Simpson Thacher to Get $300,000 From Treasury Department for Bailout Work

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett will make $300,000 over the next six months for its work as the Treasury Department's lead adviser on the feds' bailout plan, according to a contract released by the department. In its pitch, Simpson told Treasury the firm could do the work in about 40 percent fewer hours than the 6,267 the Treasury Department anticipated in its solicitation letters, according to the contract.

Zach Lowe

The American Lawyer

2008-10-20 12:00:00 AM

The Treasury Department has released its contract with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. It turns out the firm will make $300,000 over the next six months for its work as Treasury's lead adviser in the bailout. (A link to download the full contract is below).

As The American Lawyer has previously reported, Treasury reached out to six law firms, requesting proposals for the work. Four declined: Davis, Polk & Wardwell, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, and a mystery firm. Lawyers at those firms have said they turned down the work because they were not sure they could represent the Treasury Department and their major banking clients at the same time. Simpson chair Richard Beattie said his firm will continue to represent its banking clients, including JPMorgan Chase, and that Treasury did not pressure them to drop any clients.

Simpson and an unidentified firm submitted proposals; Treasury chose Simpson for the job.

(The Treasury Department has not responded to several requests from The American Lawyer for copies of the letters the department sent to the six firms, as well as the letter sent to the firm it ultimately rejected.)

In its pitch, Simpson told Treasury they could do the work in 3,760 hours -- about 40 percent fewer hours than the 6,267 the department anticipated in its solicitation letters, according to the contract.

The hours break down like this: 564 for partners, 1,692 for associates, 376 for of counsel and 1,128 for legal assistants. Treasury helpfully blacked out the hourly rate each group will earn. But the overall rate breaks down to $79 per hour -- a pretty decent deal. (Of course, the hourly rate for attorneys will be much higher once the legal assistants are taken out of the equation). The contract leaves the door open for more work should Simpson reach the 3,760 hour threshold.

Under the deal, Simpson will help with the "formulation of equity participation documentation including, but not limited to, co-investment accompanying private sector investment, shelf facilities for government investment without private sector investment, warrants or senior notes accompanying mortgage-backed securities or whole loan purchases, and other direct investments."

The contract lists the following Simpson partners as the go-to personnel: Lee Meyerson, David Eisenberg, William Dougherty, Sean Rodgers, Brian Steinhardt and Gary Rice.

Meyerson and Simpson spokesperson Susan Bussy did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the contract.

Download the contract.

This article first appeared on The Am Law Daily blog on AmericanLawyer.com.