Board terminates county attorney contract and engages Kaufman & Canoles

The King William County Board of Supervisors voted on June 13 to terminate the county's contract with Markform Legal Services PLLC and to enter into a new contract with the law firm Kaufman & Canoles to provide county-attorney services through Oct. 1 on terms the board was told are the same as the previous arrangement.

Chair Catlin said the board had terminated its relationship with the prior county attorney and recommended contracting with Kaufman & Canoles. Dustin Devore, managing partner of the firm's Williamsburg office, told supervisors the firm has about 100 attorneys across multiple offices and that "the contract that we've agreed to is the exact same contract that your previous attorney had." He said the firm would charge the county the same rate as the prior counsel through Oct. 1 to provide continuity while the county adjusts.

The board moved and seconded the motion to enter into the contract with Kaufman & Canoles and approved it by roll call; multiple members indicated "Aye." The firm was presented to the board in the meeting room and offered to answer members' questions; no additional conditions were recorded.

What happens next: Kaufman & Canoles will assume county-attorney responsibilities under the contracted terms through Oct. 1. The board did not record additional negotiated changes to the contract in the meeting minutes; staff or legal will need to supply the executed contract for public records and to confirm any billing or scope clarifications.