UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO 

 

In re 

) 

) 

PROMESA 

Title III 

) 

THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND 

MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR PUERTO RICO, 

) 

) 

) 

) 

No. 17 BK 3283-LTS 

(Jointly Administered) 

As a representative of ) 

) 

THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO

et al., 

Debtors.1

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Re: Dkt. Nos. 1416, 2384, 2385, 2386, 2387, 

2388, 2389, 2390, and 2391 

Presentment Date: March 28, 2018 

Order Objection date: March 27, 2018 at 4:00 

p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time) 

NOTICE OF PRESENTMENT OF REVISED 

STIPULATED DISLCOSURE AGREEMENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that upon the February 2, 2018 filing of Stipulated 

Disclosure Agreements and Protective Orders [Dkt. Nos. 2384, 2385, 2386, 2387, 2388, 2389, 

2390, and 2391] (the “Stipulations”), the Fee Examiner will present the revised proposed order, 

attached as Exhibit A (the “Revised Proposed Stipulated Disclosure Agreement and 

Protective Order”), to the Honorable Laura Taylor Swain, United States District Judge, sitting 

in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Courtroom 3, U.S. Courthouse, 

 

1

 The Debtors in these Title III Cases, along with each Debtor’s respective Title III case number and the last four (4) 

digits of each Debtor’s federal tax identification number, as applicable, are the: (i) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 

(Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 3283-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3481); (ii) Puerto Rico Sales Tax 

Financing Corporation (“COFINA”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 3284-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax 

ID: 8474); (iii) Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (“HTA”) (Bankruptcy Case 

No. 17 BK 3567-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3808); (iv) Employees Retirement System of the 

Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (“ERS”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 3566-LTS) (Last Four 

Digits of Federal Tax ID: 9686); and, (v) Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”) (Bankruptcy Case 

No. 17 BK 4780-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3747) (Title III case numbers are listed as Bankruptcy 

Case numbers due to software limitations). 

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2 

150 Chardon Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-7095, for signature on March 28, 2018 (the 

“Presentment Date”).

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that attached hereto as Exhibit B is a redline 

comparing the Revised Proposed Stipulated Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order against 

the initial proposed order attached to the Stipulations, demonstrating the revisions incorporated. 

All professionals submitting fees for payment through these Title III proceedings have been 

provided with a copy of these documents and the undersigned has received no objection to the 

revised proposed order. 

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that unless a written objection to the Revised 

Proposed Stipulated Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order (the “Objection”) is filed with 

the Court no later than 4:00 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time) on March 27, 2017, no hearing 

will be held, and the Revised Proposed Stipulated Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order 

may be signed. 

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that copies of the Application including all 

exhibits, and all documents filed in these title III cases are available (a) free of charge by visiting 

https://cases.primeclerk.com/puertorico or by calling +1 (844) 822-9237, and (b) on the Court’s 

website at http://www.prd.uscourts.gov, subject to the procedures and fees set forth therein. 

WE HEREBY CERTIFY that on this date, we electronically filed the foregoing motion 

with the Clerk of the Court using the CM/ECF system that will send notification of such filing to 

all attorneys of record registered in the use of the CM/ECF system. 

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3 

Dated this 20th day of March, 2018. 

EDGE Legal Strategies, PSC 

 s/Eyck O. Lugo 

Eyck O. Lugo 

252 Ponce de León Avenue 

Citibank Tower, 12th Floor 

San Juan, PR 00918 

Telephone: (787) 522-2000 

Facsimile: (787) 522-2010 

Puerto Rico Counsel for Fee Examiner 

GODFREY & KAHN, S.C. 

