New London's RCDA close to signing with new attorneys
New London — The Renaissance City Development Association has tentatively chosen the Hartford law firm of Pullman & Comely for its new legal representation.
The RCDA’s board of directors voted Friday to authorize Executive Director Peter Davis to negotiate terms of a contract with the firm. Pullman & Comely would replace the New London law firm of Waller, Smith & Palmer.
The move to solicit bids for legal representation this summer coincided with a change in jobs for RCDA attorney Karl-Erik Sternlof, who had represented the RCDA in day-to-day legal affairs for Waller, Smith & Palmer. Davis said Sternlof had performed some of those duties pro bono. Attorney Mark Zamarka had worked on the recent settlement in a long-pending lawsuit tying up property in Fort Trumbull.
Sternlof, a former RCDA member, now works for Halloran & Sage. When Sternlof left, Davis said Palmer, Smith & Waller informed the RCDA they were no longer interested in representing the RCDA for general legal affairs.
Davis said four firms expressed interest in representing the RCDA, including Sternlof’s new firm, Halloran & Sage.
Both Attorney Mathew H. Greene, the probate judge for the District of New London and a partner in the law firm Mueller Greene, and attorney Paul Geraghty of the New London firm Geraghty & Bonnano, had expressed interest.
Greene is the former general counsel for RCDA’s predecessor, the New London Development Corporation. Geraghty is a current RCDA member who would have resigned from the board had his firm been chosen, Davis said.
Davis said contract negotiations are ongoing with Pullman & Comely. The firm's attorneys, he said, are well-versed in brownfield grants and redevelopments.
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