Foxborough select board interviews KP Law's Mark Rich as finalist for town counsel

Foxborough officials interviewed Mark Rich of municipal law firm KP Law on June 2 as a finalist to serve as the town's new town counsel. Rich described KP Law's decades-long municipal practice, a single-point-of-contact model for clients and a billing proposal the firm framed as designed to protect the town's budget.

"KP Law is essentially a municipal firm," Rich said, noting the practice traces to Colman & Page and now represents "about a third of the municipalities in the Commonwealth." He said his approach would make the town's lead attorney the town's single point of contact, with named backups for land-use and other specialties.

The firm's pitch focused on preventing legal problems before they arise: Rich described producing contract and procurement templates, training staff in open-meeting and public-records rules, and drafting defensible decisions for land-use and permitting matters so the town can withstand legal challenges.

"I pride myself on 24/7 access," Rich said, adding that he will be the lead counsel and be available to the town's officials while delegating specialized matters to other firm attorneys as needed.

Board members asked whether KP Law had any conflicts tied to Gillette Stadium or related organizations. Rich said the firm has no relationship with the Kraft organization or the Patriots and that, if a direct conflict arose, he would recommend special counsel. He also confirmed the firm represents nearby towns including Walpole and Medway and described how the firm manages intermunicipal matters.

On police and public-safety work, Rich said KP Law regularly represents chiefs in license-to-carry and appeal matters and helps police and fire departments respond to public-records requests and post-commission issues, which he described as increasingly complex.

Rich discussed zoning strategy and recent statewide questions that affect local bylaws, including MBTA Communities proposals and Dover Amendment issues, and said the firm works closely with planning boards, zoning boards of appeals and town planners to make bylaw changes and permit decisions defensible.

He also described broader municipal trends he follows: changes to public-records and open-meeting laws, opioid-settlement administration (he cited work tied to Chapter 44, ' 53 and how municipalities can expend opioid settlement funds) and litigation around PFAS in public water supplies.

The board raised practical concerns about small, routine questions and budget control. Rich said his standard proposal in the submitted materials lists an hourly rate of $245 with a $10 annual increase in the sample fee schedule, and that he favors hourly billing because it lets towns track costs closely; he said the firm is open to retainer structures and to working with the town to design billing controls.

"We're willing to work on whatever you think is best," he said, adding that the town should decide how to structure access and which services are within any retainer or hourly agreement.

Select Board Chair Stephanie McGaan and members thanked the candidate; the board confirmed it will hold a deliberation and pick a new town counsel at a follow-up meeting next Tuesday. No formal vote was taken during the interview session.

What happens next: the select board will meet next Tuesday to deliberate and choose a town counsel. If KP Law is selected, the town and firm are expected to finalize engagement terms and billing arrangements before an engagement begins.