One East Main Street, Suite 500 

Madison, WI 53703 

Telephone: (608) 257-3911 

Facsimile: (608) 257-0609 

Katherine Stadler (Pro Hac Vice Approved) 

Counsel for the Fee Examiner 

18657636.1 

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Exhibit A 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO 

 

In re 

) 

) 

PROMESA 

Title III 

) 

THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND 

MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR PUERTO RICO, 

) 

) 

) 

) 

No. 17 BK 3283-LTS 

(Jointly Administered) 

As a representative of ) 

) 

THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO

et al., 

Debtors.1

) 

) 

) 

) 

Re: ECF No. 1416 

) 

STIPULATED DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER 

WHEREAS, acting pursuant to 48 U.S.C. § 2161, Rule 7026(c)(1) of the Federal Rules 

of Bankruptcy Procedure and Rules 502(a),(b),(d),(e),(f) and (g) and Rule 1101 of the Federal 

Rules of Evidence, the Fee Examiner appointed in the Title III cases of the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico and related entities (collectively, the “Debtors”), his counsel, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. 

(“Fee Examiner Counsel”), the Debtors, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, the 

Official Committee of Retirees of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Mediation Team 

constituted pursuant to the Order Appointing Mediation Team [Dkt. No. 430], and their 

respective professionals (the “Professionals”) enter into this disclosure stipulation and protective 

order (the “Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order”); 

WHEREAS this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order supplements the Order 

Pursuant to PROMESA Section 316 and 317 and Bankruptcy Code Section 105(A) Appointing a 

Fee Examiner and Related Relief [Dkt. No. 1416] (the “Fee Examiner Order”) at ¶ 9, which 

states: 

 

1

 The Debtors in these Title III Cases, along with each Debtor’s respective Title III case number and the last four (4) 

digits of each Debtor’s federal tax identification number, as applicable, are the: (i) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 

(Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 3283-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3481); (ii) Puerto Rico Sales Tax 

Financing Corporation (“COFINA”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 3284-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax 

ID: 8474); (iii) Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (“HTA”) (Bankruptcy Case 

No. 17 BK 3567-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3808); (iv) Employees Retirement System of the 

Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (“ERS”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 3566-LTS) (Last Four 

Digits of Federal Tax ID: 9686); and, (v) Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”) (Bankruptcy Case 

No. 17 BK 4780-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3747) (Title III case numbers are listed as Bankruptcy 

Case numbers due to software limitations). 

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2 

If a professional or its client provides privileged or work product 

information to the Fee Examiner and identifies the nature of such 

information to the Fee Examiner, the Fee Examiner shall treat such 

information as confidential. The disclosure of such information to 

the Fee Examiner shall not be deemed to be a waiver by the 

disclosing party of any applicable work product, attorney client, or 

other privilege. 

WHEREAS, an effective fee review process requires disclosure to the Fee Examiner and 

Fee Examiner Counsel of complete, unredacted billing records and other identified documents, 

communications, and information in the above captioned cases (the “Cases”), which documents, 

communications, and information may be otherwise subject to a claim of confidentiality, 

attorney-client privilege, and/or work-product protection; 

WHEREAS, the Fee Examiner Counsel has requested that the Professionals provide 

unredacted copies of the billing records supporting their interim and final fee applications 

submitted by (and to be submitted by) the Professionals, detailed budgets, and certain other 

materials related to the Professionals’ services in the Cases (collectively, the “Requested 

Information”); 

WHEREAS, the parties and their counsel remain fully committed to transparency and 

openness in the PROMESA proceedings while acknowledging the need, in the interests of 

professional responsibility, effective advocacy, and mediation confidentiality, for the limited 

confidentiality recognized by law; 

WHEREAS, Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7026 permits the Court “for good cause” to issue a 

protective order; 

WHEREAS, in consideration of, and as a condition to, the furnishing of the Requested 

Information by the Professionals, to the extent that such Requested Information may be legally 

entitled to protection and subject to the dispute resolution procedures outlined in paragraphs 11 

and 12,below, Fee Examiner Counsel understands that it is required to and does agree, as set 

forth below, to treat the Requested Information confidentially and also to treat confidentially any 

written or oral information related thereto, whether furnished before or after the date of this 

Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order (collectively, the “Confidential Materials”), and to 

comply with the other provisions hereof; 

WHEREAS, the disclosure of Confidential Materials pursuant to this Disclosure 

Agreement and Protective Order is not intended to waive any privilege or protection that may 

otherwise be asserted by or applicable to any Professionals, including the Fee Examiner and Fee 

Examiner Counsel; 

