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Palau has hired a new legal counsel to represent the Republic on Compact Review matters. Attorney Michael Chanin of Brian Cove LLP, one of the most expensive law firms in the U.S. has been contracted to work with Palau’s Compact Review Team.
Given Palau’s current financial affairs, the contract was questioned prompting the Press office to confirm and reiterate the President’s commitment in reducing expenses. The Press Office told OTV that with Chanin’s contract “the Republic has actually reduced the costs of its COFA legal counsel services.” The Press Office further revealed that the government was “spending nearly double per month on Compact counsel for the services of Independent legal counsel Jeffrey Farrow and other legal advisors” compared to the government’s current costs of one attorney.
The Press Office says they could not reveal the exact amount the government was spending for legal counsel services for Farrow and now for Chanin due to the confidentially clause of their contracts, but sources indicate Chanin is getting paid the same rate as Farrow.
Chanin will be assisting the Republic in lobbying for the Compact with the U.S. House and Senate members. The Press Office disclosed that, “the Office of the President is confident that it has secured sound representation at a reasonable cost.”