In this Q&A with The Texas Lawbook, Brad Nitschke discusses the traits he seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working with him and more.
Texas Lawbook: What do you look for in hiring outside counsel?
Brad Nitschke: Like most in-house lawyers, I can issue-spot and go four or five questions deep on just about any topic my client may raise. When I’m hiring outside counsel, it’s almost always because either (a) I need a true subject matter expert to take a deeper dive, or (b) a rapidly evolving matter needs immediate attention with more resources than I can divert from our internal team. After subject matter expertise and availability to jump in quickly, I’m looking for a fair deal for the taxpayers who fund our budget and a professional who operates consistent with Parkland’s values of collaboration and integrity.
Lawbook: What does outside counsel need to know about working with you?
Nitschke: We’re really fortunate to have some exceptional outside lawyers. Those who are our most trusted partners and who hear from us the most (1) give us a plan and stick to it (alerting us when a deviation is needed for a good reason), (2) deliver work product when they say they will, (3) send us timely and accurate invoices, and (4) understand that Parkland’s mission and our status as a public entity make us a different type of client and tailor their advice to take that into account.
Lawbook: How is representing a nonprofit or governmental agency been different from advising for-profit companies?
Nitschke: As a leader in a governmental entity that runs on taxpayer funds, I find myself very focused on the trust the public has placed in us to be good stewards of their resources and our important public mission.
Click here to read the Lawbook profile of Brad Nitschke.