WHEREAS, Professionals from time-to-time have distributed and/or filed, as the case 

may be, and expect to continue to distribute and/or file, applications for monthly, interim, or 

final compensation and reimbursement of expenses (the “Fee Requests”); 

WHEREAS, Fee Examiner Counsel hereby agrees that the Confidential Materials will be 

used solely by Fee Examiner Counsel and other Permitted Recipients (as defined below) to 

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3 

review and evaluate the Fee Requests (the “Permitted Purpose”) except to the extent that another 

use is authorized by Court order; 

WHEREAS, the Fee Examiner Counsel further agrees that the Confidential Materials will 

be kept confidential by it and Permitted Recipients (as defined below); 

WHEREAS, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Fee Examiner 

Counsel shall not be permitted, without order of the Court, to disclose any of the Confidential 

Materials to any person or entity other than as authorized by this Disclosure Agreement and 

Protective Order; 

WHEREAS, all Confidential Materials created or furnished pursuant to this Disclosure 

Agreement and Protective Order, regardless of the nature of the information contained therein, 

shall be held in segregated files by Fee Examiner Counsel, solely for purposes of evaluating the 

Fee Requests, except to the extent that another use is authorized by Court order, and subject to 

the Professionals’ right to reasonably instruct Fee Examiner Counsel with respect to possession 

and control thereof; 

WHEREAS, upon the entry of a final and non-appealable order by this Court approving 

any final fee application filed by any Professional, the Fee Examiner Recipients will promptly 

destroy, delete (in the case of electronic materials), or deliver to the particular Professionals the 

Confidential Materials that they produced, without retaining any copy. Any oral information 

shall continue to be subject to the terms of this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order; 

WHEREAS, the term “Confidential Materials” does not include information that 

(i) becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the 

undersigned or their representatives or by or to any person in violation of this Disclosure 

Agreement and Protective Order, (ii) was available to the Fee Examiner, Fee Examiner Counsel, 

or the U.S. Trustee (defined below) prior to its disclosure by the Professional or its 

representatives, or (iii) becomes available to the Fee Examiner, Fee Examiner Counsel, or the 

U.S. Trustee from a source other than the Professional or its representatives, provided that such 

source is not bound by a legal, contractual, or fiduciary obligation with the Professional or its 

representatives; and, 

WHEREAS, the Court has determined that it is in the public interest and in the interests 

of an effective and efficient fee review process for the above-referenced Requested Information 

related to the foregoing Fee Requests to be made available to Fee Examiner Counsel; 

NOW, THEREFORE, upon consideration of the record and proceedings herein and the 

stipulation of the parties;

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4 

ORDER 

IT IS ORDERED AND DECREED, pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7026(c) and 

Rules 502(a),(b),(d),(e),(f) and (g) and 1101 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, as follows: 

1. The above recitals are true, correct, and incorporated herein; 

2. Professionals submitting Requested Information to the Fee Examiner pursuant to 

the terms of this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order shall clearly mark such materials 

“Confidential: Fee Examiner Attorneys’ Eyes Only.” In the event that a Professional fails to 

designate any materials or information as Confidential Materials, that Professional may make a 

subsequent designation by so notifying Fee Examiner Counsel in writing. In such event, Fee 

Examiner Counsel shall treat such materials and/or information as Confidential Materials 

thereafter; 

3. Fee Examiner Counsel shall not give, show or make available the Confidential 

Materials to any person other than: 

a. The Fee Examiner, Fee Examiner Counsel’s employees, partners or 

members with responsibility for Fee Examiner Counsel’s review and evaluation of the 

Fee Requests (collectively, the “Fee Examiner Recipients”); 

b. The United States Trustee or any person employed by the United States 

Trustee (collectively, the “U.S. Trustee”) (each a “Permitted Recipient”); or 

c. Notwithstanding paragraph 3.(b.), above, Confidential Materials submitted 

to the Fee Examiner Counsel by the Mediation Team or its financial advisor shall not be 

provided to the U.S. Trustee. 

