| Advisory opinion request from former Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) Executive Counsel, Danielle Aymond, regarding post-employment restrictions following the termination of her employment with GOHSEP. |
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Ms. Aymond stated that she served as Executive Counsel for GOHSEP from March 2016 until October 31, 2018. As Executive Counsel, she managed the Appeals and Legal Services Sections. She stated that her main duties included supervising legal staff and providing legal advice to the Director and other executive level staff of GOHSEP. She stated that all arbitrations are submitted directly to FEMA's Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, and GOHSEP does not participate in the arbitration process. She provided that she has not represented any clients in arbitration proceedings and did not attend any arbitration proceedings during her employment with GOHSEP.
Ms. Aymond stated that on November 1, 2018, she became employed as "of Counsel" for the Baker Donelson Law Firm. As "of Counsel" with Baker Donelson, she intends to provide legal advice to clients in federal disaster response and recovery, including grant management, grant procurement and compliance, governmental contracting, and public policy. She intends to represent clients inside and outside of Louisiana, including local governments, private non-profits, and private contractors to support grant eligibility and federal procurement compliance. The legal activities will include writing appeals, representing clients in arbitration, and providing legal advice as requested. All allocations for grant funding will go directly to FEMA or the particular department of the federal government from which the client seeks a grant. Currently, she is only working on matters outside of the State of Louisiana until this opinion is rendered. Further, she will only provide services to clients with new issues that she did not participate in during her public service at GOHSEP. She will not contract with GOHSEP for at least two years and that Baker Donelson has no contracts with GOHSEP.
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La. R.S. 42:1121A No former agency head shall, for a period of two years following the termination of his public service as the head of such agency, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction involving that agency or render any service on a contractual basis to or for or such agency.
La. R.S. 42:1121B No former public employee shall, for a period of two years following the termination of her public employment, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction in which she participated at any time during her public employment and involving her former governmental entity, by which she was formerly employed, or for a period of two years following termination of her public employment, from rendering any service which she had rendered to the agency during the term of her public employment on a contractual basis, regardless of the parties to the contract, to, for, or on behalf of her former agency.
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Adopt draft advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Suzanne Mooney |
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