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During the course of our representation, it may be appropriate to hire third parties to provide services on your behalf. These services may include such things as consulting or testifying experts, investigators, providers of computerized litigation support,and court reporters. Because of the legal"work product"protection afforded to services that an attorney requests from third parties,in certain situations our firm may assume responsibility for retaining the appropriate service providers. Even if we do so,however,you will be responsible for paying all fees and expenses directly to the service providers or reimbursing us for these expenses. The firm attempts to achieve efficiencies and savings for its clients when dealing with independent contractors. The firm may be able to obtain a reduced charge from the contractor if the firm provides certain functions,such as billing, collection, equipment, space, facilities, or clerical help. For these administrative and coordination services,the firm may charge an administrative fee,which will be separately disclosed to you. Billing.We bill periodically throughout the engagement for a particular matter,and our periodic statements are due when rendered. If our fees are based primarily on the amount of our time devoted to the matter, our statements will be rendered monthly. In instances in which we represent more than one person with respect to a matter,each person that we represent is jointly and severally liable for our fees and expenses with respect to the representation. Our statements contain a concise summary of each matter for which legal services are rendered and a fee is charged. If a statement remains unpaid for more than 3o days,you will be contacted by an H&K representative inquiring why it is unpaid. Additionally, if a statement has not been paid within 3o days from its date, the firm may impose an interest charge of 1.25 percent per month (a 15 percent annual percentage rate) from the 3oth day after the date of the statement until it is paid in full. Interest charges apply to specific monthly statements on an individual statement basis. Any payments made on past due statements are applied first to the oldest outstanding statement. It is the firm's policy that if an invoice remains unpaid for more than 90 days, absent extraordinary circumstances and subject to legal ethics constraints,H&K's representation will cease,and you hereby authorize us to withdraw from all representation of you. Any unapplied deposits will be applied to outstanding balances. Generally,the firm will not recommence its representation or accept new work from you until your account is brought current and a new deposit for fees and costs,in an amount that the firm determines,is paid to it. In addition,if you do not pay H&K's statements as they become due,the firm may require a substantial partial payment and delivery of an interest-bearing promissory note as part of any arrangement under which it may,in 1 its discretion,agree to continue its representation. Any such promissory note will serve merely as evidence of your obligation,and shall not be regarded as payment. If allowed by applicable law, H&K is entitled to reasonable attorneys'fees and court costs if collection activities are necessary. In addition, H&K shall have all general,possessory,or retaining Iiens,and all special or charging liens,recognized by law. Payment of our fees and costs is not contingent on the ultimate outcome of our representation,unless we have expressly agreed in writing to a contingent fee. Questions About Our Bills. We invite you to discuss freely with us any questions that you have concerning a fee charged for any matter. We want our clients to be satisfied with both the quality of our services and the reasonableness of the fees that we charge for those services. We will attempt to provide as much billing information as you require and in such customary form that you desire, and are willing to discuss with you any of the various billing formats we have available that best suits your needs. Relationships with Other Clients • Because we are a large,full-service law firm with offices located in various cities we may be(and often are)asked to represent a client with respect to interests that are adverse to those of another client who is represented by the firm in connection with another matter. Just as you would not wish to be prevented in an appropriate • situation from retaining a law firm that competes with Holland & Knight LLP, our firm wishes to be able to consider the representation of other persons or entities that may be competitors in your industry or who may have interests that are adverse to yours, but with respect to matters that are unrelated in any way to our representation of you. The ethics that govern us permit us to accept such multiple representations, assuming certain conditions are met,as set forth below. {