Jonathan Needle Email & Phone Number

Drafting Briefs, Motions and Pleadings for Litigation in Federal and State Courts Representing both Public and Private clientsProviding Legal Advice on Corporate Governance and Employment BenefitsOpining on Emergency Services District and Fire Department Legal Requirements and RelationsInvestigating and Responding to EEOC ComplaintsWorking on Civil Rights LitigationSeeking Relief for and Defending Local Government CorporationsRepresenting Cities in Contractual Disputes Advancing Legislative Immunity Defenses for Local LegislatorsPursuing Rights of Plat Revision Applicants to Local Governments

As the organization’s Chief Legal Officer, I have been responsible for management of the legal portion of due diligence for investments and serve as fiduciary counsel, ethics policy writer, and educator on legal subjects. I also supervised the operations of the HFRRF legal department, encompassing review of trust documents for regulatory compliance, relevant Houston ordinances, legal oversight of compliance with benefits requirements and development of fundamental benefit policies and processes. I have also become experienced preparing and presenting legislative initiatives to legislators, legislative staff, regulators and lobbyists.Significant accomplishments include:• Supervised legal victories in prior service litigation involving two lines of cases, which upheld HFRRF eligibility criteria for prior service credit.• Secured HFRRF governmental status and rights through litigation and legislative strategy, and kept the City of Houston from intervening in future HFRRF administrative determinations.• Identified and helped secure $1.18 million dollars of otherwise unrecovered contributions based on my detection of a calculations omission during the final phase of a federal EMS overtime case. • Pinpointed dispositive defensive case law, while providing key defensive materials and guidance during a Harris County District Attorney investigation.• Integral participant in winning efforts to defeat a City of Houston suit against the HFRRF board to require release of detailed member personal financial information identifiable with particular members.• Drafted HFRRF’s proposed legislation in three key legislative sessions in collaboration with Texas Legislative Counsel.• Revitalized and co-led HFRRF efforts to make lump sum distributions for public safety employees over age 50 free of Internal Revenue Code 10% penalty on early distributions, saving included employees millions of dollars in tax penalties, and had part of my own draft language adopted into Code.

Austin, Tx, Us

As the Deputy and prior to that, Associate General Counsel, I provided advice for political subdivisions on matters related to local compliance with laws and regulations. Other duties include managing various legal projects, and drafting by-laws, inter-local agreements, and other corporate and governmental documents for TAC and its affiliates. I also oversaw handling various claims against counties, developed policies and endorsements for multiple programs of insurance coverage for counties and their employees, provided support to field staff, presented numerous educational programs to board members and officials, and provided amicus curiae briefs to appellate courts on governmental issues. Below are some sample functions of the positions:• Corporate/ Governmental Counsel: - Assisted county officials and personnel extensively on compliance with laws and regulations;- Supervised various projects in legal department and inter-departmentally;- Presented various matters to boards of trustees at board meetings; - Developed board and committee materials and review of draft minutes;• Insurance Coverage and Claims: - Developed governmental entity policy body provisions and endorsements for multiple programs of insurance coverage and benefits; - Performed coverage analyses for various lines of coverage;- Drafted reservations of rights letters and denial of coverage letters;- Coordinated and reviewed handling of hundreds of claims against counties and districts;- Selected appropriate defense counsel matched to third party claims;- Actively participated in settlement negotiation and mediations.• Assisted Local Officials, Briefing, Writing and Education:- Conducted extensive, daily contact and problem solving with Texas officials on a statewide basis;- Presented numerous educational programs to board members, managers and public officials;- Provided amicus curiae briefs to appellate courts on governmental issues.

• Water Law and Intergovernmental Negotiation. • Utility Rate Case Trials and Regulatory Matters in Utility Areas. • General Appellate and Administrative Law.

• Researching and drafting opinion and dissents to assist supervising appellate Justice. • Producing legal memoranda for panels of three Justices.• Checking parties' briefs for accuracy and quality of argument.

• Writing motions and briefs in defense of state and local officials in federal and state courts.• Drafting responses to writ of mandamus suits against state and local officials.• Researching responses to legal questions from local officials.

Juris Doctor, Law

Master'S Degree

Bachelor'S Degree, Magna Cum Laude