How to handle this professionally?

[Deleted]

I've been working on a project for YEARS. Building a relationship with the various stakeholders, applying for grants and coordinating public outreach and publicity. Literally like 4 years.

I finally got the necessary grant/ private fundraising in July of last year. It was a major coup and i was so excited. With my anticipated maternity leave in mind, I hustled to coordinate hiring the consultant and getting the contracts arranged before my November 4 due date. I sent the contract, which mind you was only 4 pages, to my organization's attorney on October 2. When I hadn't heard back from him by late October I handed the final contract approvals off to a coworker for completion.

Well. The attorney emailed me edits of the contract last week on January 17! THREE AND A HALF MONTHS after I initially sent it to him. Nothing was accomplished when I was on maternity leave. This was one of only two projects I handed off.

The contractor wants to make minor change to three sentences. But the attorney won't budge. Now we're up against a timing deadline and might lose the grant, thus blowing up the whole project.

I am so, so, so angry. Really? The attorney can take three and a half months to get back to me, and then be unwilling to compromise? Eff you buddy.

The contractor is asking her boss if they can accept the language the attorney insists on. If they can't, it's back to square one.

I'm tempted to go screaming to the big boss, but he's such a dipshit that he's effectively a lame duck. I'm tempted to go over the big boss' head to the elected officials, but that would probably only serve to piss the attorney off. I'm so angry that something this important is going to be derailed at the last minute for three sentences.

I would resign in protest if I could. I am actively looking for other jobs and toying with a career change. In the meantime, I can't keep waking up at 4:30am with insomnia from this kind of crap. How would you handle this situation?

[Pom]

That is ridiculous. I think if you hear back that the contractor rejects the language, I would go to Big Boss and Elected Officials. They need to make it work.

[drloretta]

Can you meet in person with the attorney and kill him with kindness? At the very least, meet in person? This sounds like something a face to face sitdown could help.

[Deleted]

I suppose the first step would be to try to kill him with kindness, but I doubt he'll budge. He talks a big game about "working as a team" and then totally fails to do so. Maybe that's part of the reason I'm so irate.

Pom thanks for validating my outrage. I have a Board meeting with one of the elected officials tomorrow night and I'm on the agenda to give an update on this project. If the contractor can't accept the language an the attorney won't budge I think I'll let the whole thing fly at the board meeting and see if the elected official can weigh in.

I'm so fucking pissed.

[drloretta]

That's incredibly frustrating and rage-inducing. Sounds like you have a good place to air the issues with the board meeting.

[mccallister84]

I think it's completely ridiculous that he took 3.5 months to get back to you. Totally unacceptable.

But, have you asked him why he won't give up those 3 lines? I am not a lawyer, and don't know if you are, but I would tend to think that if my lawyer insisted on certain language in a contract that there would be a valid legal reason for it.

[Deleted]

Jan 23, 2013 9:46:31 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

I think it's completely ridiculous that he took 3.5 months to get back to you. Totally unacceptable.

But, have you asked him why he won't give up those 3 lines? I am not a lawyer, and don't know if you are, but I would tend to think that if my lawyer insisted on certain language in a contract that there would be a valid legal reason for it.

When the consultant said "hey I'd like to revise this wording" I forwarded the email to him and said that they seemed like minor changes (and they ARE, they just clarify which professional standards will be used rather than the more ambiguous language he wants to use!). He emailed back and said it's a no-go because he wants all of our contracts to have the exact same language. 

Really? We can't get to the exact same, even more clear meaning, with different words from the English language?

[vanillacourage]

Can the attorney come to the Board meeting to explain why he won't budge?

[Deleted]

Jan 23, 2013 10:18:55 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

Can the attorney come to the Board meeting to explain why he won't budge?

I'm pretty sure he thinks this is no big deal, and wouldn't make time to attend a board meeting after work tomorrow. 

[aurora]

Jan 23, 2013 10:50:42 GMT -5 @idaholakelady said:

Jan 23, 2013 10:18:55 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

Can the attorney come to the Board meeting to explain why he won't budge?

I'm pretty sure he thinks this is no big deal, and wouldn't make time to attend a board meeting after work tomorrow. 

He thinks losing a grant you were awarded over a contracting issue is no big deal?

I deal with grants and contracting and lawyers regularly.  A large portion of a university's budget is from grants.  We do lose them from time to time over legal issues, but you can bet that losing one is a big deal and there's got to be a very good reason for it.  That's really no help for your current situation except to share your frustration.

[Deleted]

If you are in the same location, I would show up at his office explain the situation to him and ask what you can do to work together--there may be a reason why it can't be changed.

Remember you catch more flies with honey. Make your mission his mission.