FR EA
1040-00001 · Kessler & Montague LLP · Outside Counsel Guidelines
rate-schedule-and-budget.xlsx DOCUMENT M&A / Corporate
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Contract analysis Extract to table

[sheet: Rate Schedule]

TimekeeperRolePractice GroupOfficeBar AdmissionsYear / Level2026 Standard Rate ($/hr)WET OGG Rate Cap ($/hr)Negotiated Rate ($/hr)Discount Amount ($/hr)Discount Percentage (%)Estimated Hours Allocation (%)Weighted Rate Contribution ($/hr)
Client: Wyndmere Education TrustClient No.: C-88214Matter No.: 1040-00001Engagement Effective Date: February 10, 2026Prepared by: Joel StraussDate Prepared: February 18, 2026Reference: WET Outside Counsel Guidelines & Billing Policies, v.4.2 (effective July 1, 2025)OGG Partner Rate Cap: $725/hrOGG Associate Rate Cap: $450/hrFee Arrangement: Hourly at negotiated ratesPayment Terms: Net 30 daysInitial Retainer: $25,000 (applied against final invoice)Governing Law: Delaware
Miriam CallowayResponsible PartnerHealthcare & Life SciencesPhiladelphiaDelaware, PennsylvaniaPartner$895.00$725.00$710.00$185.0020.7%10%$71.00
Joel StraussBilling PartnerHealthcare & Life SciencesPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaPartner$850.00$725.00$710.00$140.0016.5%10%$71.00
Nadia PetrovLead AssociateLabor & EmploymentPhiladelphiaPennsylvania, New Jersey5th Year Associate$525.00$450.00$440.00$85.0016.2%45%$198.00
James UnderwoodWorking AssociateLabor & EmploymentWilmingtonDelaware3rd Year Associate$415.00$450.00$390.00$25.006.0%35%$136.50
TOTALS / BLENDED EFFECTIVE RATE100%$476.50

Note: All rates subject to WET OGG v.4.2 rate caps. Addition of any new timekeeper requires prior written approval from Priya Anand-Desai, General Counsel, Wyndmere Education Trust.

[sheet: Year 1 Fee Budget]

Workstream / PhaseDescriptionEstimated Hours — LowEstimated Hours — HighBlended Rate ($/hr)Estimated Fees — Low ($)Estimated Fees — High ($)Notes
Client: Wyndmere Education TrustMatter No.: 1040-00001Budget Period: February 10, 2026 through February 9, 2027 (Year 1)WET Annual Operating Budget (FY2025): $112.4MApproved Budget: $350,000 NTE
Advisory PhaseMulti-state employment law compliance advisory (DE, PA, NJ); WARN Act analysis and state-law equivalents; faculty restructuring plan counseling157210$476.50$75,000$100,00028 positions in DE, 11 in PA, 8 in NJ (47 FTE total); enrollment decline from 9,100 to 8,400 (7.7%); projected $4.8M FY2027 deficit
Litigation Phase — PERB DefenseDefense of ULP charge filed by Veltrano Federation of Educators, Local 1147 (Case No. PERB-2026-ULP-0041); answer due March 10, 2026; Delaware Public School Employment Relations Act, 14 Del. C. § 4001 et seq.210315$476.50$100,000$150,000~340 unionized educators across 5 WET charter schools in DE; union counsel: Feinberg, Adler & Ross LLP (Rachel Feinberg)
Litigation Phase — Individual Claims DefenseAnticipated wrongful-termination claims from affected faculty; 2 demand letters received (Jan 22 and Jan 29, 2026); up to 8 former faculty members identified as potential claimants210263$476.50$100,000$125,000Potential EPLI coverage under Pinnacle Risk Underwriters Policy PRU-EPLI-2025-44872 ($5M/claim, $10M aggregate, $150K retention); may require coordination with carrier-appointed panel counsel
TOTAL — YEAR 1577788$476.50$275,000$375,000Not to exceed $350,000 without written approval from Priya Anand-Desai, WET General Counsel; quarterly budget-to-actual reports to be delivered within 15 business days of quarter-end

Note: Estimates based on blended effective rate of $476.50/hr. Actual fees will be billed at individual negotiated rates per the Rate Schedule tab. Budget does not include reimbursable expenses (travel capped at coach airfare and $225/night lodging per WET OGG v.4.2). Retainer of $25,000 to be applied against final invoice.

[sheet: Quarterly Budget Tracker]

QuarterQuarter PeriodWorkstreamBudgeted Fees — Low ($)Budgeted Fees — High ($)Actual Fees Billed ($)Actual Hours BilledVariance to Budget — Low ($)Variance to Budget — High ($)Cumulative Actual Fees YTD ($)Cumulative Budget Consumed (%)Report Due DateStatus / Notes
Client: Wyndmere Education TrustMatter No.: 1040-00001Client No.: C-88214Billing Partner: Joel StraussYear 1 Approved Budget: $350,000 NTEBilling Format: LEDES 1998BInvoice Submission Deadline: Within 30 days of month-end (per WET OGG v.4.2)Budget-to-Actual Report Delivery: Within 15 business days of quarter-endRetainer Balance: $25,000 (applied against final invoice)
Q1Feb 10 – Apr 30, 2026Advisory Phase$18,750$25,000May 20, 2026
Q1Feb 10 – Apr 30, 2026Litigation — PERB Defense$25,000$37,500May 20, 2026PERB answer due March 10, 2026
Q1Feb 10 – Apr 30, 2026Litigation — Individual Claims$25,000$31,250May 20, 2026
Q1 SUBTOTALFeb 10 – Apr 30, 2026All Workstreams$68,750$93,750May 20, 2026
Q2May 1 – Jul 31, 2026Advisory Phase$18,750$25,000Aug 20, 2026
Q2May 1 – Jul 31, 2026Litigation — PERB Defense$25,000$37,500Aug 20, 2026Pinnacle EPLI policy period ends June 30, 2026
Q2May 1 – Jul 31, 2026Litigation — Individual Claims$25,000$31,250Aug 20, 2026
Q2 SUBTOTALMay 1 – Jul 31, 2026All Workstreams$68,750$93,750Aug 20, 2026
Q3Aug 1 – Oct 31, 2026Advisory Phase$18,750$25,000Nov 20, 2026
Q3Aug 1 – Oct 31, 2026Litigation — PERB Defense$25,000$37,500Nov 20, 2026
Q3Aug 1 – Oct 31, 2026Litigation — Individual Claims$25,000$31,250Nov 20, 2026
Q3 SUBTOTALAug 1 – Oct 31, 2026All Workstreams$68,750$93,750Nov 20, 2026
Q4Nov 1, 2026 – Feb 9, 2027Advisory Phase$18,750$25,000Feb 27, 2027
Q4Nov 1, 2026 – Feb 9, 2027Litigation — PERB Defense$25,000$37,500Feb 27, 2027
Q4Nov 1, 2026 – Feb 9, 2027Litigation — Individual Claims$25,000$31,250Feb 27, 2027
Q4 SUBTOTALNov 1, 2026 – Feb 9, 2027All Workstreams$68,750$93,750Feb 27, 2027
YEAR 1 TOTALFeb 10, 2026 – Feb 9, 2027All Workstreams$275,000$375,000NTE $350,000 per engagement letter

Note: Exceeding $350,000 Year 1 budget requires prior written approval from Priya Anand-Desai, General Counsel, Wyndmere Education Trust. Semi-annual diversity staffing reports also due per WET OGG v.4.2.