4. All Confidential Materials created or furnished pursuant to this Disclosure 

Agreement and Protective Order, regardless of the nature of the information contained, shall be 

held in segregated files by Fee Examiner Counsel and by any Fee Examiner Recipient and Fee 

Examiner Counsel shall take commercially reasonable steps to ensure that the Confidential 

Materials are kept in strictest confidence in accordance with this Disclosure Agreement and 

Protective Order; 

5. Confidential Materials shall be used solely for the Permitted Purpose except to the 

extent that another use is authorized by Court order; 

6. Notwithstanding Paragraph 5 above, the U.S. Trustee may disclose any Requested 

Information or Confidential materials within the United States Trustee Program, within the U.S. 

Department of Justice; 

7. By entering into this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order and producing 

the Requested Information pursuant to this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order, the 

Professionals shall not be deemed to have waived the attorney-client privilege and/or workCase:17-03283-LTS Doc#:2763 Filed:03/20/18 Entered:03/20/18 12:05:07 Desc: Main

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5 

product or any other protection, or to have breached mediation confidentiality, with respect to the 

Requested Information relating to the foregoing Fee Requests; 

8. By entering into this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order and producing 

the Requested Information pursuant to this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order, the 

Professionals shall not be deemed to have waived the attorney-client privilege and/or 

work-product protection, or to have breached mediation confidentiality, with respect to the 

Requested Information relating to any other past, present or future federal or state proceeding, 

whether judicial or administrative; 

9. Subsequent designation in accordance with paragraph 2 hereof shall not be 

deemed a waiver of the confidential status of the subsequently-designated Confidential 

Materials; 

10. No Confidential Materials may be filed with the Court unless they are filed under 

seal pursuant to Local Bankruptcy Rule 9018-1 and the District Court’s Standing Order No. 9; 

11. Should the Fee Examiner or a Permitted Recipient wish to challenge a 

confidentiality designation, the Fee Examiner or Permitted Recipient should confer directly with 

the Professional. In conferring, the Fee Examiner or Permitted Recipient should explain the 

basis for its belief that the confidentiality designation was not proper and should give the 

Professional an opportunity to review the designated material, to reconsider the designation, and, 

if no change in designation is offered, to explain the basis for the designation. The Professional 

should respond to the challenge within five (5) business days (the “Meet and Confer 

Procedure”); 

12. Should the Meet and Confer Procedure prove unsuccessful in resolving a 

confidentiality dispute between the Fee Examiner or a Permitted Recipient and a Professional, 

the Fee Examiner or Permitted Recipient may file and serve a motion that identifies the 

challenged material and sets forth in detail the basis for the challenge. Each such motion must be 

accompanied by a competent declaration that affirms that the movant has complied with the 

Meet and Confer Procedure. The burden of persuasion in any such challenge proceeding shall be 

on the Professional asserting confidentiality; and 

13. Upon the entry of a final and non-appealable order by this Court approving a 

final fee application filed by any Professional, Fee Examiner Counsel will promptly destroy, 

delete (in the case of electronic materials), or deliver to the particular Professionals the 

Confidential Materials that they produced, without retaining any copy. Any oral information 

shall continue to be subject to the terms of this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order. 

This Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order shall govern with respect to all 

signatories hereto, including those that elect, after the date of this Order, to be a party thereto by 

filing an executed Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order. This Disclosure Agreement and 

Protective Order shall govern in the event that the Fee Examiner, the Fee Examiner Counsel, the 

U.S. Trustee or their representatives are requested (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for 

information or documents, subpoena, or similar process) to disclose any information regarding 

the Confidential Materials or its dealing with the Professionals or their representatives. 

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6 

Counsel to the Court-appointed Fee Examiner: 

Dated: January 29, 2018 

 

 /s/ Katherine Stadler 

Katherine Stadler 

Godfrey & Kahn, S.C 

Counsel to:___________________________ 

Dated: ______________________________ 

By: ________________________________ 

Firm/Organization:____________________ 

 

IT IS SO ORDERED: 

Dated: March , 2018. 

