if Kaempfer Crowell will provide more services to the board than Benesch did, Wichman said.

Benesch has provided legal services for Nye County on matters that involved performance of the professional legal service associated with consultation and evaluation of water-related matters that could impact the water district and other legal services as requested by the water district.

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77