By JAMES FINK
Business First

A "Who's Who" of local law firms has made the short list for legal work connected to the Erie County Industrial Development Agency and its affiliated companies. The contracts have generated strong interest since the economic-development agency issued RFPs earlier this year.

The RFPs were due back Oct. 31, and 17 responses were filed with the agency. Eight firms bid on the tax-exempt work, and 15 bid on the general-counsel work. Some firms bid for both contracts.

Hurwitz & Fine has been the agency's general and bond counsel for the past 17 years. Hiscock & Barclay has handled the tax-exempt-bond work for several years.

The ECIDA has put the work out to bid in an effort to have a more transparent operation, a goal championed by Erie County Executive Chris Collins.

Three firms made the short list for tax-exempt bond counsel work: Hiscock & Barclay, Harris Beach PLLC and Hodgson Russ LLP.

Five firms made the general-counsel short list: Harris Beach, Hiscock & Barclay, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, Hurwitz & Fine PC and Damon & Morey LLP.

The finalists for each package are being reviewed by the ECIDA's governance committee. The committee, in conjunction with agency staff, will make its recommendations by early January with a formal board vote set for Jan. 12.

The agency will appoint one firm as general counsel and one firm - perhaps the same one - for tax-exempt-bond work.

Both contracts would cover a seven-year period.