 New York, New York 

____________________________________ 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

18587327.2 

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Exhibit B 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO 

 

In re 

) 

) 

PROMESA 

Title III 

) 

THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND 

MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR PUERTO RICO, 

) 

) 

) 

) 

No. 17 BK 3283-LTS 

(Jointly Administered) 

As a representative of ) 

) 

THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO

et al., 

Debtors.1

) 

) 

) 

) 

Re: ECF No. 1416 

) 

STIPULATED DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER 

WHEREAS, acting pursuant to 48 U.S.C. § 2161, Rule 7026(c)(1) of the Federal Rules 

of Bankruptcy Procedure and Rules 502(a),(b),(d),(e),(f) and (g) and Rule 1101 of the Federal 

Rules of Evidence, the Fee Examiner appointed in the Title III cases of the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico and related entities (collectively, the “Debtors”), his counsel, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. 

(“Fee Examiner Counsel”), the Debtors, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, the 

Official Committee of Retirees of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Mediation Team 

constituted pursuant to the Order Appointing Mediation Team [Dkt. No. 430], and their 

respective professionals (the “Professionals”) enter into this disclosure stipulation and protective 

order (the “Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order”).;

WHEREAS this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order supplements the Order 

Pursuant to PROMESA Section 316 and 317 and Bankruptcy Code Section 105(A) Appointing a 

Fee Examiner and Related Relief [Dkt. No. 1416] (the “Fee Examiner Order”) at ¶ 9, which 

states: 

 

1

 The Debtors in these Title III Cases, along with each Debtor’s respective Title III case number and the last four (4) 

digits of each Debtor’s federal tax identification number, as applicable, are the: (i) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 

(Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 3283-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3481); (ii) Puerto Rico Sales Tax 

Financing Corporation (“COFINA”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 3284-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax 

ID: 8474); (iii) Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (“HTA”) (Bankruptcy Case 

No. 17 BK 3567-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3808); (iv) Employees Retirement System of the 

Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (“ERS”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 3566-LTS) (Last Four 

Digits of Federal Tax ID: 9686); and, (v) Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”) (Bankruptcy Case 

No. 17 BK 4780-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3747) (Title III case numbers are listed as Bankruptcy 

Case numbers due to software limitations). 

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2 

If a professional or its client provides privileged or work product 

information to the Fee Examiner and identifies the nature of such 

information to the Fee Examiner, the Fee Examiner shall treat such 

information as confidential. The disclosure of such information to 

the Fee Examiner shall not be deemed to be a waiver by the 

disclosing party of any applicable work product, attorney client, or 

other privilege. 

WHEREAS, an effective fee review process requires disclosure to the Fee Examiner and 

Fee Examiner Counsel of complete, unredacted billing records and other identified documents, 

communications, and information in the above captioned cases (the “Cases”), which documents, 

communications, and information may be otherwise subject to a claim of confidentiality, 

attorney-client privilege, and/or work-product protection; 

WHEREAS, the Fee Examiner Counsel has requested that the Professionals provide 

unredacted copies of the billing records supporting their interim and final fee applications 

submitted by (and to be submitted by) the Professionals, detailed budgets, and certain other 

materials related to the Professionals’ services in the Cases (collectively, the “Requested 

Information”); 

WHEREAS, the parties and their counsel remain fully committed to transparency and 

openness in the PROMESA proceedings while acknowledging the need, in the interests of 

professional responsibility, effective advocacy, and mediation confidentiality, for the limited 

confidentiality recognized by law; 

WHEREAS, Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7026 permits the Court “for good cause” to issue a 

protective order; 

WHEREAS, in consideration of, and as a condition to, the furnishing of the Requested 

Information by the Professionals, to the extent that such Requested Information may be legally 

entitled to protection and subject to the dispute resolution procedures outlined in paragraphs 11 

and 12,below, Fee Examiner Counsel understands that it is required to and does agree, as set 

forth below, to treat the Requested Information confidentially and also to treat confidentially any 

written or oral information related thereto, whether furnished before or after the date of this 

Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order (collectively, the “Confidential Materials”), and to 

comply with the other provisions hereof; 

