Appendices
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- Electronic Billing / Timekeeping
- Legal Services
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Delegations of Authority
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Litigation & Resolutions
Branch
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Corporate Operations Branch
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Supervision Branch
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Consumer & Legislation
Branch
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Conflicts of Interest
2.1 Legal Division Conflicts Policies and Procedures
FDIC policies and procedures governing Outside Counsel conflicts of
interest are found in the "Statement of Policies Concerning
Outside Counsel Conflicts of Interest" and "Outside Counsel
Conflicts of Interest Procedures" (collectively, "Conflicts
Policies and Procedures"). You should refer to the
Conflicts Policies and Procedures, as they may be amended, for
specific guidance on conflicts of interest.
2.2 FDIC Regulations and Policies
There are also specific reporting requirements contained in the
regulations at
12 C.F.R. Part 366, as amended or superseded. These regulations prescribe minimum standards of
fitness and integrity for Outside Counsel and any employees, agents,
or subcontractors (such as experts or consultants) who are used to
provide professional services on FDIC matters. See also
FDIC Form
5200/01 for representations and certifications required by the FDIC in
accordance with 12 C.F.R. Part 366.
In addition, you should be cognizant of the requirements of the
“Statement of Policy on Contracting with Firms that Have Unresolved
Audit Issues with FDIC”, which specifies that Outside Counsel
may be deemed to have a conflict of interest as a result of
unresolved audit issues with the FDIC.
2.3 Rules of the Legal Profession
You must also observe applicable state bar rules of professional
responsibility with respect to conflicts of interest and
confidentiality, and the
American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct
to the extent that these are not contrary to applicable state bar
rules.
2.4 Required Disclosures
In general, Outside Counsel must disclose, in writing to the Legal
Division, information concerning actual or potential conflicts of
interest and matters that may present the appearance of a conflict.
Disclosure should be made to the conflicts coordinator in the office
or section that is responsible for overseeing your Legal Services
Agreement. Refer to
Chapter 3.
Required disclosures include but are not limited to the following:
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Whether your firm currently represents any interest adverse to the FDIC in any
of its capacities or a subsidiary of a failed insured depository
institution.
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Whether your firm previously represented an open insured depository institution
that subsequently failed or previously represented any interest
adverse to such an institution.
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Whether there exists an actual or potential conflict or the appearance of a
conflict of interest between your firm and the:
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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
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Office of the Comptroller of the Currency;
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National Credit Union Administration;
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Office of Thrift Supervision; or
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Department of Justice (on matters involving failed insured depository
institutions or their directors, officers or related third
parties).
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Whether your firm or any attorney of your firm currently has any outstanding
debt, whether performing or in default, owed to any failed insured
depository institution.
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Whether any attorney of your firm has served or serves as an officer, director
or substantial shareholder of any insured depository institution.
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Whether any attorney of your firm has served or serves as a trustee in
bankruptcy or as a receiver in any federal or state court or
administrative proceeding.
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Whether your firm has represented or represents a debtor-in-possession, trustee
in bankruptcy, or a receiver in a proceeding in which the FDIC in
any of its capacities has an interest as a creditor or otherwise.
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Whether your firm represents a creditor in a bankruptcy, receivership, or other
litigation proceeding where the FDIC in any of its capacities has
asserted claims against the same debtor in either the same or an
unrelated proceeding.
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Whether your firm represents any insurance carrier or any stockholder or class
of stockholders in an action against a director or officer of an
insured depository institution.
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Whether your firm represents any insured depository institution in regulatory
matters or assistance transactions.
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Whether your firm represents a prospective bidder for a troubled or failed
institution or the assets of such an institution.
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Whether your firm represents any officer, director, debtor, creditor, or
stockholder of any failed or assisted insured depository
institution in a matter relating to the FDIC in any of its
capacities.
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Whether any attorney of your firm is closely related to any person employed by
the FDIC, is in litigation with the FDIC in any of its capacities,
has outstanding debt owed to any failed depository institution or
an ownership interest in such an institution. This includes
spouse, dependent child or member of the immediate household.
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Whether your firm or any attorney of your firm has been or is currently subject
to any prior or pending claims or investigations by the FDIC in
any of its capacities.
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Whether your firm or any management official of your firm has been charged with
the commission of a felony or is currently a party to an
administrative or judicial proceeding in which fraudulent activity
is alleged.
2.5 Duty to Disclose at Application and Thereafter
At the time of application, the Legal Division requires that you
disclose all actual or potential conflicts of interest and matters
that may present the appearance of a conflict. You are also required
at the time of application to comply with the requirements of 12
C.F.R. Part 366. Information about your system for tracking
conflicts and your policy regarding the resolution of conflicts must
also be provided.
After application, you must disclose in writing all actual or
potential conflicts and matters that may present the appearance of a
conflict to the Legal Division as soon as you learn of their
existence. When in doubt about the existence of a conflict, you
should nevertheless disclose the matter and seek a waiver. Even
after a conflict has been reported or a waiver granted, you must
notify the Legal Division of any material change in facts.
2.6 Conflict Determination
It is solely within the discretion of the Legal Division to determine
whether an actual or potential conflict exists. Moreover, even the
appearance of a conflict may result in the denial of a waiver or
imposition of other corrective actions.
Conflicts of interest may only be waived by the Legal Division in
writing. Generally, requests for waivers of conflicts of interest
are granted or denied on behalf of the FDIC by the FDIC Outside
Counsel Conflicts Committee in Washington, D.C.
Requests for waivers are considered only on a case-by-case basis.
Conflict of Interest for Waiver Request Process:
1. Written request for waiver of conflict from law firm to Legal
Services Group Washington, D.C.
2. Legal Services Group contacts oversight attorney(s) who make(s) a recommendation.
3. Legal Services Group submits the request and recommendation for requisite
Legal Division approval.
4. Legal Services Group submits the request to the Conflicts Committee.
5. Conflicts Committee makes determination.
6. Legal Services Group notifies outside counsel and FDIC LSA Office of Committee’s decision.
2.7 Noncompliance
Failure to disclose promptly actual or potential conflicts of
interest, or matters that may present the appearance of a conflict,
as well as failure to comply with FDIC’s conflicts of interest
policies and procedures, may result in the following:
- Imposition of a bar to application; &
- Termination of your legal services;
- Suspension of new referrals;
- Disallowance in whole or in part of fee bill(s) for services rendered;
- Denial of a conflict waiver; or
- Other corrective actions, including referral to the appropriate state
licensing authorities or civil or criminal actions.
You are not permitted to go forward with a representation adverse to
the FDIC until the conflict has been waived or the situation
otherwise resolved to the satisfaction of the Legal Division.
In the event your legal services are terminated, you must follow FDIC
policies and procedures, return all files, and otherwise cooperate
fully in the orderly transfer of matters as the Legal Division
directs.
2.8 FDIC as Former Client
You have the continuing responsibility to report in writing any
actual or potential conflict of interest or appearance of a
conflict, regardless of whether you are representing the FDIC on
active matters at the time of discovery.
Note that in the event you no longer represent the FDIC, you may not
without a waiver later represent another client against the FDIC in
a matter substantially related to any matter in which you previously
represented the FDIC.
You are also expected to observe all requirements of attorney-client
confidentiality after the conclusion of any FDIC representation.
Refer to
Chapter 9.
2.9 Questions Concerning Conflicts
For information, contact the Legal Services Group in Washington,
D.C., at (877) 275-3342.
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