WHEREAS, the disclosure of Confidential Materials pursuant to this Disclosure 

Agreement and Protective Order is not intended to waive any privilege or protection that may 

otherwise be asserted by or applicable to any Professionals, including the Fee Examiner and Fee 

Examiner Counsel; 

WHEREAS, Professionals from time-to-time have distributed and/or filed, as the case 

may be, and expect to continue to distribute and/or file, applications for monthly, interim, or 

final compensation and reimbursement of expenses (the “Fee Requests”); 

WHEREAS, Fee Examiner Counsel hereby agrees that the Confidential Materials will be 

used solely by Fee Examiner Counsel and other Permitted Recipients (as defined below) to 

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3 

review and evaluate the Fee Requests (the “Permitted Purpose”) except to the extent that another 

use is authorized by Court order; 

WHEREAS, the Fee Examiner Counsel further agrees that the Confidential Materials will 

be kept confidential by it and Permitted Recipients (as defined below); 

WHEREAS, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Fee Examiner 

Counsel shall not be permitted, without order of the Court, to disclose any of the Confidential 

Materials to any person or entity other than as authorized by this Disclosure Agreement and 

Protective Order; 

WHEREAS, all Confidential Materials created or furnished pursuant to this Disclosure 

Agreement and Protective Order, regardless of the nature of the information contained therein, 

shall be held in segregated files by Fee Examiner Counsel, solely for purposes of evaluating the 

Fee Requests, except to the extent that another use is authorized by Court order, and subject to 

the Professionals’ right to reasonably instruct Fee Examiner Counsel with respect to possession 

and control thereof; 

WHEREAS, upon the entry of a final and non-appealable order by this Court approving 

any final fee application filed by any Professional, the Fee Examiner Recipients will promptly 

destroy, delete (in the case of electronic materials), or deliver to the particular Professionals the 

Confidential Materials that they produced, without retaining any copy. Any oral information 

shall continue to be subject to the terms of this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order; 

WHEREAS, the term “Confidential Materials” does not include information that 

(i) becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the 

undersigned or their representatives or by or to any person in violation of this Disclosure 

Agreement and Protective Order, (ii) was available to the Fee Examiner, Fee Examiner Counsel, 

or the U.S. Trustee (defined below) prior to its disclosure by the Professional or its 

representatives, or (iii) becomes available to the Fee Examiner, Fee Examiner Counsel, or the 

U.S. Trustee from a source other than the Professional or its representatives, provided that such 

source is not bound by a legal, contractual, or fiduciary obligation with the Professional or its 

representatives; and, 

WHEREAS, the Court has determined that it is in the public interest and in the interests 

of an effective and efficient fee review process for the above-referenced Requested Information 

related to the foregoing Fee Requests to be made available to Fee Examiner Counsel; 

NOW, THEREFORE, upon consideration of the record and proceedings herein and the 

stipulation of the parties;

 

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4 

ORDER 

IT IS ORDERED AND DECREED, pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7026(c) and 

Rules 502(a),(b),(d),(e),(f) and (g) and 1101 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, as follows: 

1. The above recitals are true, correct, and incorporated herein; 

2. Professionals submitting Requested Information to the Fee Examiner pursuant to 

the terms of this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order shall clearly mark such materials 

“Confidential: Fee Examiner Attorneys’ Eyes Only.” In the event that a Professional fails to 

designate any materials or information as Confidential Materials, that Professional may make a 

subsequent designation by so notifying Fee Examiner Counsel in writing. In such event, Fee 

Examiner Counsel shall treat such materials and/or information as Confidential Materials 

thereafter; 

3. Fee Examiner Counsel shall not give, show or make available the Confidential 

Materials to any person other than: 

a. The Fee Examiner, Fee Examiner Counsel’s employees, partners or 

members with responsibility for Fee Examiner Counsel’s review and evaluation of the 

Fee Requests (collectively, the “Fee Examiner Recipients”); or

b. The United States Trustee or any person employed by the United States 

Trustee (collectively, the “U.S. Trustee”) (each a “Permitted Recipient”); or

c. Notwithstanding paragraph 3.(b.), above, Confidential Materials submitted 

to the Fee Examiner Counsel by the Mediation Team or its financial advisor shall not be 

provided to the U.S. Trustee. 

4. All Confidential Materials created or furnished pursuant to this Disclosure 

Agreement and Protective Order, regardless of the nature of the information contained, shall be 

held in segregated files by Fee Examiner Counsel and by any Fee Examiner Recipient and Fee 

Examiner Counsel shall take commercially reasonable steps to ensure that the Confidential 

Materials are kept in strictest confidence in accordance with this Disclosure Agreement and 

Protective Order; 

5. Confidential Materials shall be used solely for the Permitted Purpose except to the 

extent that another use is authorized by Court order; 

6. Notwithstanding Paragraph 5 above, the U.S. Trustee may disclose any Requested 

Information or Confidential materials within the United States Trustee Program, within the U.S. 

Department of Justice; 

7. By entering into this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order and producing 

the Requested Information pursuant to this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order, the 

Professionals shall not be deemed to have waived the attorney-client privilege and/or workproduct or any other protection, or to have breached mediation confidentiality, with respect to the 

Requested Information relating to the foregoing Fee Requests; 

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8. By entering into this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order and producing 

the Requested Information pursuant to this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order, the 

Professionals shall not be deemed to have waived the attorney-client privilege and/or 

work-product protection, or to have breached mediation confidentiality, with respect to the 

Requested Information relating to any other past, present or future federal or state proceeding, 

whether judicial or administrative; 

9. Subsequent designation in accordance with paragraph 2 hereof shall not be 

deemed a waiver of the confidential status of the subsequently-designated Confidential 

Materials; 

10. No Confidential Materials may be filed with the Court unless they are filed under 

seal pursuant to Local Bankruptcy Rule 9018-1 and the District Court’s Standing Order No. 9;

and

11. Should the Fee Examiner or a Permitted Recipient wish to challenge a 

confidentiality designation, the Fee Examiner or Permitted Recipient should confer directly with 

the Professional. In conferring, the Fee Examiner or Permitted Recipient should explain the 

basis for its belief that the confidentiality designation was not proper and should give the 

Professional an opportunity to review the designated material, to reconsider the designation, and, 

if no change in designation is offered, to explain the basis for the designation. The Professional 

should respond to the challenge within five (5) business days (the “Meet and Confer 

Procedure”); 

12. Should the Meet and Confer Procedure prove unsuccessful in resolving a 

confidentiality dispute between the Fee Examiner or a Permitted Recipient and a Professional, 

the Fee Examiner or Permitted Recipient may file and serve a motion that identifies the 

challenged material and sets forth in detail the basis for the challenge. Each such motion must be 

accompanied by a competent declaration that affirms that the movant has complied with the 

Meet and Confer Procedure. The burden of persuasion in any such challenge proceeding shall be 

on the Professional asserting confidentiality; and 

13. Upon the entry of a final and non-appealable order by this Court approving a 

final fee application filed by any Professional, Fee Examiner Counsel will promptly destroy, 

delete (in the case of electronic materials), or deliver to the particular Professionals the 

Confidential Materials that they produced, without retaining any copy. Any oral information 

shall continue to be subject to the terms of this Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order. 

This Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order shall govern with respect to all 

signatories hereto, including those that elect, after the date of this Order, to be a party thereto by 

filing an executed Disclosure Agreement and Protective Order. This Disclosure Agreement and 

Protective Order shall govern in the event that the Fee Examiner, the Fee Examiner Counsel, the 

U.S. Trustee or their representatives are requested (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for 

information or documents, subpoena, or similar process) to disclose any information regarding 

the Confidential Materials or its dealing with the Professionals or their representatives. 

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Counsel to the Court-appointed Fee Examiner: 

Dated: January 29, 2018 

 

 /s/ Katherine Stadler 

Katherine Stadler 

Godfrey & Kahn, S.C 

Counsel to:___________________________ 

Dated: _______________________________

By: ________________________________ 

Firm/Organization:____________________ 

 

IT IS SO ORDERED: 

Dated: FebruaryMarch , 2018. 

 New York, New York 

____________________________________ 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

18120932.918587327.2

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